Fresh Citrus – Just the Pick Me Up I Need!

My mind is full of Spring plans – plans for my garden, plans for my home, plans for ….not freezing, but at not even mid-January, I’ve got a bit of a wait ahead of me. Yesterday, my friend, Leah, and I met at the Farmer’s Market and I was pleased to find that my favorite stall was open.  The citrus man! The smell and taste of citrus is such a mood-lifter for me.

Last year, Steve and I discovered his Meyer Lemons and Blood Oranges. I was so sad when the citrus season ended.  Fresh off the tree and so juicy and flavorful – his produce tastes like I imagine sunshine would.  Just the pick-me-up I’ve been craving. 

My family is big with the citrus – I’ve often joked that my daughter, Sarah, is half mandarin orange. She puts away about 5 of those little oranges a day, I kid you not. I love to decorate my kitchen with big bowls piled high with citrus fruit. My sister gave me a glass triffle bowl for Christmas – it looks gorgeous filled with lovely yellows and oranges.

Steve used to make a simple vodka cocktail with the fruit from the Farmer’s Market. He skipped the simple syrup step, juiced the lemons and oranges, added a little raw sugar, a splash of vodka. Very easy, very refreshing.  If you are looking for a cocktail on the fancier side, you might want to try a Blood Orange Cosmo from Life Should Be Beautiful.

If you’d like to add a touch of citrus to your beauty routine, you can mix up a simple Citrus Sugar Scrub by combining 1 cup of raw or brown sugar, 4 Tablespoons cold-pressed oil (I suggest Almond oil), 4 tsps of honey, and 10 drops of lemon, orange, or grapefruit essential oil (use singularly or a mixture of the 3).  The Citrus Sugar Scrub will keep about a month in a well-sealed container.  

If a salt scrub is more your thing, then Aly has a great do-it-yourself recipe over at Pretty By Nature, that was the inspiration for this entire post. Thanks Aly!

I’m going to be running a citrus giveaway at Veggie Chic, starting tomorrow (1/12/09). Ten winners will recieve a shipment of Cuties Mandarin Oranges.  Don’t forget to come by and enter the giveaway!

Image credit: Michelle Smith