Celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas Tolentino with Macedonia di Frutta

Summer is officially over, yet we are still enjoying the cicadas & the last trace of warm weather we don’t want to end. In honor of Saint Nicholas Tolentino-Patron feast day, the patron saint of Saint of Vegans & Vegetarians, we made a “Macedonia di Frutta” or mixed fresh fruit salad. Why Macedonia? The name refers to the southeastern area of Europe consisting of the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria & Greece. The many ethnicities of its people refer to the array of berries, stone & tropical fruits with lemon & orange juice.

Our Macedonia di Frutta is inspired by the beloved author & cook Marcella Hazan. Made with seasonal fruits, Villa Graziella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Organic Balsamic Vinegar di Modena to create a melody of delicious tastes & textures. Make a few hours ahead & serve as a healthy after school snack or refreshing dessert.

Serves 8

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons of Villa Graziella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil + extra for garnish

1 tablespoon Villa Graziella Organic White Balsamic Condiment

1 cup of fresh orange juice, if possible, not from concentrate

2 apples

2 each of 3 stone fruits such as apricots, nectarines, peaches, or plums

1 ½ lbs. assorted seasonal fruit; bananas, berries, grapes, mango, melon or exotic fruits-we added blueberries, kiwi, pineapple & raspberries

2-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Grated peel of 1 lemon, no white pith

2-3 tablespoons of sugar in the raw, to taste

1/4 tablespoon of sea salt

Directions:

1.        Seed & cut apples & stone fruits into ½ cubed pieces, place in a large bowl, we left the peel on some for texture.

2.       Add lemon juice to bowl so fruit will not turn brown 

3.       Peel kiwi & pineapple, cut into pieces & add to fruit mixture

4.       Pour in orange juice

5.       Add lemon peel, sugar & sea salt

6.       Mix fruit & ingredients together

7.        Cover & refrigerate 3-4 hours

8.       Add berries (last so they do not become soft)

9.       Drizzle White Balsamic Condiment

10.    Slowly drizzle olive oil

11.     Gently toss before serving & enjoy!