Poached strawberries, Peaches, and Mango Over Crushed Ice

Well my sabbatical is over! There was this thing called a diet that I didn't exactly follow but attempted.... ahem anyways..... it left my without the options to use evoo freely! How can anyone live a life without evoo or butter?!?! Butter makes everything-- and I mean everything taste better! The point is I'm back to my love of cooking and creating and altering food!

I've got a summer treat for ya that I cooked a while back. It's a sophisticated and grown-up snow cone (it does require a spoon)! Super simple and perfect for this hot weather (and it's healthy!): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/poached-strawberries-peaches-and-mango-over-crushed-ice-recipe/index.html

I did learn something new with this dish-- star anise. I'd never heard of it before but it is a seed pod that looks like a star. Apparently it is the seed for an evergreen tree grown in China and Japan and has medicinal uses. I'm pretty sure it is just used to add flavor in cooking. It has a licorice and kind of peppery flavor to me. You can find them in grocery stores but if you just want to try this dish once I'd try to find a cooking friend or neighbor (a whole container cost a bit and if you just use one seed pod it's not really worth it).

Since this dish is so super simple I don't have any big suggestions other than to definitely try it. The aroma alone of the cinnamon stick, star anise, and vanilla is aaaaammmmaaazing! I wouldn't bother with getting a vanilla bean since they are so expensive-- vanilla extract worked well for me.

Maybe this healthy desert will help you cool off this hot, hot summer!!!