mascarpone & apricots a perfect pair

We just picked all the apricots off our tree and now have an abundance of perfectly ripe apricots. It's always a game as to who will get the apricots first. The birds are waiting for them to be just right and so am I  . . . so is the dog by the way. At least she waits for them to fall. Those bad-mannered birds peck at one a little then move on to the next. I've learned to pick them just before they are perfect then let them ripen in the house. We've eaten all the fresh cold apricots we can, given away a bunch and they are now at the point where they have to be eaten and I can't bear to see these gems go bad so I made jam last night. I simply cooked down a pot of apricots with fresh squeezed lemons from our tree and added sugar. Hot apricot jam is almost as good as the pairing below.

• apricots halved
• mascarpone
• walnuts - oven roasted with honey and kosher salt
• honey
• basil
• balsalmic - reduced to a syrup

1. bake the apricots at 350 until juicy but not mushy
2. fill with a dollop of mascarpone - let cool enough that the mascarpone doesn't melt
3. top with roasted walnut
4. drizzle balsalmic reduction 
5. top with fresh basil chiffonade

dessert

I just want to talk about dessert for a second because my kids always want to know "what's for dessert?" Dessert can be healthy so I usually offer delicious fruit that's in season or a sweet with a nice tall glass of cold milk.

Easy and somewhat healthy desserts:

• diced strawberries topped with a drizzle of chocolate


• hot milk sweetened with a teaspoon of honey


• a bowl of pomegranate seeds in the shell is a fun dessert for the kids (just put an apron on them)


• sliced granny smith apples with caramel dipping sauce


• multigrain waffle  topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of real maple syrup


• plain yogurt topped with honey and toasted almonds


• cracker topped with mascarpone cheese, honey and strawberry


• DIY orange juice pops pour half oj put a dollop of frozen vanilla yogurt then finish with more oj (yummy creamsicles)


• banana smoothy - just banana and milk whipped up with a little ice so it's really cold, sometimes I put a little chocolate