The Fruits of Summer

CEBU, Philippines - There's more than the ordinary fruit-flavored cold drinks for the intense summer thirst! Why settle for artificial fruit flavors when real fruits are much better? In fact, having real fruits is the best way to quench the thirst, since summer is also a season of various tropical fruits, many of which dangle right in the backyards.

The little problem that often emerges from the abundance, though, is that the taste buds get fatigued by the same tastes after a while. The taste of fruits eventually becomes rather flat. As a result, the fruits become unwanted, and then wasted.

To give some variety to the presentation of the same fruits, creative tweaks will help. Following are other ways to enjoy the fruits that come in abundance in summer:

Banana Split

Overripe bananas still have a chance. Added with some scoops of ice cream, of any flavor, between slices, bananas can be a real treat. The refreshing snack can be made better with chocolate icing, and other toppings like grated young coconut. In no time the banana split is ready for serving. For the health conscious, this snack is rich in potassium, a mineral essential for muscle function and coordination.

Jamaica Fruit Salad Ice

This cooler is very easy to prepare, with equally simple ingredients. It's simply a mix of caimito, mango, pineapple, and any other fruit in a bowl. Fresh coconut water may be added. After just a few minutes in the chiller, it is ready for serving.

Caimito Sherbert

This is done by simply scooping the meat of ripe caimito and then smashing it in a bowl. Little sugar, evaporated milk, and water are added. Freezing it overnight yields a refreshing cooler in the hot morning.

Mango-Guyabano Smoothie

Peel and slice the guyabano fruit and remove the seeds. Added with several scoops of ripe mango and evaporated milk and mixed in a blender, and then chilled, the smoothie complements well with breads and cakes.

And yet cold drinks and smoothies are not all that can be done with fruits. Jackfruit, for example, is very useful as dessert, as snack, and as many other things. Ripe jackfruit can be enjoyed raw or processed as sweet preserve. The unripe fruit can be cooked and made into burger patties. Or it can be made into a delicious salad, with a little vinegar, coconut milk and a dash of salt.

Overripe bananas can be made into banana cheesecake and avocado into lime-colored avocado pie. There are many ways to enjoy the same fruit in order to avoid taste-bud fatigue. It only takes little resourcefulness and creativity.

References: www.nobert-bermosa.blogspot.com, www.onegreenplanet.org, food.ndtv.com, www.peta.org (FREEMAN)