Fruits and Veggies for the month of love..

With love in the air and Valentines day having come and gone.. it was such a blessing to see all the wonderful long stem strawberries and organic chocolates when I walked in to Fresh market yesterday.. So I decided to wander the store to see what's in store for season for this seasons month of love...February.

February is a bit of a strange month; chicory and endive are the stars, backed up by Savoy cabbage, butternut squash, Salsify, Seville Oranges and at a stretch, onions. Leeks, rhubarb, Swedes and sprouts are still in season from previous months. So maybe along with me you are saying... pardon? What are Salsify, scorzonera... and did you spell Swedes right?

Not a particularly common vegetable, Purple Salsify is the variety that can be eaten, and of it, the roots and young shoots are edible; the roots are said to have the taste of oysters, sometimes giving rise to the name oyster plant. It's native to the Mediterranean region, it has a sweet mild flavor, and is ideal for use in stews, casseroles, or creamed or mashed with vegetables. Scorzonera is also known as black salsify.

One of the most hardiest of all root vegetables, Swedes are excellent winter vegetables in a cool climate. Not exactly glamorous, they are thought to be a cross between a turnip and a cabbage, although the name is an abbreviation of "Swedish turnip".

Although used in sweet dishes, rhubarb is actually a vegetable. It tastes great either stewed or in comforting crumbles. To stew it, wash the sticks, cut them into pieces around 3 inches long, place in a pan with a little sugar and a dash of water and cook on a low heat.

You will also notice my favorite.. apples! Pink Lady apples and Honey Crisps are crunchy and sweet! great for making your apple sauces or jams! And if you are an exotic fruit lover the Star Fruit has a waxy, golden yellow to green color skin with a complicated flavor combination that includes plums, pineapples, and lemons.