Anita's EZ Recipe
Apricot & Banana Dessert
Drain 1 can of whole or halved, peeled apricots, reserving the liquid.
Mix the liquid with the juice of 1/2 lemon or lime.
Peel 2 bananas, dice into the liquid mixture.
Add apricots, cover, and chill.
Serve plain, with a mint leaf, or top with small scoop of lemon sherbert or vanilla ice cream.
Could also sit in a bed of lettuce.

Basic Preparation of Apricots
Fresh

• Wash with water with no soap just before using
• Remove the skin, if desired.
• To peel, plunge whole apricots into boiling water for 30 seconds, and then into iced water.
• Wilted apricots can be peeled and mashed before adding to a recipe for baking, quick breads, pancakes, etc.

Dried

• Eat directly out of the bag
• Reconstitute by soaking in a warm water until plump

To Preserve Apricots at home - can, freeze, dry, or make jam
Go go http://uga.edu/nchfp.

Storing Apricots

Fresh Apricots
Refrigerate ripe fruit 3-5 days in a closed container or vented plastic bag
To ripen hold at room temperature or put in bag with apples or bananas at room temperature

Canned Apricots
Unopened commercial cans can be kept on the shelf for up to 2 years
Once opened canned apricots can be kept in the refrigerator 2-4 days if covered.

Dried Apricots
Dried, unopened apricots can be kept at room temerature 2-5 months
Dried, opened apricots should be kept tightly sealed to keep moist.

Selecting Apricots

• Apricots mature in April and May
• One of first tree fruits to ripen in the Spring
• Select plump,well-formed apricots
• They should be fairly firm with delicate apricot aroma
• Color should be golden orange with no green
• Apricots are fragile; handle carefully