Pomelos - The Best Citrus Fruit Ever

January is the time for citrus. Grapefruits, tangerines,clementines and oranges reign supreme  in the produce section yet there a new royal on the scene - the pomelo or the Chinese grapefruit.This beauty is not only super healthy but super tasty. It's the perfect sunny snack on a cold winter's day.

The pomelo resembles a grapefruit on steroids.Imagine if a bowling ball and a grapefruit had a child together.It would be this.:

Its" Latin name is citrus maxima or citrus grandis It goes by a variety of different names such as pamplemousse , pummelo or  pommelo. The Hawaiians call it the jabong while the British call it shaddock as they have for the last three centuries. It was named for a Captain Shaddock who introduced it to Barbados and Jamaica.. One theory about  pomelo's comes from Tamil, a dialect found on the Indian subcontinent, another is that it is a combination of pome - apple and melon. It is one of the original four citrus fruits that others derive from.It is a native of South Asia where it is eaten with salt.It's also sliced and put into salads whille its' juice is used in drinks. There is a warning however. Pomelos are famously known to lower blood pressure. Check with your doctor first if you can eat it if you're taking any blood pressure medications.It is good in cold weather because it has a larger dose of vitamin C than the other citrus fruits

I love this fruit. It's got a mild orange like flavor and it's far from being sour.  The only problem is peeling it. I was surprised to learn that the peel can be candied or dipped in chocolate. The rind is similar to an orange's, only a tad thinner.The correct way to peel it is making four to five slits in the skin  and start peeling. I usually just make one long slit and work at getting the skin off.  The problem with the pomelo is that it has a thick pink underlayer that kind of resembles compressed cotton candy or asbestos. This too has to be peeled away.in order to get the pulp.The slices are large. One person can't eat an entire one at once. Split it and put it in the fridge for the next day It can be juiced for a refreshingly light citrus drink. It can also be turned into a granita or Slushie too. Pomelo pulp can be used in salads too, giving an orange-y sweetness to a spinach or field green ones.The juice can be used in shrimp and scallop dishes as well.

The pomelo is a huge drop of sunshine on a cold January day. Buy one and enjoy it's light and refreshing  taste. It's the perfect antidote for all this snow and ice.

Eating For Health

It's time to eat right as we ease into cooler weather. We need to boost our vitamin and antioxidant intake along with decreasing all those carbs and other bad stuff. The benefits are great - less aches and pains along with fewer cough and colds.

The fall harvest is full of beneficial veggies and fruits. Squash is in abundance right now. It pays to incorporate it into our meals three or four times a week.It is chock full of Vitamin C and magnesium which help to destroy free radicals throughout the body.It is also loaded with Vitamin A , namely caretenoids which give it that rich orange color. These also give us lutein and zeaxanthan which helps in preventing the degenerative eye disease, macular degeneration along with strengthening the eyes. It's also inflammatory which help prevent against fevers and even gout. Brussels sprouts are another fall favorite making their debut for the season in many grocery stores. These mini cabbages are other good veggise to eat right now. Like squash they are loaded with Vitamin C but also folate and fiber. The first reduces heart attacks along with being a key factor in the formation and maintenance of DNA -necessary for developing fetuses. Fiber is a dietary must. It keeps the lower intestine working along with lowering cholesterol. Even though tomatoes are past their season, you can still buy vine ripes and grape varieties. They are chock full of magnesium, phosphorous and copper (!) which promote everything from healthy skin to  bone strength and prostrate health for men.

Healthy eating can have a fun side. Raisins, always , a fun nosh are loaded with all sorts of good things. They have catechins which scavenge the free radicals floating in the body that wreak havoc on organs and cells. they also reduce the chance of diabetes and hypertension. Pair them with almonds for a sweet, chewy, snack. Almonds are full of calcium and potassium and have as much antioxidants as broccoli! They also build strong bones and teeth as well as artery walls. Nut fans should also consider pecans too. They're high in iron and manganese along with promoting digestive and heart health.They also reduce breast cancer risk and strokes Dark chocolate, the darling of foodies and chocoholics ,is about the most fun of all the good for you foods.It's shot full of antioxidants as well as a great source of energy.It also raises the good cholesterol HDL while lowering the bad kind LDL. It's excellent for the brain because it increases the bloods' flow to it. Any form of dark chocolate contains theobromine which hardens tooth enamel. The best part about  fun, healthy foods is that they can be combined to make fun treats. Dip raisins and the nuts in melted dark chocolate to form tasty clusters that are not only a treat for your taste buds but for your entire body too.

Eating healthy has so many benefits. It staves off the minor diseases and prevents the major ones form occurring.  Bring these foods into your diet for better living.

A Taste Of The Tropics

One of the best parts of January is all that tropical fruit that 's in our groceries right now. They are not only good for you but versatile.Any of the fruits from grapefruit to mangoes can go into a breakfast, lunch,  dinner. and snacking.

As we all know from the television ads, Haloes are hot right now. These seedless beauties are being marketed to kids because they're seedless. Yet adults can enjoy them too. They have a lovely sweetness that's more intense than the average Mandarins are usually used in salads, adding both color and flavor to bland ones.Try them in a grilled chicken salad along with a liberal sprinkling of almonds. They are also good with sliced tomatoes and onions for a nice side. They can also be used as a glaze for chicken , pork and even salmon. Of course, the best use for them is dessert. Try them in a cake or trifle.They make a tasty sorbet, perfect after a fiery chili or Sunday roast. Their larger cousins, the orange are also versatile.Of course, there is orange chicken but there are also several pork recipes that call for the fruit as well. Try a braised pork ribs with a soy  sauce  - orange juice marinade. Garlic and ginger spice it up.Spare ribs get zinged up too with a dash of juice. Make a tangy orange-butter sauce to spoon over peas or broccoli.Again, oranges are great ingredients in any baked good,from muffins to cake. Orange juice is also a nice addition to buttercream icing, cutting  the overt sweetness.

Lemons and limes are other tropical beauties that liven up any winter diet. Besides adding a much and well-needed dose of Vitamin C, they add spark, flavor, and color. We all know that lemon is great with salads, subbing in for any kind of vinegar but did any know it's also great with pasta? Lemon linguine is a refreshing break away from traditional sauces. It's made with lemon juice, whole cream and egg yolks,  along with butter. The sauce is poured over the pasta and it cooks from its heat.Grilled chicken can also be added too. Lime is usually associated with Mexican recipes but it is also good as a marinade for salmon and swordfish. Try it in a salad dressing instead of lemon, or even better as a main ingredient in a lime buttercream frosting.Mango is another tropic wonder and again versatile. There are a million recipes for mango salsa and chutney along with for smoothies.Think beyond the mango tree and pair it with shrimp and lime in a tasty pita.Toss in some mango slices along with onion slices and fresh orange juice for a tasty and exotic dish, perfect with white rice.Pineapple , which makes us think of blissful pina coladas, can also be used in a variety of different recipes. too, from it traditionally gracing ham to  healthy kabobs.

It's easy to have a taste of the tropics. Bring home any of these exotic fruits such as lemons and limes, mangos and Mandarins. They'll add juice and fun to a blah winter diet.

Nectarines A Nice Summer Treat

Ask people what are the fruis of summer and they'll probably mention strawberries, and blueberries, definitely peaches. Yet another summer harvest is coming in right now Nectarines are also ripening. These wonderful fruits are a nice change from the usual fare and work well in many recipes.

What is a nectarine? A peach without the fuzz.The Chinese first planted them over 2,000 years ago and then the seeds were cultivated in ancient Persia, Greece and Rome, They were popular during the medieval era , growing in England and Spain. The Spanish brought them over to the Americas in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries. Nowadays California is their chief grower, with 95 percent of all nectarine harvests coming from there. Some peach seeds may turn out to be nectarine trees and vice versa.Many growers graft nectarine branches onto peach trees to guarantee a crop of then. The fruit's name means full of nectar.It's the perfect dessert or snack for dieters. Each piece of fruit only has sixty two calories. Surprisingly it's one of the few fruits that has protein in it as well.. Nectarines are also high in Vitamin A and beta carotene (hence the bright yellow flesh).It also has Vitamin,C, potassium and most importantly fiber.The fruit can be kept out for two to three days before they develop brown spots. As with other fruits, nectarines are better stored in the fridge Besides nothing beats the taste of a chilled one on a sweltering day.

Since they're basically peaches, nectarines can be made into the same dishes as peaches. Try them in a cobbler laced with brown sugar.They'd also be tasty in a crisp, either made with oatmeal or Bisquick. A more elegant dessert is a nectarine tart with a hazelnut crust.The fruit works well in cakes too. Try a buttery scratch one laden with slices and a hint of nutmeg.Fruit can be roasted over the grill so why not roasted some nectarines along with plums and peaches. Top the hot fruit with vanilla ice cream for a truly decadent summertime dessert.Another fun dessert idea is trifle with the fruit layered with store bought yellow cake or pound cake and whipped cream. You could even douse it with peach schnapps for a boozy, fun way to end an evening. You could also turn the fruit into a homemade nectarine liqueur. This last is just taking a pound of the nectarines and letting that ferment with three cups of vodka and a cup of sugar. The process takes about three months then before the drink is ready so it will make a nice addition to fall drinking and dining.Nectarines can also be cubed and used in salads for color and sweetness. Add them to a grilled chicken salad along with almonds.  It can also be pulverized and added to apple cider vinegar for a sweet dressing or even marinade.

Make nectarines part of your summer diet. They are a sweet, healthy treat on their own along with being wonderful in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Get a basket of them at your local market or farm stand.

Honey Versus Sugar

Everyone needs some kind of sweetener, whether in their  coffee or tea along in their baked goods. We all know white sugar is bad for you. There is honey and raw sugar.The question is which is better? Which works well with drinks along with cooking needs.

Honey is nature's sweetener.It's been used since ancient times, starting with the Greeks and Romans.Depending on the flowers involved in making it, the stuff contains niacin, riboflavin and calcium,It also has iron in it along with zinc and potassium.,Honey also contains Vitamin C and is useful in tissue and cell repair. Raw sugar is actually white or refined sugar but with out the processing. It really is devoid of everything from calories to vitamins.It's slightly better for you than white sugar..If you want a more substantial sweeteener than go for molasses or even the cactus based agave.Honey also  adds more depth along with antioxidants to breads, cakes and cookies. Because of its' slight acidity, it reacts with the baking soda creating a moister, denser cake or loaf.

As far as portability raw sugar does win. There are packets that you can easily stash in a lunch bag or at your desk without any fuss . It also is easier to bake with as well  however honey is still the healthier ingredient.  Then there's the sticky  residue. Honey can be messy when it's spilled and a pain to clean up. Raw sugar can just be swept away.It's also better to take on vacations too because it is easier to pack. Then there' the coffee conundrum.Coffee almost cries out for sugar packets, Putting  an aromatic honey in a good cup of joe may clash with the drink's rich flavor. It's better with any kind of tea. Leave the raw sugar for your cappuccinos or lattes.

Honey or sugar - which is the better choice. For home stick with honey. It is used more and can be used in baking  and just to sweeten teas. For the office and vacations use the packets, but use them sparingly, You can have both , and both work well in those different and diverse situations.

Olallieberries New Fruit To Try

Just when you think there's nothing new to try, something unusual pops up. That for me is the olallieberry. It's a fruit that's been around since the Thirties yet I've just discovered it. This cross between a loganberry and a blackberry can be used in various dessert dishes or just as a snack.

Olallieberries are a hybrid between a logan and a blackberry. First crossbred in 1935 by botanist,S.J. Harvey and the US Department of Agriculture the fruit was named after the Chinook word for berry. They were first tested in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California and grew like crazy in Oregon.It is sometimes called the marionberry or just marion. The nutritional value is the same as the blackberry which means they are high in antioxidants and Vitamin C. Like the other they are harvested in early  June to mid July. The plant is a bramble plant , meaning it has spiny thorns protecting the fruit.The taste is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry.

Oregonians have a field day  with the fruits during harvest time. There are olallieberry jams and preserves as well as baked goods.Since they're almost like blackberries they can be made into crisps,crumbles and pies. Some chefs and home cooks use them for a sauce. They're also good just plain with ice cream or whipped cream. Right now though you can only  buy the olallieberry in jam or syrup form on line. It would be good topping fresh baked biscuits or scones or on top of an English muffin.The syrup would be a welcome change from maple , topping everything from pancakes to French toast.

Make this the year to experiment with new foods. The olallieberry is one that you have to try. Get in preserve form now or wait til the harvest season to experience this truly interesting fruit.

Grapefruit A Burst Of Sunshine

There’s nothing like a grapefruit to dispel the winter chill. This bright sunny fruit is a reminder that there are warm breezes and sunny skies somewhere in this wintry world. It’s not only delicious but light in taste and in calories. Grapefruit is a wonderful escape from all those heavy holiday foods.

Grapefruit received it’s name from the fruit growing like grape clusters. However it was called the unbecoming name of shaddock after Captain Shaddock, who first bred the fruit in Jamaica in 1750. It was one fo the world’s first hybrid fruits being crossed with an Indonesian pomelo and the Jamaican sweet orange. It was brough to Florida in 1823 by the Countess Odette Phillippe. It’s one of Florida’s top products besides oranges. Grapefruit flesh usually comes in three colors, red white an d pink. The most famous is the blood red pulped Ruby Red which is grown in Texas where it‘s known as the official state grapefruit The taste varies from bitter and sour to slightly tart. Grapefruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C and lypocene. The latter helps prevents certain cancers such as prostrate. Since it has only 97 calories it’s makes an excellent diet food.

I love grapefruit for its‘ taste and it’s aroma. I‘ve just discovered that freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is an excellent addition to hot or cold tea. It makes either kind of tea refreshing. One of my favorite desserts is grapefruit slices dipped in Splenda. It’s a nice alternative to cakes and cookies as well to everyday fruits such as apples and bananas.

Grapefruit is a fresh , sunny pick me up during all this winter coldness. It‘ s like a miniature sun bursting with goodness. It’s as refreshing as breeze s on a sunny Caribbean or Florida beach.It’s just the perfect thing for these wintry times.

Foodie , Heal Thyself

Guess what, gang, Little Miss Eat This , It's Good For You has not followed her own advice. I am suffering from a killer cold and I'm thinking partially due to not eating enough Vitamin C. This is the time of year when catching anything runs rampant. Gird yourself, fellow foodies and prepare for a long, sneezy, coughy winter ahead.

Stave off a cold by eating foods rich in Vitamin C. I know this is the oldest adage in the book but it's true. Supermarkets have oranges and grapefruits piled high. Buy one or two for yourself for the week. Use your juicer for fresh made juice. Remember that you can use orange and grapefruit juice as marinades and a substitute for vinegar in salads. Pineapple is one of the fruits highest in the vitamin. Get your hands on some for a healthy snack. For veggies tomatoes, broccoli and potatoes (yes potatoes!) give you some dose of Vitamin C. Add more tomatoes slices to your sandwiches or make a tasty bruschetta for lunch. Also think about baked potatoes lavishly topped with broccoli and cheddar for a relatively healthy meal (OK, so the cheese spoils it , but the cheese is rich in calcium).

Once you embrace your cold, then stick to foodie comfort foods. I am living on soup, popsicles, and juice right now along with hot oatmeal for breakfast. That orange that's sitting on my table with be added to the mix today too.

If any of you fellow foodies are sick or starting to get even a sniffle, heed my advice. Eat healthier to prevent getting any kind of crud.

Pineapples - A Taste of Warmer Climes

During these cold, chilly days and nights, our thoughts immediately turn to the tropics. Unfortunately a lot of us can't visit the Hawaiian Islands or South America so we could make do with a taste of them. That taste is the luscious pineapple.It reminds of warm turquoise waters and balmy star filled nights. Eating one gives us a mini vacation from our stressed filled days.

Everyone associates this fruit or the ananas comosas with Hawaii. Its' actual origins lie not in the South Pacific but South America. The tree first grew in Brazil and Paraguay. Indigenous tribes spread it through South America and then central America. In 1493 Columbus found the fruit on the island of Guadalupe and brought it back to Spain. Sailors soon realized that the pineapple prevented them from acquiring scurvy and soon it was taken on international voyages. The Spanish them brought tit to the Philippines and then to the islands of Guam and Hawaii. It was a gift to Charles II of England in 1660 and then became a staple plant of English conservatories.Nowadays pineapples are sold everywhere thanks, in part, to Dole.


Eating pineapple has its' pluses and minuses,It's a good source of Vitamin C and manganese. I'd recommend having a helping or two a week to ward off any oncoming colds or flu. However too much pineapple is no good for you. It can cause some damage to any one with kidney or liver disease. Pineapples have bromelein in them, an anti coagulant (this also causes it to break down meat proteins which is why it is always serve with a heavy meats like pork and ham). Hemophiliacs should stay away from it.


Pineapples are a sunny treat and ward any colds. Just remember that they do have some powerful enzymes in them so go easy eating them. A cup or two a week of cut pineapple should do it for the cold season. Besides you can only have so much paradise.

Lemon Zesty

Lemons are a part of the summer. We use them in ades, ices, dressings and marinades. We even use it as a summer beauty products to lighten hair and to soften rough skin. They are the perfect fruit for just about everything. Use them for everything and anything.

Lemons were first introduced into European cuisine via Arab traders during the start of the Middle Ages. The plant was originally a hybrid of the lime and citron.It was used for centuries by sailors to protect them from scurvy. Columbus brought it to the New World with him while French explorers carried sacks of lemons with them to to Canada. At the court of Louis XI lemons were given out as favors along with oranges at balls.The Spanish on the other hand thought they were evil and even had them excommunicated (because they thought they were misshaped oranges). They are now commercially grown in California although many SoCal homes have them in their gardens

Lemons are excellent for a daily dose of Vitamin C. Remember to take a mix of honey and lemon juice if you have a cold or sore throat. Lemons are also good for stomach aches . My grandmother always had one with her to suck on to relieve digestive problems. I still prefer having lemons or lemon juice when I have a virus. Even fresh made lemonade can help with stomach problems. The fruit also possesses a large quantity of potassium as well as smaller amounts of calcium and magnesium.

Anything lemon is good. You can make a nice fruity lemonade by adding sliced lemons and strawberries to it. Freeze it for some lemon pops. This is the season to take advantage of lemon ice, whether you make it at home or buy it at any gelateria. Remember that lemon juice adds zing to marinade so add a few tablespoons to make your steaks and chickens pop. Also spritz on kabobs before grilling for a zestier taste. They add a zing to the veggies, making them more flavorful.


Lemons are the perfect summer fruit. They're versatile to go from dinner to dessert and liven up any taste. Not only that they'll protect you from those dreaded summer colds.Amp up your Vitamin C intake this season by adding a few lemon to your summer dishes and desserts.