Beautiful California Oranges: March is the most beautiful time of year in the Bella Viva Orchards. Almonds, cherries, apricots, plums and many other fruit trees are in full bloom. But, right now the new orange crop is in and it is as sweet as ever! Throughout the grove branches are weighed down by these juicy glowing gems. Recently, the air around the dehydrators has been thick with the fragrance of ripe oranges. Our proprietary drying method preserves that fresh flavor and aroma perfectly so you can enjoy these dried oranges year round. Come on down to the store or order online and enjoy the
Pecan Stuffing: This recipe comes to us from my family to yours just in time for Thanksgiving, thank you grandma Joan for sharing. The recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger gatherings, just keep the ratios the same. I prefer to leave out the butter because Bella Viva Pecans are so rich and buttery. The box of Mrs. Cubbinson’s can also be substituted for fresh cubed bread but be sure to toast it and add additional seasoning. For drier stuffing use 2 cups of broth and for wetter stuffing use 3-4 cups. Ingredients: ½ tube Jimmy Dean sage sausage ½ tube Jimmy
Congratulations to Nerine A. from Texas for winning first prize in the 2015 Bella Viva Recipe Contest! Her Blueberry Yogurt Muffins are to die for. We enjoyed their scrumptious combination of textures and flavors. The crumbly outside is complimented by the moist inside; which is made possible by a generous wallop of yogurt. To top it all off, the dried blueberries and yogurt come together to create a delicious gummy texture and a wonderful blend of tart and sweet flavors. Ingredients: 1/2 cup (one stick) salted butter, room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt, room temperature 2 eggs, room temperature 2
Congratulations to Debra D. for winning second prize in the 2015 Bella Viva Recipe Contest! Her sweet and salty fig bars were delicious. We enjoyed the unique blend of flavors and the buttery rich taste. The beauty of this recipe is you can mix and match any dried fruit and nuts, such as: raisins, dates, prunes, apricots or cherries. Ingredients: ¾ cup dried figs ¾ cup water ½ cup butter (coconut oil might work, haven’t tested yet) 3 tablespoons coconut sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1¼ cup blanched almond flour ⅛ teaspoon baking soda ¾ cup chopped walnuts (or more) sea salt or Himalayan salt
Congratulations to Janeen T. of Illinois for winning third prize in the 2015 Bella Viva Recipe Contest! This apple pie is loaded with fruit. We love the sweet fruity taste and the occasional crunch from the walnuts. Ingredients: Crust: 1 heaping cup flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 rounded Tablespoons Crisco shortening Ice water Filling: 1/4 cup Golden Thompson Seedless Raisins 1/4 cup dried cranberries Soak 30 minutes in water then drain off water 1/4 chopped walnuts Assortment of Granny Smith, Macintosh, and Jonathan Apples 3-4 of each depending on size of apples–chop finely 2/3 cup sugar 4 tablespoons flour 2/3 teaspoon
Congratulations to Gail H. from Tennessee for winning third prize in the 2015 Bella Viva Recipe Contest! This was by far the most unique recipe we received for the contest. Who would have thought to combine our dried apricots with peppers and vinegar? We loved spreading this jam over bagels with cream cheese. Ingredients: 1 ½ cups Bella Viva Dried Apricots 1 large orange or yellow bell pepper (1 to 1 ¼ cup) 4-5 habañero peppers (adjust as needed for your taste) 2 cups white vinegar 6 cups granulated sugar 3 ounces and 1 tablespoon Certo liquid pectin Instructions In dishwasher, sterilize 4 pint
Bella Viva Dried Persimmons: This time of year always brings joy and excitement to all of us at Bella Viva. ‘Tis the season to give thanks, spend time with friends and family, eat great food and send gifts to your loved ones. We’ve been working diligently to provide a variety of delectable gift baskets, trays and crates; available just in time for the holiday season. We take great pride in our beautiful, bountiful and nutritious gift offerings. If you are looking for a jolly old time, come down December 5th for the Hughson Christmas Festival. During the parade and Santa’s tree lighting, we will
The Holidays Are Almost Here! At Bella Viva, we can already smell the holidays approaching quickly. Lately, our family has been enjoying the aroma of fresh baked goods, using Bella Viva dried fruit as a secret ingredient. We hope your home is also filled with baking, love and cheerfulness during this special season. We invite you to share some holiday joy with our lovely gift baskets, holiday trays and specialty chocolates. But for us, that holiday cheer also comes in the form of baked goods. From scones to muffins, and even fruitcake, our dried fruit and nuts add a bit of “wow” to your
Description This recipe comes from our family to yours. Beatrice Martino, the sister of our owner Victor Martino, created this wonderful no-bake fruit cake years ago and it has been a family staple ever since. It doesn’t feel like Christmas until this tasty desert is made. It has been passed on from Beatrice to Victor’s wife, Angela Martino, who makes the fruit cake every year. She calls it a “holiday must”. Happy Holidays from all us at Bella Viva! Ingredients: -2 pounds mixed of Bella Viva Dried Yellow Peaches, White Nectarines, and Apricots. -1 pound Marshmallows -1 pound Graham Crackers -¾ cup Canned Evaporated
Description Paul Decker of New York presented Bella Viva with this marvelous desert as an entry in our Online Bake Off. We awarded his recipe first prize ($100 Bella Viva Certificate) based on: taste, quality, revelant use of dried fruit and ease of baking. We invite you to experiment with any and all of our delectable dried fruits in this tasty desert recipe. Thanks Paul! Ingredients: -1 cup Bella Viva Dried Apricots or Dapple Dandy Pluots, chopped -1 cup Bella Viva Dried Peaches, chopped -1 cup Bella Viva Dried Cranberries and/or Golden Raisins -4 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced (skin on), 4-5 cups
