Summer time is (finally!) here and farmers are busy harvesting their crops! If you’re looking for fresh fruits and vegetables to quench your healthy appetite, look no further, as from June through October, Metro has Ontarians covered with their annual Harvest from Home program. During Harvest from Home, Metro purchases food from more than 100 farms across Ontario, providing its customers with a wide variety of the freshest most delicious produce. They are proudly supporting local farmers and the economy, which is something we should all do. Local tastes better!
The lovely folks at Metro recently provided me with a great summer grilling recipe and a basket including the local ingredients from Ontario needed to make their special June/July recipe. How could I say no to a basket filled with delicious goodies?!?!
Honey-Glazed Grilled Fruit
The original recipe can be found on the Metro website here: http://www.metro.ca/recette/6239/honey-glazed-grilled-fruit.en.html. I’ve modified it slightly to suit the tastes of my family.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (125 mL) Irresistibles Orange Juice
1/2 cup (125 mL) Selection Unsalted Butter
1/2 cup (125 mL) Selection Liquid Honey
1 Selection Cinnamon Stick
1 quart fresh Ontario grown strawberries, hulled and washed
4 fresh Ontario grown pears, washed, cored and cut into large chunks
2 ripe but firm bananas, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 ripe but firm Ontario grown peaches, washed, pitted and cut into large chunks
Kabob skewers, wooden or metal
Directions:
Heat Irresistibles Orange Juice, Selection Unsalted Butter, Selection Liquid Honey and 1 Selection Cinnamon Stick in a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbly and melted. Simmer for 10 minutes until slightly syrupy.
Thread fresh fruit pieces onto kabob skewers. Grill over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, turning often and drizzling with the orange juice mixture, until tender and browned.
My tips: Drizzle the orange juice mixture over the fruit every time you turn the skewers on the grill. You should turn them every few minutes to promote even cooking. The drizzle helps the fruit to caramelize a little and sends flames up to char the fruit, giving the kabobs a great smoky flavour. We had them at the end of a big barbecue, so I simply served the fruit kabobs on their own to keep things light. I think they would be great served alongside vanilla ice cream too…yum!
My favourite parts of the kabob were the grilled peaches and bananas and I think I might just focus on my favourite fruits next time. Overall, my family loved the kabobs and I’m happy to say that the serving plate was empty a few minutes later! I can’t wait to try the kabobs with other fruit combinations and perhaps add a little grated ginger to the sauce for an added kick next time.
CONTEST: Do you want to try this tasty recipe at home? Metro wants me to give away a Harvest From Home basket, including a Metro gift card, to one of my readers! Please note that you must be a resident of Ontario to win, given that Metro’s stores can only be found here in Ontario. If you win, Metro will deliver the basket directly to your home, so that you and your family can enjoy the Ontario grown Harvest From Home goodies immediately.
TO ENTER:
Leave a comment on this blog post and tell me what your favourite Ontario grown fruits and/or vegetables are and what you use them for. P.S. Don’t forget to include your Twitter, Facebook or blog site address so I know how to reach you!
Again, you must be a resident of Ontario to enter!
Hurry! Contest closes on Sunday July 22 at 5 pm EST. The winner will be announced on Monday July 23. Good luck!
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WINNER!!!
Congrats to Pauline Grant (@PaulineGrantTO ) for winning the Metro gift basket! Your basket will be delivered straight to your home by the great folks at Metro : )
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I love Ontario Peaches. I don’t really use them in a recipe bc I usually eat the entire 1/2 basket in one sitting! So juicy!
I love Ontario Peaches too. Nothing beats a peach crisp.
I love all the berries – fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries! We add them to yogurt, eat them fresh, make pies – I love them any way I can munch on them! @talkingcolleen
Ontario grown spinach and berries are a fantastic addition to my daily green smoothies.
Fresh picked Ontario strawberries (the little juicy ones, not the giant ones from California) are the only fruit my very picky six year old will eat without a fuss. I love the fruit kabob idea – food is more fun on sticks!
I’m an apple lover — either plain or in a crisp!
I love Ontario potatoes (any sizes and color)! they are delicious and best for parties! You can’t go wrong with potato salad or mashed potato anywhere/anytime!
I love strawberries! Strawberry shortcake or just a plain pie, it’s all good as long as it’s got some strawberries!!! @AnnaPoraszka
I love fresh Ontario plums and strawberries and give them to my kids at every opportunity.
Ontario grown asparagus grilled on the bbq with fresh Ontario potatoes!
peaches & cream corn on the cob; steamed and slathered in butter…yum
My favourite is whatever is fresh right now. Sad strawberries are done, but happily replace them with raspberries or blueberries, then peaches, then apples.
Tomatoes! Big juicy beefsteak tomatoes. So many ways to use them, but my favourite is cut up in big chunks with some mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil. Mmmm…
Ontrio strawberries are my favorite!
I would have to say that my favourite would be tomatoes! In a close second – strawberries. 🙂 Yum! Thanks for the contest!
FRESH TOMATOES, STRAWBERRIES, PEACHES, CORN ON THE COBB…EVERYTHING IS AMAZING IN THE SUMMER
Definately tomatoes. I grow them, we eat them, we freeze them.
Ontario Peaches are my favourite fruit.
I love raspberries
I love Ontario blueberries baked in a delicious blueberry coffee cake.
I use fresh strawberries for strawberry pie
I use blueberries and strawberries for smoothies
I love ontario fresh corn which I like grilled. I also love peaches and apples which I like with yogurt or ice cream or just fresh.
I love Ontario strawberries. They’re so sweet and delicious. Perfect on its own.
TW – HenryCalibre
FB – Henry Calibre
I love corn on the cob because it is perfect to serve with dinners on the BBQ!
I love Ontario Strawberries. I eat them plain or sprinkled with sugar
My fave would be fresh Ontario Apples. Love them in pie or on it’s own
Definitely Ontario tomatoes and corn – I make a mean corn relish! 🙂
love the farmers corn
I LOVE Ontario grown raspberries!
I love Ontario strawberries in June, blueberries in July and I eat both in smoothies.
Im a big fan of wild blueberries. They are fantastic tasting and are a very healthy snack. Thanks for the opportunity for the GB.
There’s nothing like fresh sweet corn~ 🙂
i like ontario cherries, strawberries,blueberries and sweet corn among other fresh produce, dairy and meats
any fresh is good.
Since it is BBQ season, I would have to go with corn as well:) So sweet and delicious.
Twitter – @whysogrumpy
I love the peaches and I love to eat them as a snack
Mmmm apples, I use them to make hand held apple pies that taste like the ones you get at McDonalds and of course BLUEBERRIES! Yum.
Twitter: Cherie@shirley_hammer
I love strawberries best. Strawberries have higher levels of vitamin C, fiber, folate and potassium than most other fruits (bananas, apples and even oranges). I love to use them in all of my summer desserts. My favourite is a Strawberry Parfait!
Tomatoes, in the summer, I get a ripe old fashioned tomato and slice it for a sandwich, with just mayo and salt and pepper.
apples – just like them as they are
I love local strawberries-so much flavor!. Corn and tomatoes are on my menu as soon as they come in season.
Ontario juicy ripe peaches are my favourite for making peach pie and jame.
Peaches and berries are just delicious!
Favourite is corn. BBQ’d or on a salad.
Fresh Ontario strawberries are my favourite! I make strawberry shortcake using “Gran’s” famous recipe.
Love Ontario peaches. Our family just eats them and I also bake (peach pie, peach crumble etc.). I also like doing a batch of peach jam
I love apples, pears, peaches, cherries and plums. Whether it be for my milkshakes or just a quick snack, it is always nice knowing that these fruits are Ontario grown.
Love Ontario strawberries – they make the most delicious homemade jam!!
Twitter: @deethomson1
Facebook: Dee Elise
Peaches, and they look like they are coming really early this year. I use them as peaches 😉 maybe with a little ice cream.
Pumpkins for soups and berries for fruit bowls
FB: Joanna Poon (Foulfowl)
All berries.. delicious, sweet and full of anti-oxidants
Ontario strawberries are my favourite! Love picking them on a local Ontario farm
Peaches and berries of every persuasion are my favourites. Thanks!
Twitter – @crofh
Facebook – ccofh
I love peaches…I just eat them fresh all day long…
I love fruits! Especially strawberries and blueberries. Granny Smith apples in apple pie are the best IMO because it still has a bit of a tartness to it
My favourite Ontario grown item is Ontario Corn! I love boiling some yummy peaches and cream corn! Add a pinch of salt and some butter and it is incredibly delicious! My twitter username is @Cristina_Angela
I love local strawberries cut fresh over my cereal in the morning!
I love Ontario strawberries! We make homemade jam, strawberry shortcake and we love to eat ’em freshly picked!
Ontario peaches are my favorite… I just eat them as they are grown!
Summertime means fresh local strawberries, raspberries, peaches and corn on the cob…:)
Strawberries and peaches , all by themselves !
i love fresh ontario corn
I love strawberries in my smoothies. @pra111
our favourite is going strawberry picking in good old Ontario Farms
I gobble peaches! Summer is incomplete without a few basketsful!
I like cucumbers and small berries; strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. They don’t need a special recipe, we eat them and appreciate them just like they are !
I love ontario strawberries, I usually eat them with whipped cream….oh so yummy!
I love ontario blueberries
The best part of summer is gobbling up fresh Ontario fruit and veggies. my favourites are corn, asparagus,peaches, watermelon, blueberries, artichokes and cherries. Because its so good fruit is eaten as is and corn and artichokes must have butter.
my favourite is ontario blueberries. I live in Toronto would like to enter the giveaway following your tweets @torviewtor
Thank you for the opportunity
fresh strawberries
We love grilled mushrooms zucchini and peppers with olive oil, lemon s&p. Blueberries are great for pancakes.
PLums and cherries are my favourite Ontario products, I am very lucky to work in Beamsville and I pass about 7 roadside fruitstands each day on my way to work !!! So delicious.
I love Ontario grown tomatoes, I make bruschetta all summer long
My favourite is the strawberries. I make jam every year – twitter is @sharonnelt
fresh peaches,
cut some up and put them over vanilla ice cream