In Season: Grapefruit


Updated 02/16/12 5:33 PM · Posted by · 4 comments

What to Do With Grapefruit

While most citrus — lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits — are available year round, Winter is when it's at its peak. With their vibrant pink flesh and tart refreshing flavor, now is the time to enjoy the subtropical grapefruit. The grapefruit, which is a hybrid citrus born of the pomelo and sweet orange, was first discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. Today, the US is the largest Read more

The Basics: Grilled Citrus-Herb Chicken


Updated 08/15/11 9:35 PM · Posted by · 1 comment

Easy Grilled Chicken Recipe

Although the title is a mouthful, these chicken breasts are super easy to put together. There's no marinating involved, so you can make the chicken at the last minute, even on a weeknight. In the recipe, plain chicken breasts are grilled and once they're cooked, they get doused in a mixture of herbs, citrus juice, and oil. That's where the fun comes in: use whatever herbs and citrus you want! Read more

How to Zest Without a Microplane


Updated 08/27/11 7:45 PM · Posted by · 2 comments

How to Get Lemon Zest Without a Microplane

It's nice to cook in a kitchen stocked with every culinary tool imaginable, but even if you don't have specialized cooking tools on hand, all is not lost! Take citrus zest, for example. Without a microplane or grater, it can be pretty hard to zest a lemon or lime, right? Wrong! Here's how you do it: Using a vegetable peeler, peel off the skin of the citrus. Try to get as little of the white pith Read more

Got Heartburn? You May Want to Avoid These Foods


Updated 04/22/11 11:31 AM · Posted by · 3 comments

Heartburn Causing Foods

When we overeat or consume spicy foods, oftentimes the gate between our esophagus and stomach doesn't close, which allows acid to move into the esophagus and therefore cause a burning sensation called hearburn. If you happen to experience more than two heartburn episodes per week, than you may be one of the 20 percent of adults who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn can Read more

Happy Hour: Rosemary Clementine Sparkle


Updated 03/21/11 1:40 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Rosemary Citrus Martini Recipe

There's something so enticing about a cocktail that incorporates rosemary. In most drink recipes, like the one seen here, the rosemary is muddled in a cocktail shaker, so the finished libation has an earthy, fresh, woodsy quality, but no chunks of the actual herb. This concoction is especially alluring because it combines the subtle kiss of rosemary with vibrant, tart citrus. Although the base Read more

In Season: Kumquats


Updated 03/26/11 2:59 AM · Posted by · 3 comments

How to Cook With Kumquats

March is such an interesting time of year for seasonal eating: Fall and Winter fruits and veggies are still hanging around the markets, and fresh Spring produce is making an appearance as well. Soon you'll be stocking up on asparagus, artichokes, and strawberries, but consider taking advantage of the last vestiges of the colder season while you still can with tiny, sweet-tart kumquats.The Read more

Do You Care If Seeds Get in Your Food?


Updated 03/07/11 11:26 PM · Posted by · 6 comments

Do You Care If Seeds Get in Your Food?

At his oil demonstration, while squeezing a lemon into a bowl of freshly cut avocado, Fabio Viviani said, "If you're afraid of seeds, I'm sorry." He didn't bother to pick out seeds that had fallen from the lemon into the avocado and pointed out that there's really no harm in consuming the seeds of citrus. Normally I'm nitpicky about getting seeds out of salads and such, but maybe from now on, Read more

Happy Hour: Bee's Knees


Updated 03/05/11 9:28 AM · Posted by · 2 comments

Honey Gin Cocktail Recipe

Expensive honey isn't only good stirred into tea, it's also wonderful for sweetening cocktails. In this drink, the wildflower honey adds a lovely floral quality as well as providing a subtle sweetness. With only four ingredients — honey, orange juice, lemon juice, and gin — this libation is fairly simple, but it's sophisticated and perfectly balanced. For those who dislike gin, I recommend Read more

Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing — Drinks


Updated 02/24/11 4:30 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Oscars Party Drink Recipe

When it comes to specialty cocktails for an Oscars viewing, I say make a pitcher drink and make it fizzy! You could take entertaining expert Katie Lee's advice and make a pineapple strawberry concoction or go with the recipe shown here. It's a refreshing blend of citrus and vodka spiked with the sweet-tart flavor of limoncello. The effervescence comes from the addition of seltzer water. One batch Read more

Fresh and Fruity Cocktail


Updated 02/22/11 3:40 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Citrus and Cucumber Cocktail With Mint

Did you know that there's a group in the community that's devoted to drinks? It's called Let's Have a Drink, and it's your spot to talk all things cocktail, wine, and spirits. Here, brisas shares a favorite new concoction. My friend recently treated me to this tasty cocktail, it combines a bunch of fresh citrus, cucumber, mint, vodka and a touch of soda water! It was delicious and refreshing, Read more