Fruit and Veggie Gift Box

This is my go-to gift when loved ones have a new baby. Everything is fresh, clean, and bite sized for an easy, healthy snack. New parents barely have time to shower, let alone whip up a meal, so this nutritious box (with less nutritious dips) is just the ticket!

Ingredients

Fruits

• Pineapple
• Apples (I normally do one red and one green)
• Oranges and/or tangerines
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Cherries
• Blueberries
• Mango
• OPTIONAL – any other fruits that look good. Kiwi, bananas, etc.

Fruit Dip

• 12 oz. cream cheese
• 7 oz. marshmallow cream
• zest of one orange
• 1 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Vegetables

• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Sweet peppers
• Broccoli
• Cherry Tomatoes
• OPTIONAL – any other vegetables that look good. Radishes, celery, mushrooms, etc.

Vegetable Dip

• 16 oz. sour cream
• 1 Ranch seasoning packet
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp. dried dill
• 1/4 milk
• OPTIONAL – fresh cilantro (makes sure your new parents don’t have the dreaded soap gene!)

Other

• Water and vinegar for cleaning

Directions

In a large bowl, or a very clean sink, add the heartiest fruits first (apples, oranges, etc.). Mix water with a 1/2 cup of vinegar and let the fruits soak for 10 minutes. Give each one a good scrub with a clean sponge and rinse with fresh water. Repeat the process with the vegetables and more delicate fruits. Some items may require two soaks or multiple rinses (grapes always need a second soak…I don’t know what it is.)

Trim the leafy bit off the strawberries and chop up the broccoli and cucumber. I also halved and seeded the sweet peppers to make them more bite sized. I leave the apples, mango, and oranges whole, so they don’t brown. I also reserve the pineapple for the top of the box.

Combine all the ingredients for the fruit dip and blend until smooth. Combine all the ingredients for the vegetable dip and mix until smooth.

Thoroughly clean and dry a large container and line with paper towels. Put your dips in mason jars and place in the corners. Start with the largest and sturdiest fruits and vegetables at the bottom, then layer on the more delicate fruits and veggies.

I prefer to drop off this gift a couple days after new parents have gotten home from the hospital, with zero intention of visiting or meeting the baby. (And that was even before pandemic days.)

Wine Pairing Suggestion

Any Bota Box – my fave is the pinot grigio.

And HUGE congratulations to my friends Cale and Natalie and their new baby boy Townes!