Oranges Sm’Oranges, And Other Citrus

 

(Because Nothing Rhymes With Oranges)  🙂

 

Orange is the New Muffin

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(I added a few Banana Chips as an accent, above.)

I Have Discovered Indian River Citrus, and There is NO Going Back!

My Florida Orange Muffins w/ Lemon Citrus Glaze

(Recipe Down Below)

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I LOVE an Orange Summer!

Be sure to look for the Florida Juice Oranges label if you will be juicing Oranges.

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Grandma Nell’s Ambrosia Recipe…

which I Embellished.

Julie’s Florida Ambrosia

(Recipe Down Below)

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Grapefruit Sake Ambrosia Cocktail

(Topped with Toasted Coconut)

I purchased the cute little bottle of Grapefruit Sake at the Asian Supermarket and decided to add it to a wine glass full of my Ambrosia.  It was a Fruit Cocktail, and a Cocktail.  Either drink it, or use a spoon or fork to eat it, or BOTH!

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Our Backyard Orange Tree…

…In The Morning Sun

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Recipes Start Here

My Summer Kitchen

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My Florida Orange Muffins w/ Lemon Citrus Glaze

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This recipe will make about 24 Mini Muffins, or about 16 Regular Muffins, or 10-12 Large Muffins.

I always double, and sometimes triple a recipe like this because I like to give them to family members to enjoy as well.

I will however, just give the recipe for ONE batch of Muffins.

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Greasing The Muffin Pans

I Decided to Make Large Muffins Here

For this you will need Crisco Shortening.  You just want to grease all around the inside of the Muffin Pans with the Crisco.  I tend to use a paper towel as I don’t like my hands getting all greasy.

Once the Muffin Pans are nicely Greased, now sprinkle some All Purpose Flour into the Muffin Pans.

Like So….

I then take each pan over to the sink and turn the Muffin pan sideways to move the All Purpose Flour around the sides, coating the Crisco with the Flour.  You just want a nice dusting.  When done, set aside for now.

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Ready To Make Our Muffins

Muffin Ingredients:

1 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour

2 t. Baking Powder

1/2 t. Baking Soda

1 Cup Sugar

1/4 t. Salt

2 Eggs

2/3 Cup Orange Juice

1 t. Grated Orange Peel

1 t. Grated Valencia Orange Peel

1/3 Cup Canola Oil

1/2 t. Vanilla Extract

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The Lemon Citrus Glaze Ingredients

1/4 Cup of Confectioner’s Sugar, or Thereabouts

The Juice of 1-2 Lemons

(Also the Zest)

1/2 to 1 t. Grated lemon Peel (From a Jar)

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Let’s Get Started

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Pre-Heat The Oven To 350F

My Muffin Pans are Ready

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This is a Pretty Easy Recipe

First Let’s Mix Our Dry Ingredients

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In a Large Mixing Bowl:

Add,

1 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour

2 t. Baking Powder

1/2 t. Baking Soda

1 Cup Sugar

1/4 t. Salt

1 t. Grated Orange Peel

1 t. Grated Valencia Orange Peel

Mixing The Dry Ingredients w/ a Whisk

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Time To Mix The Wet Ingredients

In a Medium Sized Bowl:

Add,

2 Eggs

2/3 Cup Orange Juice

1/3 Cup Canola Oil

1/2 t. Vanilla Extract

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Whisk the Wet Ingredients Together

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With the Dry Ingredients in One Bowl, and the Wet Ingredients in the Other…

..It’s Time to Combine Them

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Now, Time to Fill the Muffin Pans, up to 3/4 High

Into a 350F Oven for about 15 Minutes or So…

Depending on Your Oven

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In Order to Determine if They are Done, Insert a Toothpick,

if it Comes Out Clean, You Know They are Done.

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Allow The Muffins To Cool on a Cooling Rack,

For about 10 Minutes in the Pan.

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Time To Prepare The Glaze

The Lemon Citrus Glaze Ingredients

The Beauty of This Glaze is That You Can Add as Much or as Little, as You Like

In a Bowl:

Add,

1/4 Cup of Confectioner’s Sugar, or Thereabouts

The Juice of 1-2 Lemons

(Also the Zest)

1/2 to 1 t. Grated lemon Peel (For an Added Taste)

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You Can Make The Glaze as Think or as Thick as You Like

Simply Add All of Your Ingredients and Mix Together

I Placed A Tray Underneath to Catch the Excess Glaze

First Coat of Glaze on Muffins

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The Glaze That Fell Through, You Can Place Back on the Muffins

Delicious! 

What a Great Morning Muffin to Have With Your Indian River Orange Juice

Store in the Refrigerator

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Making The Ambrosia

My Grandmother LOVED Ambrosia and would literally make it on a loop all summer long.  Usually about 2 to 3 times a week.  It was always in her refrigerator and she would help herself to it, usually in the afternoon’s, while asking me if I wanted some Ambrosia?

Her Ambrosia recipe was very simple, yet delicious.

When you are in the state of Georgia (or Florida) heat, you aren’t interested in how fancy and elaborate it is, you only want that refreshing hit that the citrus would give you to help cool you down.

I decided that I wanted to make Ambrosia Grammaw Nell’s way, so I did.  I do have to say though that it was a MESS!

I have two Ambrosia recipes here to give you.  I highly recommend the latter, as it was much easier and not as messy.  But, here is my account of the two recipes.

For This Recipe I Used a Few Different Kinds of Oranges, Some Grapefruits and Some Mandarin Oranges Already to Eat.

I tried my best to segment each Orange and Grapefruit.  I also wanted some of the Zest from both.

You Can See The Mess I’m Making

I Believe that I Threw More Away Than I Actually Used

I did buy a jar of Mandarin Oranges to add to the Ambrosia. 

Just drain the juice, but be sure to save the juice for your breakfast the following day.  If it’s too sweet, you can always add water to dilute it down.

Just Combine All Of Your Citrus…. and Some Zest….

I Bought Grated Coconut and Toasted Coconut

I want to top the Ambrosia with the Toasted Coconut.  I made this Ambrosia with the intention of giving some away.  I also gave my kids the Toasted Coconut in baggies to sprinkle on top when they ate the Ambrosia I gave them at their homes.

Adding Some Grated Coconut….

Mix Together and Add Some Granulated Sugar

(That was my Grandmother’s Recipe.  Now for Mine!)

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Julie’s Ambrosia

Now that I am my Granddaughter’s main caregiver, I just don’t have as much time as I used to. So, I wanted to make my own Ambrosia, but didn’t want to do all that peeling and segmenting of the Citrus. I was happy when I found all these great ready made jars and containers of already peeled and segmented Oranges, Grapefruits, and Mandarin Oranges.

Now This is Easy!

You Will Need Some Colanders to Drain All That Juice

Once The Juice Is Drained…  Be Sure To Save It!

Just Place All of Your Drained Citrus Into a Large Bowl

I Did Replace the Juice Back Into Their Original Containers.

Great For Breakfast The Following Week

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Here I Added Some Shredded Coconut to the Citrus

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Lemons, and Coconut Sugar

Next, Zest Some Lemons and Juice the Lemons, Into the Citrus

Give It A Good Stir

Now Add The Coconut Sugar

If you haven’t noticed, I eyeball all of these ingredients to my personal tastes.

You can do the same.

Stir Together

Pomegranate Seeds and Mint Leaves

You can either buy the Pomegranate’s and remove all the seeds yourself, which takes up so much time.  Or, you can buy them already seeded and ready to eat.  That’s what I did.  The Pomegranate Seeds add such a lovely pop of color to my Ambrosia.

Then place the mint leaves however you like.  You could chop them up and stir them in.  Or, you could add them as a lovely flowering leaf.  Either way, they add such a wonderful touch.

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Julie and Gordon