Category: Recipes

In the Kitchen: Baked Apple Hand Pies

Leave the deep fat fryer in the closet, ‘cause you’re about to enjoy this healthier dessert that’s long on sweetness and flakiness and short on the guilt. So pick your favorite varieties of sweet or tart Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Apples and fire up that oven! It’s delish time in your house! Yields: 12 hand pies Prep time: 1 hour 15 minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal Time: 2 hours 35 minutes (including fridge time) Ingredients: 1 recipe hand pie crust (recipe below), or 1 store-bought pie crust2 cups chopped Bella Viva Orchards Dried Skinless Apples (see note)About 2 cups very hot water1 teaspoon vanilla extract1

Apple of Your Eye: Sweet, Tart Autumness!

As the leaves turn color and fall from the trees and the days grow cooler and shorter, it becomes the perfect time for apples. Dried Apples, that is! These chewy guys want to jump into your desk, your kids’ lunch bags and into your kitchen. And the doctor would approve! Naturally fat-free, gluten-free and GMO-free, Dried Apples are high in vitamin C and contain dietary fiber, vitamin B-6 and a bit of potassium and magnesium. Experts tell us that Apples can help promote weight management, bone health, digestive function and pulmonary function. The same sources state that Apples can help stave off asthma and

Behold: The Courageous Cranberry!

Brilliant red, sweet and tart. That’s the courageous Cranberry! These beautiful berries, sweetened just enough to round out that puckerfulness, are screaming to be part of your healthy diet. They want you to think of them when it’s time for breakfast, lunch, snacktime and dinner. They especially want you to think of them now that cooler weather and holidays are upon us. Dried Cranberries are a source of dietary fiber and some calcium, iron and potassium. They’re also GMO-free, fat free and sodium-free. Their claim to fame? Think about antioxidants and bioactive compounds rather than vitamins and minerals. These compounds help promote healthier metabolism,

Peerless Pears: A Summer Swan Song!

Think of sweet summer days growing shorter as fall arrives. We hope when you do, thoughts of sweet and shapely Pears come to mind, ‘cause now’s the time to enjoy these golden fruits that we harvest at the end of summer. Pears can be simple or fancy, enjoyed as is or used in your favorite recipes. So tear open that bag of Bella Viva Orchards’ plump Pears and read on as you feed your palate and your body in a most wonderful way!   Because Pears have a good amount of dietary fiber in each serving, they’re your friend when it comes to digestive health,

A Penchant for Prunes: Fall Beauties Are Ready!

We can’t help but boast a bit: Our Prunes are spectacular. We grow, harvest and dry them ourselves right here at Bella Viva Orchards. Now, if your grandmother made you eat Prunes as a kid, maybe it’s time to rethink them. They are worthy, for sure! You can incorporate Prunes into your diet any time of the day, from fruity and sweet breakfasts to lunchbox companions to savory dinner entrees. And yes, they make a prime midday snack that’s filled with good nutrition and help keep you full ‘til dinnertime. Besides being great for intestinal health – thanks for making that clear, Grandmother –

In the Kitchen: Savory Prune Chicken

This flavor-packed dinner entrée features Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Prunes made savory with briny capers, green olives, fresh garden herbs and earthy bay leaves. Your family and friends will love this dish. We’re sure it’ll make them feel indulged. Yields: 4 servings Prep Time: 15 minutesMarinate Time: 8 to 24 hoursCook Time: about 30 minutesTotal Time: Marinate time plus 45 minutes (approximately) Marinade Ingredients: 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts6 plump garlic cloves, minced2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon¼ cup brandy (Optional but suggested)¼ cup good-quality red wine vinegar¼ cup olive oil½ teaspoon Kosher salt½ teaspoon freshly ground

Peaches and Nectarines: Our Pride and Joy!

We love summertime here in the Central Valley! The long, warm days bring us sweet Peaches and Nectarines that are grown and harvested from our very own trees. We’re humbly proud of these beautiful bright gems that we dry in our own drying yard. These sweet and nutritious stone fruits are among our favorites and we’re sure you’ll love ‘em too!  Beyond being delicious, fuzzy-skinned Peaches and their smooth-skinned Nectarine cousins can help fend off cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic conditions. Compounds found in these fruits may help promote healthier cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and obesity-related illnesses. They’re sources of vitamins C and A,

In the Kitchen: Stuffed Peaches and Nectarines

This recipe featuring Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Peaches and Nectarines crowned with chopped Pistachio Kernels makes a sweet and pretty treat. The taste of summer is in each bite! Yields: 12 treats Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 11 minutes (10 minutes for fruit, 1 minute for syrup) Total Time: About 1 hour Ingredients: 6 Bella Viva Orchards Dried Peaches (any variety, see note) 6 Bella Viva Orchards Dried Nectarines (any variety, see note) 1 cup water 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice ¼ cup white sugar 4 ounces mascarpone, room temperature ⅓ cup Bella Viva Orchards Pistachio Kernels Instructions: In a medium saucepan,

In the Kitchen: Lemon Yogurt Blueberry Bread

Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Lemon Powder makes a great flavor partner for our Dried Blueberries in this easy and addictive bread. You can enjoy this sweet and tangy bread for breakfast, with a cuppa coffee, or topped with fresh mixed berries and whipped cream for dessert. Yields: 2 loaves Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 3 eggs 1 cup canola or vegetable oil 3 tablespoons Bella Viva Orchards Dried Lemon Powder 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar 1 tablespoon plus 1

Blueberries: A Good Case of Summertime Blues!

Mother Nature was on her game when she created California Blueberries! Grown in nearby fields and dried in Bella Viva Orchards drying yards, these fruits screaming summertime are ready to enjoy now! Sweet, a little tangy and dark sapphire-colored, these little guys are dietary superheroes! They’re a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, which means they are beneficial to cardiovascular health, digestive health, immune function and some studies suggest antioxidants may even help prevent certain cancers (2). Now how can something so powerful to your health be so sweet and easy to enjoy? Take ‘em at face value and eat some right out