"Have you ever noticed that apricots kind of look like little butts? Well, they do." (~ Tiny Morsels) Her two-year old Wookie thinks the, um, apricot-colored and soft-as-a-baby-bottom fruits are great; she calls them 'applecots'.

If your only experience with apricots is their year-round dried version, are you ever in for a treat!

How to Taste -- Really Taste -- an Apricot

What to do with fresh apricots? First, just enjoy. If need be, put a a few fresh apricots in a paper bag on the counter for a day or so to finish ripening. Then pick one up, examine it closely. Is it blushing? Brush it against your cheek, then across your lips. How does it feel? Take a deep breath of the flesh, is the scent familiar? Close your eyes, what mind-scenes does it conjure? How are fresh apricots different from the dried and canned versions? Break or slice one open, take a small bite. Taste it, really really taste it. Is it sweet, dark, musky? What is the texture like? Chew, slowly, drawing the juices to the front and back of your mouth. Swallow. What flavor is left behind, what's the after-taste? How long does it last? (Okay, feel free to gobble the rest. It's understandable!)

Yes, fresh apricots are a delight all by themselves, no cooking required. Here in St. Louis, the first apricots arrived a couple of weeks ago. We don't grow any locally -- that I know of, maybe someday soon? -- so they come from California but they're especially sweet and fragrant this year. For my money, they're inexpensive -- here, just $2 a pound compared to $3 for rhubarb and $4 for blueberries (once they're in) at their peak.

But apricots are versatile! If you're a cook, think about celebrating the short apricot season with at least one of these recipes ideas from my fellow food bloggers.

Sweet Ways with Apricots

Food Blogga ~ Fresh Apricot Muffins
Tasting Spoons ~ Roasted Apricot & Almond Cake
Kitchenography ~ Fresh Berry & Apricot Crumble
Munchie Musings ~ Apricot Almond Galette (a galette is a free-form pastry pie)
Mike's Table ~ Caramel Rippled Apricot Ice Cream
Dhanggit's Kitchen ~ Apricot Gratin in Sabayon

Savory Ways with Apricots

Chocolate & Zucchini ~ Soft Wheatberry Salad with Zucchini & Apricots
The Inadvertent Gardener ~ Warm Green Tomato & Apricot Salad
Fun and Food ~ Apricot & Peach Mixed Green Salad

More Recipes for Apricots
What delicious apricot recipe have I missed? Leave a recipe -- or a link if you're a blogger -- to yours in a comment.

BlogHer food editor Alanna Kellogg can imagine substituting apricots for peaches in her recipe for Peach & Blueberry Cake.