Wizarding Times

There are always some children (even adults!) having a watermelon seed spitting contest during summer get-togethers. While watermelon is associated with summertime, there are other fruits that are just as refreshing.

June &mdash Strawberries

The beginning of summer marks the ripening of strawberries. Strawberries are extremely versatile and can fit into many recipes, especially dessert. Strawberry shortcake is a wonderful dessert for the summer. It is also fun to make strawberry ice cream. One of my favourite treats is simply dipping strawberries into frozen whipped cream.

July &mdash Cherries and Blueberries

Pie-baking contests and pie-eating contests occur around this time. Why? Because cherries and blueberries can now be picked! Tart cherries are better for baking, but can be hard to obtain. Sweet cherries are just as good in many recipes. Blueberries also make delicious desserts. Wild blueberries are more flavourful, but smaller than ones grown on farms.

August &mdash Peaches

Now is the time for the classic peach cobbler. Summer peaches are extremely juicy. I find it impossible to bite into a peach without getting juice all over my hands and face. When peaches are baked, they produce a sweet syrup. Peaches also make a great addition to ice cream (for those days when it is too hot to bake!).

Of course, these are not the only fruits available in the summer. Bananas are available all year and pair well with strawberries. Raspberries and blackberries are the best to eat at the end of summer. Watermelon always remains a summer favourite. Different countries have different fruits available. If you are traveling, you will have the chance to try different fruits. I love eating guava and lychee every time I am in Taiwan for the summer.

Going to the local farm to pick fresh fruit can be a great day trip. Or, maybe you can go searching for some wild blueberries. After picking the fruit, you can freeze them to make ice cream, bake them into pies, or simply eat them later in the year!