picking produce

I was having a conversation about picking produce with my Aunt today.  We talked about how difficult it is sometimes to get a good fruit or vegetable if you don't know what you are looking for.

Right now citrus is readily available and very inexpensive near me.  We're consuming a lot of it, including making lemonade or limeade.

One way to tell if you are getting a good, juicy piece of citrus is to look at the skin.  The smoother and less dimpled it is the juicier the fruit.  You also want to look for unblemished fruit although discolorations in skin color are not necessarily blemishes.  Oranges or lemons with green patches on the skin can still be ripe.  You also want a firm fruit, not squishy (although be kind to other purchasers and don't squeeze too hard).

For grapefruits you want a thin-skinned fruit.  Thicker skins will feel spongier and will yield less fruit.

For a delicious and easy dessert try the following:

broiled grapefruit

preheat your oven to broil

wash grapefruits and cut in half

put in a baking pan (I usually get four into an 8 x 8 pan)

sprinkle with sucanat

add a pinch of cinnamon if desired

broil for 3-5 minutes until sugar is melting into fruit

serve

And for the most delicious lemon/limeade try this:

juice of 4 limes (or 5 lemons)

mix with 1 C. evaporated cane juice crystals

stir well until crystals are dissolved

add 6 C. water

enjoy

This juice is wonderful, you know you've got a hit on your hands when your high school aged child and her friends ask for it rather than other beverage choices.

photo courtesy of freefoto.com