Rigatoni and Eggplant with Dried Tomato Pesto

Main ingredient: What you'll need: 1 medium onion2 Tbsp olive oil1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound)6 ounces dried rigatoni or other short pasta (e.g., penne or farfalle) 1/3 recipe Drive Tomato Pesto (recipe to follow) 1/4 tsp freshly-ground black pepper2 Tbsp crumbled chevre (goat cheese) or feta cheese (optional) Fresh Italian parsley  Instructions: Dried Tomato Pesto (Serves 6 to 8 side- servings or 4 main-dish servings.):  1)...

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Fresh Banana Frozen Yogurt

Main ingredient: What you'll need: 1 1/2 cups mashed rip bananas (3 medium) 1/4 cup sugar 4 cups vanilla yogurt Instructions: 1) Mash bananas with sugar in medium bowl 2) Stir in yogurt 3) Pour into 1-quart ice-cream maker and freeze according to desired texture 4) Enj...

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Freshly Squeezed Lemonade

Main ingredient: What you'll need: 3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 20 lemons) 2 cups superfine sugar4 cups cold water Ice  Instructions (to make 2 quarts): 1) Pour 3 cups of fresh lemon juice through fine sieve into pitcher2) Add 2 cups superfine sugar, stir until dissolved3) Stir in 4 cups cold water and desired ice4) Garnish with lemon slices and sprig of fresh mint&nb...

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Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

Main ingredient: What you'll need: Cake:  1 1/4 cups sugar1/2 cup butter2 eggs1 tsp baking soda4 Tbsp sour cream1 1/2 cup flour1/4 tsp salt1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla1 cup bananas, mashed Topping:  1/4 cup packed brown sugar1/8 cup sugar1 Tbsp cinnamon1 cup chocolate chips1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)  Instructions: 1) Preheat oven to 325°2) Line angel food cake pan with waxed paper and grease well3) Cream sugar, butter,...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Zucchini

Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to four days; do not wash until ready to u...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Watermelon

Store whole melons in a cool spot. Cover wedges in plastic and refrigerate up to 4 da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Tomatoes

Keep tomatoes at room temperature until ripe, and then use within a day or two. Don't refrigerate them, as it will affect their flav...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Sweet Potatoes

Store sweet potatoes loose in a cool, dark place for up to 1 mon...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Summer Squash

Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to four days; do not wash until ready to u...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Strawberries

If using right away, it's best not to refrigerate them. Otherwise, lay the berries flat on a paper-towel-lined plate and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Do not rinse or hull until ready to u...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Spinach

Once at home, wrap spinach in paper towels and store in a plastic bag in your refrigerator's crisper. Whether prebagged or home-bagged, spinach should last about three to four da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Scallions

Store in a plastic bag in the crisper for up to four da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Raspberries

Store, uncovered, in the refrigerator in a layer on a paper-towel-lined plate for 2 to 3 days. Rinse before usi...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Radishes

Place radishes in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper. Those purchased with tops removed can be kept up to a week. Radishes with leaves on should be used within a day or so because the greens don't stay fresh very lo...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Pumpkins

Pumpkins keep well at room temperature for up to a month. Stored in a cool cellar or refrigerator, they can last up to three months. Once cut, pumpkin pieces should be wrapped tightly and refrigerated. Use cut pumpkin within five da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Potatoes

Potatoes should not be refrigerated; keep them in a cool, dark place and use within a week or so of buyi...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Pluots

Pluots continue to ripen once off the tree, unless they are completely hard. Turn pluots upside down and leave them on the counter, out of the sun. When they reach the desired ripeness, store them unwrapped in the refrigerator up to three da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Pineapple

Pineapples do not keep well, so it's a good idea to use them soon after purchasing. Store them at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to three da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Peas

Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 3 days. Pea shoots don't keep for long. Plan to use them the same day you pick or buy them. Store in the refrigerat...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Pears

Pears are unique in that they are best when picked unripe and then allowed to ripen off the tree. Choose hard pears and leave on a counter to rip...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Peaches

You can refrigerate peaches for three to five da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Oranges

Oranges can be stored at room temperature for several days or in the refrigerator for up to two wee...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Onions

Stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place, onions will keep for a month or ...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Nectarines

Although best enjoyed without delay, ripe nectarines can be refrigerated for three to five days. Leave firmer ones at room temperature to rip...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Mushrooms

Refrigerate loose mushrooms (unrinsed) in a paper bag, and containers of mushrooms in their original package. Use within a few days of purcha...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Mangos

Keep unripe mangos at room temperature to ripen, which may take up to 1 week. A paper bag might help them ripen sooner, but they will not ripen at temperatures below 55 degrees. Ripe mangos can be kept in the refrigerator up to 2 wee...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Limes

Fresh limes will last about 10 days in the refrigerator. Cut limes can also be refrigerated up to five da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Lettuce

Lettuce should be washed and either drained completely or blotted with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Refrigerate washed-and-dried greens in an airtight plastic bag for three to five days (with the exception of arugula, which is very perishable and should be tightly wrapped in a plastic bag and refrigerated for no more than two day...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Lemons

Lemons can be refrigerated in a plastic bag for two to three wee...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Kiwifruit

Kiwifruits can be left to ripen for a few days to a week at room temperature, away from exposure to sunlight or heat. Placing the fruits in a paper bag with an apple, banana or pear will help to speed their ripening process. Ripe kiwifruits can be stored either at room temperature or in the refrigerat...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Jalapeños

Store in a paper bag in the crisper up to 5 da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Green Beans

Although they taste best if used right away, green beans can be refrigerated in a sealed plastic bag for up to five da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Grapes

Discard damaged grapes, place bunch in a plastic bag, and refrigerate up to three days. To avoid destroying the bloom, rinse just before usi...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Grapefruit

Grapefruit will keep at room temperature for a week when stored in a bowl or basket with good air circulation. Kept in an airtight bag in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, it can be stored for up to two mont...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Garlic

Keep fresh garlic in an open container (away from other foods) in a cool, dark place. Unbroken bulbs can be kept up to eight weeks. Once broken from the bulb, individual cloves will last 3 to 10 da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Eggplant

Whole eggplant will keep up to a few days in a cool pla...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cucumber

Refrigerate unwashed and wrapped in a plastic bag up to 1 we...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cranberries

Fresh cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months in a tightly-sealed plastic bag. (However, if one starts to decay, the others will quickly follow.) Be sure to sort out the soft berries if you plan to store them for any length of time.  Cooked cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month in a covered container (depending on the ingredients).&nb...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Corn

Since corn begins to lose its natural sweetness as soon as it is picked, fresh corn is best eaten the day it is purchased; if not, you can refrigerate ears in their husks for up to two da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Coconut

Fresh unopened coconuts can be stored at room temperature for up to four months, depending on original freshness. Grated fresh coconut should be put in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator for up to four days or frozen for up to six mont...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cherries

Unwashed cherries should keep in your refrigerator for up to a week (wash right before eating, as water can cause the cherry to soften and spli...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Carrots

Remove greens and tightly seal unwashed carrots in a plastic bag in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Wash just before using. Depending on freshness, carrots should last between 7 and 10 da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cantaloupe

Store whole melons in a cool spot. If cut, cover wedges in plastic and refrigerate up to four day...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cauliflower

When wrapped tightly in plastic, cauliflower heads can be refrigerated for three to five day...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Cabbage

Cabbage is best stored whole. Green and red cabbage can be refrigerated up to 2 weeks; Savoy about 1 week. Place the cabbage in a plastic bag and store. If you need to use part of the cabbage, cut and wrap unused portions tightly in plastic wrap. Once cut, cabbage will need to be used within several da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Brussels Sprouts

Store unwashed brussels sprouts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within three or four da...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Butternut Squash

This hardy squash can be kept for up to three months in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigera...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Broccoli

Broccoli can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days, depending on its freshness when purchased. Wash and trim just before usin...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Blueberries

Remove any twigs or leaves along with any berries that are soft or moldy. Refrigerate in the original container up to five days. When you're ready to use them, rinse berries under cold water; drain and pat d...

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Proper Produce Storage Guide | Blackberries

Refrigerate berries in their containers and use within a few days. Berries are sensitive to moisture; do not store in plastic bags, and wash just before u...

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