Bountiful fresh fall favorites are available at the Ventura Certified Farmers' Markets, ideal for both snacks and homemade recipes.

Among the selections is a new crop of apples, acorn & butternut squash for those homemade soups, and persimmons, just perfect for fall fruit salads. Other items this fall include pomegranates, kiwi, field tomatoes and much more.

With just a few cooking tips, shoppers will be on their way to making the most out of their fall recipes . . .

Acorn Squash Cooking Tips:

• Remove the fibers and seeds from the center of the acorn squash before steaming, broiling or baking.
• Save the acorn squash seeds to toast for snacking, similar to pumpkin seeds.
• A sturdy knife to cut the acorn in half is a necessity - to make the squash easier to cut, pierce the skin in a few spot and place in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.
• Acorn squash are easy to prepare - after cutting them in half, scoop out the seeds, add a little brown sugar and/or maple syrup and bake for a little over an hour.

Persimmons:

Selection tips: A ready-to-eat Hachiya will be very soft and actually look shriveled and somewhat ugly (as if it's overripe). It's important to eat them when they are truly ripe - unripe Hachiyas are extremely bitter. The Fuyu, on the other hand, will still be firm when it reaches the ripe stage - although it will give slightly when gently pressed. When choosing either variety, look for smooth, glossy, red-orange skin and a green cap.

Persimmon Bread:

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup persimmon pulp

1 cup sugar

½ cup milk

2 eggs

¼ cup softened butter or margarine

1 cup chopped nuts

Stir together the first six ingredients. Combine the persimmon, sugar, milk and eggs, add the flour mixture and the softened butter and mix until the dough is well blended. Stir in the nuts. Spread the batter in a well-greased loaf pan (9" X 5" X 3") and bake it at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.

The Ventura Farmers' Markets are held on Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays in downtown Ventura from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

For more information on the Ventura Certified Farmers' Markets, call 805-529-6266 or visit the website at www.vccfarmersmarket.com.