Last month I gave you some of the top plants for Winter; some of which help to boast your immune system and aid with the relief of cold & flu symptoms. What we didn’t mention was the wonderful citrus available at this time of year!

They are the vitamin C packed fruit that comes in its own packaging! It is said that one medium orange gives you your daily vitamin c requirements (fun fact). Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and is also a nutrient that helps to keep your skin smooth and elastic.  They also have lots of other vitamins and minerals that your body needs including magnesium, copper, potassium and B vitamins.

Citrus is low in calories, while making you feel full due to the water and high fibre content. In winter when we like to indulge in a few ‘hearty dishes and desserts’ this is good news.

Here is our guide to making the most out of your citrus; it doesn’t matter if you zest, juice, slice or dice – there are so many glorious ways to incorporate them.

Lemon drink – Start by freezing the whole fruit – then grate into a glass of hot water for your lemon drink in the morning. Yep, grate from the skin, through to the flesh and you get all the benefits. Freezing them allows you to enjoy a lemon drink all year round from your lemon harvest.

Lemon juice: Squeeze them and freeze the juice in ice cube trays, store in sealed containers and use whenever a recipe requires lemon juice.

Preserved Lemons: Adds an intense lemon flavour without all of the sour tartness.  The preserving process removes a lot of the tartness, leaving a lemon that can be added to a range of dishes including Moroccan dishes, risottos, salads, chicken, dressings, sauces and of course stews.

Orange slices: Thinly slice and dehydrate for use in cooking or pop a slice into your hot chocolate for a fresh ‘jaffa’ flavour. For an indulgent treat, try dipping the orange slices in chocolate for a delicious dessert

Don’t forget Blood oranges: not only do they look stunning with their colour, they add intense flavour to cocktails, desserts & salads.

Remember to keep the rinds too, they can be used around the house. Orange rinds (including mandarin), once dried can be used as a natural firelighter. They have oils in the skin to help a fire to start and as an added benefit, make the house smell amazing when lighting your open fire.

Lemon rinds can be used for ‘scrappy vinegar’ which is a natural household cleaner, that cuts through grease in the kitchen and smells ‘fresh’ too. Simply take your lemon rinds, put in a jar and fill with vinegar (make sure they are submerged to prevent mould) and leave to seep for a week or two. Transfer into a spray bottle and there you have it!

Enjoy,

Louise