Keep the family's taste buds happy with the freshest fruit and vegetables, instore now..
Blueberries
The blueberry has a stunning colour and with no peeling, pip removal or cutting needed, it’s simple to prepare and makes mouthwatering pies, jams and jellies.
Try… adding fresh blueberries to your favourite pancake batter to make delicious breakfast pancakes for your toddler. For a more sophisticated berry pancake for the grown-ups, warm blueberries with sugar and brandy and serve over pancakes with crème fraîche.
Carrots
We Brits crunch our way through 10 billion carrots every year, making this vibrant veg the nation’s favourite. Its unique flavour is integral to heaps of recipes from soups and stews to smoothies and carrot cake.
Try… making a simple carrot salad by mixing together grated carrot and a zingy dressing of lemon juice, olive oil and chopped parsley. For your toddler, try roasting some carrot sticks with honey (not suitable for children under one year) and washed chopped parsley.
Sweetcorn
Avoid buying cobs that have been sitting in the sun and use them on the day of purchase if possible. Simply boil for 5-10 minutes for a quick and delicious snack.
Try… rustling up some fritters for your toddler by cutting sweetcorn off the cob and stirring it into a pancake or batter mix with some cooked bacon pieces. For the grown-ups, dust your corn on the cob with paprika for extra spice, then barbecue.
Tomatoes
The tomato is now the most widely grown vegetable in the world, and Sainsbury’s stocks British tomatoes all year round. Its juicy flavour livens up many popular dishes, including pasta, pizza and chilli con carne.
Try… preparing a simple but fabulous tomato salad by tossing a selection of tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, fresh chopped chilli, oregano and a splashof balsamic vinegar. For the kids, why not make a colourful mini vegetable kebab by putting cherry tomatoes, cubes of cheese, some peppers and cucumber onto a lolly stick.
Cauliflower
This vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked – steaming and microwaving will preserve cauliflower’s vitamin content. To prepare, peel off the leaves, turn upside down and cut the stem just above where the florets join. Cauliflower will add zest to salads and texture to mash.
Try… making a salad out of raw cauliflower and broccoli florets and pouring over a ranch dressing made of yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. For your baby, create a cheesy cauliflower mash by steamingcauliflower and potatoes and stirring through some cream cheese – a nutritious snack to pack for a picnic.
Broccoli
Cousin to the cabbage and the cauliflower, broccoli is a cool-weather crop that doesn’t like intense heat. It is a source of vitamin C and folate.
Try… tossing some steamed broccoli with lemon juice, soy sauce, chilli flakes and olive oil to give it an Asian twist. Great served with salmon. Or for your toddler, try serving small sticks of broccoli with a selection of tasty dips.
