tangerines

Do you get as excited as I do when grocery stores start carrying those $5 to $6 bags of tangerines or clementines? I tend to go through one bag in less than a week.They're tangy, sweet, loaded with vitamin C, and they're easy to peel, making them the perfect snack for any time of day.

Like satsumas and clementines, tangerines are a type of mandarin. (Unlike tangerines, clementines have little to no seeds and easy-to-peel skin; satsumas hail from Japan.) The name "tangerine" comes from Tangier, Morocco, which was the port that the first batch of tangerines were shipped out of! For more on tangerines, keep reading.

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

The cold weather arrived in New England this weekend and I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. It's official — get out your knits — Winter is coming soon. One bright spot in a long cold winter is clementines at the grocery store!

I personally think that clementines are the best Winter fruit. They are easy to buy, store, pack and eat. You know the saying "You can't have just one?" Well that's how I feel about clementines, I always take two at a time! Clementines like all citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with our immunity which sometimes struggles during the cold winter months when we spend more time inside and germs get passed more easily. One clementine is just 35 calories with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein making it an excellent addition to any breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack!

I don't love the Winter so I look for little things to make me happy during those long, cold, dark months. Clementines brighten any Winter day so pick some up when they arrive in your store (soon)!

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When making a salad that is to be the main course of a meal, I like to take the time to ensure that the salad is really special. The more fresh flavors and interesting textures it has, the more satisfying the salad will be. This recipe guarantees a hearty and memorable dinner salad. It combines sweet and crunchy candied walnuts with crisp fennel, juicy tangerine segments, and salty olives. A bright apple cider vinaigrette coats the greens and veggies. If you enjoy cheese in salads, toss in some crumbled goat cheese. Learn how to assemble this simple but stunning salad after the break.

Much to my dismay, my sister and girlfriends are going on a 10-day detox where they'll eat vegan and give up alcohol. Since I'm not participating (what can I say? I can't live without cheese and a glass of wine!), I'll get in on the fun by hosting a vegan dinner. This flavorful meal that's chock-full of vegetables starts with a chickpea, mint, and parsley spread slathered on pita bread. For the first course I'll offer a colorful beet salad with tangerines.

The star of the show is a curried red lentil stew with vegetables and rice. It's a menu that's hearty, healthy, and downright scrumptious, so get the recipes after the break.