Although the first figs may come in sometime in June, late July heralds the second round of the US fig season. In Europe, most especially Italy, everyone who can, has a fig tree. Italian immigrants who came to the US in the late 19th and early 20th century, planted them in barrels in apartment courtyards and in cottage gardens, holding onto the memory of warm figs harvested from trees in sun-baked gardens and hillsides.

Strawberry Daiquiri’s are refreshing and delicious and with all the fresh berries available in summer, so easy to make!

Vanilla is still America’s favorite Ice Cream flavor, which comes as no surprise to us! According to Food & Wine magazine, to celebrate July being National Ice Cream Month, the International Dairy Foods Association conducted a survey, which found Vanilla and Chocolate to be the two top sellers, in that order. Strawberry is the top fruit flavor, so we’re pretty sure you’ll be pleased with our deliciously refreshing recipe for Strawberry Ice Cream!

You’ve got to love the quirky names the Brits have for some of their older recipes. Fool is one of my favorites though Bubbles and Squeak and Toad-in-a-Hole are up there on my list of “faves.”

This is a little different from traditional Fool recipes, which are made with minced or pureed fruits and whipped cream or custard.  This recipe has cooked rhubarb and strawberries, whipped cream blended with crème fraiche and delicate rose water. You are welcome to substitute other fruits for the strawberries and rhubarb if you choose. Just keep the proportions more or less the same.