Eat Fruit Friday: Orange

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Oranges are in season. As of 1987, orange trees were determined to be the most cultivated fruit tree in the world.

There are several varieties including the navel orange, the sweet "red" blood orange and the late-season Valencia orange.

Something Different: Christmas Popcorn

I've got a real treat for you today. It's popcorn that's all dressed up for a merry time.  What's mad about this is that, even though all of these spices and flavors are pungent on their own, they actually taste like tutti frutti sweets when together.

You can use this sugar mix for so many other things, too. From a sweetener for cereal, sprinkled over cake or ice cream. It keeps for a while, so if you're going to make it, you may as well make a big batch and keep it in an airtight container. 

Eat Fruit Friday: Cherries

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Cherries are in season. The cherry is a fruit and peak season is summer. Several species of cherries exist, two popular varieties are wild or sweet-cherry, and sour or tart-cherry.

The West Indian cherry fruit is grown in Mexico and certain Texas regions in North America. It's tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree and has seeds.

Eat Fruit Friday: Grapefruit

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Grapefruits are in season. The grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour to semi-sweet fruit. It's an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit.

The varieties of Texas and Florida grapefruit include: Oro Blanco, Ruby Red, Pink, Thompson, White Marsh, Flame, Star Ruby, Duncan, and Pummelo HB". The United States is the top producer of grapefruit and pomelo followed by China and South Africa.

Grapefruit is a Superfood. It's delicious for breakfast, but it can be a tart taste and may need a sprinkle of sugar or sugar substitute.

Eat Fruit Friday: Pineapple

It's Eat Fruit Friday. The pineapple is a tropical plant. Enjoy pineapples fresh, cooked, juiced and preserved. The pineapple leaves are used to produce a textile fiber called piña in the Philippines, which is made into material for men's  and women's formal wear.

The fiber is also used as a component for wallpaper and other furnishings. Store fresh pineapple on the countertop away from direct sunlight.

Eat Fruit Friday: Kiwi

It's Eat Fruit Friday. There are so many types of citrus fruit, and this one is an overlooked one. Originally discovered in the Chang Kiang Valley of China, kiwifruit was considered a delicacy by the great Khans who relished its emerald green color and dazzling flavor. Over 70% of kiwifruit production is in Italy, New Zealand and Chile. It's also grown in the United States.

Eat Fruit Friday: Mango

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Mangos are in season. If you haven't taken a bite of a mango, it's a taste treat. Mangos originated 4,000 years ago. According to some, mangos are eaten fresh more than any other fruit in the world. Store fresh mangos in the refrigerator.

Mangos are a Superfood. You're gonna wanna make Bobby Flay's Gingerbread Cupcakes with Caramelized Mango Buttercream 

Go Texan: Chicken Bocaditos with Habanero, Pecans and Agave

Feast on Snack recipes from Top Texas Chefs who are part of the GO TEXAN program that represents Texas agri-business on a state, national and international level.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is proud to play a role in the continuing success of Texas growers, merchants and restauranteurs.

Eat Fruit Friday: Pomegranates

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Pomegranates are in season. The pomegranate originated in the region between the Himalayas and Egypt. Today, it's grown in California and Arizona. It's considered a fruit berry, between the size of a lemon and a grapefruit.

After the pomegranate is opened by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seeds are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the seeds is easier in a bowl of water because the seeds sink and the inedible pulp floats. It has sour notes and is typically found in juices, sauces and salad dressing.

In Mexico, they are commonly used as a garnish for traditional Mexican chiles en nogada, which consists of poblano chiles filled with picadillo (a mixture usually containing shredded meat, aromatics, fruits and spices) topped with a walnut-based cream sauce and pomegranate seeds.

Store fresh pomegranates on the countertop away from direct sunlight.

Eat Fruit Friday: Peaches

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Peaches are in season. Peaches and nectarines are in the same family, although many view them differently. Peach blossoms are highly prized in Chinese culture.

The ancient Chinese believed the peach to possess more vitality than any other tree because their blossoms appear before leaves sprout. There are 300 varieties grown in North America, including clingstone and freestone.

Eat Fruit Friday: Cranberries

It's Eat Fruit Friday. Cranberries are in season. Cranberries are smaller than a grape or strawberry. They're harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive deep red color. Cranberries are a major fruit in America and Canada.

Fresh cranberries are hard and bitter, and as such as they're usually sweetened. The berries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, jam, and sweetened dried cranberries, as well as being available fresh to consumers.

How to Make Mad Seven Layer Taco Dip

It's How To Tuesday, and today, it's a kick-back dip for March Madness, also known as the Big Dance. If you're a fan, you know that it's one of the most famous annual sporting events in the United States.

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship of the major college basketball teams.

This is the recipe to make and enjoy by yourself or with friends and family. Have a "bring your own dip" get-together.

Superbowl Sunday Recipe: Chipolte Lime Dip

Super Bowl XLIX (49) is tonight. Game day is called "Super Bowl Sunday" and is viewed as an unofficial American national holiday. It is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption after Thanksgiving Day.

In 2014, Super Bowl XLVIII (48) on Fox became the most-watched American television program in history with an average audience of 111.5 million viewers. That day, the (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks defeated the (AFC) champion Denver Broncos 43–8, the third largest point differential (35) in Super Bowl history.

Snack Recipe: Toast Points

What is a Toast Point? They're simply a piece of toast with the crust cut off, that’s been sliced crosswise to form triangles.

Toast points are an excellent accompaniment with soups, salads and small meat and seafood meals.

Toast points are good with breakfast cereal, eggs and smoothies, as well as for a snack with fruit and cheese.

The most famous go-with is caviar.

Traditional crustless toast points make a nice presentation; however, the crusts are actually healthier.

How to Festive Up Your Gatherings with Drinks and Appetizers

I learned a lot in my cooking classes, and making drinks and appetizers was part of my lessons. Anytime is a good time to have drinks and snacks ready for visitors. I don't serve alcoholic drinks anymore. I prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Whatever you prefer. it is a must to have something to drink ready for guests at planned events, and it's good manners and a show of hospitality to offer a beverage to people who drop by to say hello.