Summer Fruit Recipes: Plum Empanadas (and other things)

When I was around 8 years old, I had one of the most joyful and vivid dreams of my life.

We grew up in the Texas hill country, out on Lake Travis, far from civilization, but fortunately with lots of land to run around on and play. Next to our house was a scrubby field of weeds, sticker burrs, brown tufts of grass, and hard-packed white caliche soil. It was striking in a desolate way: parched, cracked, dry and barren, but also beautiful in its beige monochrome.

In my dream, though, it was a paradise. In my dream, the field was green with thick grass, as soft as high-dollar wall-to-wall. Orderly rows of stone fruit trees cast the ground with shade and it was my birthday. I dreamed it was my birthday in this luxurious place and the colorful crepe paper streamers all around were proof of the most wonderful birthday there ever was. Someone loved me deeply. I can even remember what it smelled like. The air was soft and warm and green and yellow and pink. Peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines were all for the taking. Just meandering through the trees, eating what I pleased; I don’t remember there being any other people there. Funny. A picnic with no guests – a party that didn’t ever really exist even – still hangs clearly in my mind.

Anyway, while I don’t expect to ever find that field of dreams (sorry about that!) I still imagine it sometimes. In honor, here are some summer fruit recipes from this website and others, starting with sweet and savory plum empanadas … or plum-panadas? (sorry again!)

This white wine pastry turned out wonderfully light, but it definitely has a wine aroma out of the oven. If you don’t drink wine… uh, I’m not sure what to tell ya, actually. I don’t think plain ol’ water would do the same, but perhaps try water acidified with a teaspoon of lemon juice or even white grape juice (as long as you’re doing a sweet filling). If anyone tries it without the booze, lemme know how it works!

• Sweet Pickled Peaches are a great way to use a bumper crop of peaches or nectarines.
• Sangria can be made with just about any fruits you have on hand!
• Watermelon is also a classic summer fruit. Try these watermelon cocktails and watermelon salad.
• Of course strawberry shortcake is always a special treat, too.

• This open-faced plum sandwich from Bev Cooks also looks healthy, but mostly it looks delicious. I mean, plum sandwich! You heard that right!
• Here’s a recipe for some darling little fresh apricot cakes from LovelyLadyCakes. These would be such a great birthday cake!
• And this vegan peach ice cream from The Sweetest Vegan looks delicious, even if a little melty and messy.
• Finally, a nectarine and pistachio salad for your pleasure…