
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 17, 1995                   TAG: 9505170031
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES FOOD EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FRESH FRUITS AREN'T JUST FOR EATING RAW

This is that wonderful time of year when farmers' market stalls and supermarket produce sections liven up as temperate- and tropical-climate fruits join the ordinary fruit staples that sustained us through the winter months.

By no means should you discount the simple pleasure of eating these debuting fruits out of hand. But also try them in a variety of cooked dishes, where they'll impart welcome color, nutrients and newness - and not only to pies.

For example, the following Strawberry Oven Toast is the grand-prize winner in the 12th annual ``Berry-Off'' recipe contest, held as a prelude to Oxnard's May 20-21 California Strawberry Festival. It's easy to prepare and perfect for brunch, freeing you to entertain instead of cook. The contest's judges rated it tops for its originality, practicality for home cooks, appetite appeal, appearance and suitability in relation to an entire meal.

The fruit crumble lets you mix or match your favorite seasonal fruit and topping combinations. And your microwave oven cooks them about three times faster than a regular-oven recipe.

Lemons are long-time pie-filling staples. Sliced paper-thin, they won a spot in the Pillsbury Bake-Off 30 years ago. A food writer in Arizona says that ``Shaker'' and ``Ohio'' pies also used lemon slices, and that such pies were once popular bid attractors at ``pie auctions.''

Fruits and meat, fish or poultry all pair prettily. The National Broiler Council has put together a book of outstanding dishes of which, coincidentally, its contest's grand-prize winner was a fruit and poultry combination. To order, send $2 in check or money order to: Chicken Cookbook, Department NBC, Box 307, Coventry, CT 06238.

Recipes for:

LIME & TOMATO SALMON

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BAKED CHICKEN

BAKED SPICY PINEAPPLE BALINESE CHICKEN

CINNAMON ORANGE PORK TENDERLOIN

STRAWBERRY OVEN TOAST

CHOOSE-A-FRUIT CRUMBLE

DOUBLE-CRUST LEMON PIE

TWO-CRUST SLICE O'LEMON PIE

BLUEBERRY CORN MUFFINS

by CNB