Building a healthy pantry with Apricots

APRICOTS are a special fruit available fresh only in the summer, so gorge on them while you can! (The rest of the year enjoy them dried.) Apricots are a true superfood. Their small golden-fleshed bodies contain healing amino acids, Vitamin A, iron, and over 40 trace minerals. Apricots are a wonderful blood and yin tonic, thus supporting the whole body. Chinese medicine utilizes apricots to soothe a dry throat or cough. Store dried unsulfured apricots in a jar in the fridge to throw into smoothies, chop up in salads, or eat plain for a mildly sweet energy boost. (See the sidebar “Choose the Ugly Dried Fruit” (page 163) to learn about sulfur’s role as a yucky preservative!) Try our Apricot-Hazelnut Yummies (page 856) for a unique treat. (And while not technically in the Dirty Dozen, they are grown in the same places with the same practices as their Dirty Dozen friends, peaches and nectarines—so I consider apricots an honorary member.)

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