Let summer bring a splash of taste and color in your life - and on your dessert plate

May 6, 2008 07:41 GMT  ·  By

With summer on its way, fruit salads are definitely one of the healthiest - and tastiest - choices we can make as far as food is concerned. The colorful blend of delicious and nutritious fruit, coupled with the wide variety of choices available pretty much all year round will make you look forward to stepping in the kitchen for a few minutes and preparing a tasty little treat for you, your friends or your family. Also, let's not forget that the natural antioxidants and fiber in fresh fruit provide extra support for your immune system and keep your body's defenses running smoothly - among other things. Let's get to work then and have a closer look at two delicious, easy to make salads that will get you started on the road to as yet unsuspected fruity delights.

Below is a list of fruit that have an extremely high antioxidant content. You can either mix them all together into a salad or simply make sure that you mix any two or three of them into any salad that you make.

Fruit high in antioxidants:

Kiwis Wild blueberries Cranberries Blackberries Prunes Raspberries Strawberries Red Delicious apples Granny Smith apples Sweet cherries Black plums Now let's put them all to good use.

1. Green Fruit Salad

What we need:

4 kiwifruit - peeled, cut into slices 2 Granny Smith apples - not peeled, cored and sliced 1 cup seedless green grapes Lettuce leaves 2 ounces toasted slivered almonds Lime rind for garnishing Honey-lime dressing - prepared by mixing and blending together 1 (16 ounce) carton plain yogurt, 2 teaspoons grated lime rind and 2 tablespoons honey

How we do it:

Just mix the fruit together and arrange them on the lettuce leaves, then add the dressing and sprinkle with almonds. Voila!

2. Creamy Fruit Salad

What we need:

1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup pineapple juice (preferably unsweetened) 1 egg ? cup sugar 1 tablespoon and 1/4 cup lemon juice (will be added separately) 2 cups light whipped topping 6 medium red apples, diced 6 medium firm bananas, sliced 3 cups halved green grapes

How we do it:

Pour the orange and pineapple juices in a heavy pan, then mix in the sugar, egg and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir constantly and bring to boiling point over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and allow the mix to cool, then blend in the whipped cream.

In a large bowl, mix the apples with the remaining lemon juice, then add the bananas and grapes. Add the cooled dressing and gently stir to coat. Refrigerate and serve cold.

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Fruit salads are delicious and incredibly healthy
Don't be afraid to try your hand at making deliciously nutritious fruit saladsSummer is the best season for making delicious, varied and healthy fruit salads
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