Ripe carrots will be bright in color and free from brown or moldy spots. Scrub fresh carrots before slicing, then serve with a favorite dressing or vegetable dip. Those with brown spots and yellow leaves should be avoided. When refrigerated in a covered container, cauliflower will last up to 4 days. Fresh celery will be crisp and free of brown spots.
Chopped celery is an excellent addition to soup or salad.
For a quick, healthy snack, slice lengthwise and spread with peanut butter. Oranges of all types are fading from the market fast. As their season comes to an end, don' t wait too long to snag the few quality citrus left. There is still a nice selection of red grapefruits, which are lovely with their pink pulp and too-tart taste. These popular soul food vegetables are best when steamed and flavored with pork.