Every summer when he shows up for our big family gathering in Lake Tahoe over the Fourth of July, my brother-in-law, Dale, packs the back of his Jeep with enough fresh fruit to fuel a small summer camp: flats of peaches and berries, and mangoes by the case. Each year, without fail, my father, who has a mortal aversion to excess, greets this generous haul with the words, “we’ll never eat all that fruit!” And each year, indeed we do. Each morning Dale rises at dawn to slice, dice, and present a fruit buffet that even a carnivore couldn’t turn down.
Fruit Makes a Fabulous Dessert
It’s a reminder to me that when handled with care, the appeal of fresh fruit is undeniable. Case in point was a recent meal out with the kids during which we were served four different fruits piled high on a bed of crushed ice. It was so beautiful, we polished it off in no time and not one of us thought, “we’re only having fruit for dessert?” Now, here’s how to make a seasonal fruit platter at home:
How to Make a Seasonal Fruit Platter
1. Gather
Choose 2 to 3 (or more) fresh, seasonal fruits (the farmers’ market is excellent for this). In summer, you might include assorted berries, peaches, and watermelon. In fall, pears, apples, figs, and pomegranate are in season. Winter is for celebrating the abundance of citrus fruits. And spring is all about strawberries. You can find a seasonal produce guide by heading here.
2. Plate it Pretty
Pull out your prettiest platter. Choose one big enough to fit everything but not so big that your fruit looks spare. A cake stand can work well for this, too.
3. Keep it Cold
Cover the platter with crushed ice if you want to keep it good and cold. Skip it if this step is too fussy.
4. Get to Work
Cut the fruit with care so it’s pretty and easy to eat. Pit stone fruits, peel kiwis, peel tangerines, and snip large bunches of grapes into small bundles.
5. Arrange with Care
Pile the fruit over the ice or directly onto the platter.
6. Serve!
Set the platter in the center of your dining room table and see what happens.
Maybe someone will say, “we’ll never eat all that fruit!”
But I bet you do.
