I was at an event in Toronto with Sunkist which inspired me to introduce you to different ways of using citrus at home. Perhaps it was because the evening sky was filled with bright colours, or maybe it was because the refreshing citrus scents were so refreshing on this gloomy day that I recently incorporated freshly squeezed orange juice into my morning routine. By the way, I’m still looking for a practical and cute juice press for the kitchen, so if you have any ideas, please let me know; however, I also fell for some of the recipes that I discovered there. Here are my finds.
Coco and Lemon Beauty Mask
The virtues of citrus in beauty have long been recognized. We often talk about vitamin C, which helps to brighten the complexion and restore radiance to the skin. I really liked the homemade coconut mask developed by Victoria Radford. Its texture melts on the skin and leaves it hydrated, soft and radiant. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- Zest of two Meyer lemons
- 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons of Manuka honey or organic honey
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the ingredients until they form a thick dough. Apply the mixture to your face, massaging it with a circular motion.
- Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
Citrus Essential Oils
What could be better than getting your whole house to smell like fresh citrus? Whether it’s to create candles, add them to our bath, or even use in a diffuser, essential oils are easy to create and have multiple uses.
Equipment required
- Citrus of your choice
- Oil of your choice (safflower or seeds)
- A zester
- A mixing bowl
- A tablespoon
- A measuring cup
- Pots and pans
- Mason Pots
- Cheese Cloth
Instructions
- Over a mixing bowl, collect the zest from the outer peel of the citrus fruit, but avoid grating the white part (colored peel only)
- Once you have approximately 2 tablespoons of zest, add them into a cauldron with 1 cup of oil
- Bring to a boil and stir often for about 5 minutes, then reduce to low
- Simmer for about 30 minutes, then remove heat and allow to cool
- Once completely cooled, place the cheese cloth over a Mason jar and carefully pour the mixture of oil and zest into the jar
- The cloth will collect all the citrus zest, leaving only the essential oils infused in the pot
- Press the cloth to remove any oil, then discard
- Make sure the jar or container is hermetically sealed. You can keep it up to 6 months
Pummelo Spritz Cocktail
Want to change it up from your usual margarita? Citrus fruits are widely used in the world of Mixology. Personally, I like to mix it with tequila, and I love bubbly, so I fell for this simple and refreshing cocktail. Here are the instructions:
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce Tequila
- 1/4 Ounce of elderberry liquor
- ¾ of freshly squeezed pummelo juice
- 3/4 freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- 1/4 ounce of syrup
- 2 ounces of dry sparkling wine
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 dash of lemon zest
Instructions
- Pour the tequila, the elderberry liqueur, the freshly squeezed pummelo and lemon juices, the simple syrup and the pinch of salt in the shaker and mix with ice
- Pour into a glass and add the sparkling wine
- Collect the zest of a small piece of the skin of Meyer lemon, squeeze the zest on the drink to release its essential oils and add a beautiful aroma and a slight bitterness to the drink. Add a slice of Meyer lemon as a finishing touch.
What recipe do you prefer from my suggestions?
