Category: Uncategorized

Cranberry Orange Pockets

Description This delicious recipe was submitted for our November 2011 Online Bake Off by Lele Hicks. We were so overwhelmed by the pockets’ crunchy outside and juicy sweet inside that we awarded this recipe first place. Thanks Lele! The beauty with all of our baking recipes is that you can get creative and sample other Bella Viva Dried Fruit in different batches. Ingredients: Dough: -1/2 cup butter, softened -1 cup granulated sugar -1/2 t baking powder -1/4 baking soda -1/4 t ground nutmeg -Dash salt -1/2 cup sour cream -1 egg -2 t finely shredded orange peel from Bella Viva dried oranges -1/2 t

Bella Viva Scones

Description At Bella Viva we love baking with our dried fruit! We have even diced our most delectable dried fruits for your convenience in the kitchen, including: Tangy Apricots, Yellow Peaches, White Peaches, Yellow Nectarines, White Nectarines, Pears, Dapple Dandy Pluots and Betty Anne Plums. Thanks to Mary A. of Sacramento for sending us this tasty recipe. Actually, I had the pleasure of making these scones with her. In today’s recipe we have used Bella Viva Diced Pears and Dapple Dandy Pluots but we invite you to be creative and use any and all of our diced fruits for your scones at home. You can

Peaches – August 2015

A Peachy Keen Time of the Year The sweet aroma of peaches in the Bella Viva dry yard is extra special this time of year. Although the peaches we harvest in June and July are tasty, the best ones come in August! We’re in the middle of harvest and the dry yard is bursting with a montage of beautiful, White and Yellow Peaches. With the California drought persisting, we were only able to provide half the water we normally distribute to our peach orchards. Typically, our peach trees need about 32 to 36 inches of water (per year) to yield a great crop. However,

Nectarines – July 2015

Nectarines – A Deliciously Sweet, California Treat! The nectarine harvest is underway in our Bella Viva Orchards! Radiant colors marked with sun kissed spots let us know that the fruit is bursting with flavor and loaded with sweetness. We hand pick our nectarines, which allows us to closely monitor the fruit until they reach peak ripeness; a task that requires much more attention to detail while enduring the current drought conditions coupled with the recent high temperatures we are experiencing here in California. After the harvest, our proprietary drying process begins within 24 hours to ensure the best flavor and texture possible for our

Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Description Howie of Venice, Florida shared the recipe with us in the Bella Viva Bake off! Ingredients: 1 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1 1/2 cups Quaker Oats 1/2 cup apple sauce 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 2/3 cup dried cranberries Instructions In a medium bowl combine first six ingredients. Add apple sauce, egg, vanilla and cranberries. Stir vigorously until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Slightly flatten down dough so it isn’t too thick. Preheat oven

Fruity Cannoli

Description Kym McKenzie provides us with this amazing Fruity Cannoli recipe. Based on taste and quality, relevant use of dried fruit, and ease of baking, Kym won 2nd prize ($75 bella Viva Certificate) in our Online Bake Off. Ingredients: shells: 2 Tbsp butter softened 1/3 cup sugar 2 egg whites 1/2 Tsp almond extract 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup flour filling: 30 oz ricotta cheese 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 Tbsp grated orange peel 1 Tbsp grated lemon peel 1 Tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mini chocolate chips 1 cup of Bella Viva Dried Cranberries, Dried Figs, Dried Rainier Cherries or strawberries, diced

Cherries – May 2015

Cherries – Organics are Back! The cherries are coming, the cherries are coming! Cherry season has arrived at Bella Viva and the dry yard is covered red with cherries. It’s a short season from just May to mid-June, but cherries are harvested across most of California’s Central Valley. At Bella Viva we are proud to grow our own cherries as well as partnering with local growers who share our passion for sustainability. We have several types of the dried cherries to fit every taste, including conventional, natural and organic. So come down to the store or buy online and enjoy the good life! Attention

Oranges – March 2015

Oranges – The Sweet Taste of California Citrus! Greetings from Hughson, California! We are currently harvesting and drying our Natural and Organic Dried Orange Slices at our facility in Denair, CA. Due to customer demand, the fruit from our trees is not enough to keep these tasty treats on our shelves! To acquire more fresh oranges, we have partnered with a local grower in Porterville who shares our values and passion for sustainable farming. Order online or come by our store and enjoy the good life. Have you ever tried a dried orange slice? At Bella Viva we love them! The beauty of it is you

Backyard Orchard – February 2015

Planting Bare Root Trees – Your Backyard Orchard The bounty of the harvest all begins with the preparation and planting of our orchards. Although our Bella Viva orchards are filled with hundreds of trees, consisting of many different varieties, it doesn’t take a lot of space to create your own “Backyard Orchard.” The best time of the year to plant your bare root fruit trees is during the winter months when they are dormant; before their buds swell and the rainy season saturates the ground. First, you will need to find an area in your yard that receives six or more hours of full

Bella Viva Spiced Peaches

Description Thanks to Teresa F. of Iowa for share this tasty snack. It is great on toast with cream cheese. You could even try it over ice cream or frozen yogurt! Ingredients: 1 cup of water ½ cup sugar 2 chai teabags 1-2 small pieces of peeled raw ginger 6 Bella Viva dried peaches, Yellow or White Several drops of pure vanilla extract Instructions In a small saucepan, boil the water, sugar, chai teabags (Celestial Seasonings, Bigalow or store brand), and ginger together for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the peach slices and a few drops of vanilla. Let sit until peaches