Raspberry Granita courtesy of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission

Red Raspberries – Top Washington Agricultural Crop

Granita is an Italian version of ice or sorbet, but with large, crunch crytals. It’s very easy and great for a simple dessert. We’ve given the traditional recipe an update by freezing the fruit blend in a zip top plastic bag instead of in a shallow pan. Just squeeze the bag several times during the freezing process to break up the large ice crystals.

According to the Washington Red Raspberry Commission:

Washington red raspberries are delicious and nutritious, packed full of ellagic acid, vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, and produced on some of the most beautiful farmland in the United States. Washington accounts for nearly 95 percent of the U.S. production of processed red raspberries, at about 70,000,000 pounds per year.

Ingredients for Raspberry Granita

• 2 (12-ounce) bags IQF Washington raspberries
• 1/2 cup sugar or honey
• 1/2 cup cranberry-raspberry juice
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced

Directions for Raspberry Granita

1. Process all ingredients in food process or blender just until mixed.
2. Spoon into zip top freezer bag and place bag flat in freezer.
3. After 30 minutes, remove bag and squeeze to break up large ice crystals.
4. Repeat until completely frozen.
5. Stir with fork to break into smaller chunks to serve. Spoon into serving glasses to serve.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Nutrition Information per serving: calories 91, fat 0.05g, saturated fat 0.0g, % calories from fat 1%, protein 1.14g, carbohydrates 22g, cholesterol 0mg, sodium 7.29mg, fiber 2.27g.

Recipe and image courtesy of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission

Tasty Raspberry Treats for You

Photo courtesy of sleepyneko -Flickr

According to the New York State Library:

The apple was adopted as the State fruit in 1976. Apples are sweet and crisp, and many varieties are grown in New York.

Apples were introduced in the 1600s by European settlers who brought seeds to New York. Dried apples were a staple for colonists and hard apple cider was a popular drink.

In addition to New York, the following states have also designated the apple, or a specific apple variety as their state fruit: Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.

Ingredients for Baked Apples

• 4 medium apples
• raisins
• 1 cup water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions for making Baked Apples:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Remove the core from the apples, leaving 1⁄2 inch of the core at the bottom of the apple. Peel top 1/3 of apple.
3. Arrange apples in baking pan. Then fill the core of the apple with raisins, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Pour water into pan.
5. Bake 45 to 60 minutes or until tender. Spoon liquid from pan over apples one or two times during baking.

Nutrition info for 1 serving:
Calories: 110 • Total Fat: 0 g • Saturated Fat: 0 g • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrates: 27 g • Protein: 1 g • Sodium: 5 mg

provided by University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

Tasty New York Apple Treats for You

[wpzon keywords="New York apples"]