citrus

It's easy to get in a salad rut and make the same salad over and over again. But, as I've vowed to eat more healthy (and, therefore, eat more salads), I'm saying bye-bye to boring salads — and I'm starting with this delicious citrus salad. The combination of oranges and fennel is a classic Italian pairing; I've built upon it by adding creamy avocado and salty black olives. The dressing is a simple mixture of oil, white wine vinegar, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. For a super colorful salad, use a mixture of Valencia and blood oranges. Serve alongside roast fish, a grilled cheese sandwich, or piping hot bowl of soup. Get the recipe now.

Before a weekend of World Series watching and Halloween candy binging, take tonight to savor a simple and healthy seafood meal. This quick recipe combines fresh salmon fillets with a lemon-dill pan sauce. A bunch of sautéed broccoli on the side adds a pop of color and nutritious vitamin K. For a complete meal, serve on top of a bed of couscous. Get the uncomplicated recipe, after the jump.

It's hard to believe, but thanks to a very Indian Summer, Left Coasters are lucky enough to still be enjoying some lingering warm October afternoons. I was a privileged partaker at a recent Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur party where guests basked in sun at a bocce ball court with bright, citrusy cocktails in hand.

My favorite refreshment? A Sicilian cooler, served straight from the skilled hand of San Francisco bartender Jackie Patterson. With a reverent nod to Italy, she played up the naturally floral, piquant, and slightly bitter flavors of blood oranges with Solerno, Campari, and lemon juice. For a sip that'll transport you to the streets of Palermo, read more.

Riddle me this: what helps protect the eyes, guards the heart, boosts metabolism, and fights cancer? Why green tea, of course! As if sipping on the tasty drink weren't enough, the reasons to include it in your diet seem to keep piling up. But before you go guzzling your next cup, consider adding a splash of lemon juice.

According to some studies, adding a splash of citrus juice (lemon is optimal) to your green tea can help maximize the effectiveness of the catechins, a powerful antioxidant, in the drink. When lemon juice is included in the mix, the cancer-fighting catechins are five times more likely to survive the digestive process and work their magic. If the yellow fruit isn't your cup of tea (pun intended), try orange, lime (here's a recipe for a green tea lime cooler), or grapefruit. So go ahead and give your next batch of tea a super squeeze.

You didn't think I was going to teach you how to grill a chicken under a brick without providing an amazing recipe, did you? This citrus marinated grilled chicken is my new favorite chicken dish and it's a total must make! With a crispy salty skin and juicy citrus interior, it's seriously scrumptious. The marinade is a mixture of orange, lemon, and lime juices that's seasoned with fresh oregano and rosemary. If you can, I suggest making the marinade a day before grilling. It really allows the flavors to permeate the chicken. You ready for the recipe? Keep reading!

• How fabulous is this Twilight-inspired wedding? — Hostess With the Mostess
• Here's 13 dishes that are brightened by the addition of citrus.— The Atlantic
• Will Esprit de June be the next big liqueur to hit the cocktail scene? — Chow
• Learn how to make homemade thin mints.— Serious Eats
• After a two month hiatus, Eat Me Daily is back. — Eat Me Daily
• The secret life of fast food mascots has finally been revealed. — Eater
• There was no drama in Wolfgang Puck's kitchen on Oscar Sunday. — Grub Street LA

During shorter days, I look forward to locating pomegranates and persimmons, like I do cherries and plums during Summer. But, more than any other, the cold-weather clincher that draws me in every Winter is the blood orange. Find out why they're so great — and how to enjoy them — when you read more.