3 cool ideas with citrus fruit
Wow before we get to the good bit...Ideally when consuming the rind of citrus fruit we would want it to be organic and not to have wax's and such like sprayed on them.
But unless your buying from an organic greengrocer, organic is hard to find. Wash it with the recipe below.
Fruit and veg wash
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in 1 litre of warm water. Soak the fruit for 10 minutes. Scrub with something suitable and rinse clean.
1) Grapefruit, orange and lemon juice
2 x grapefruit
2 x oranges
1 x lemon
Use a peeler (not a knife) to remove the very outer layer of skin, you want as much of the pitch left behind. This is were the fruits bioflavonoids are found. If you have a juicer, run them through the juicer or use an 'old skool' citrus juicer, you will get more bits with the latter but that's better really as you have more fibre content.
2) Citrus all purpose cleaner
Place all your discarded peels in a bowl or similar and cover with white vinegar. Leave at room temperature covered for around 2 weeks, the vinegar will go a lovely yellow colour and smell lovely. After 2 weeks, drain the liquid and put in a jam jar or similar with a lid. This will keep for ages. Then get a clean spray bottle, add the citrus vinegar and then add double the amount of water (ideally water that has been boiled and cooled, which will inhibit bacterial growth).
3) Citrus detox elixir aka quinine (think tonic water)
The zest in lemons and grapefruit, especially grapefruit contains anti-bacterial, anti-viral, fungicide and nervine components.
Place your grapefruit and lemon peels (not the orange) from your juice into a saucepan and cover with twice the amount of water, place a lid on to catch all the beneficial essential oils and simmer gently for 2 hours, adding more water if it seems to be drying out (you want to end with about 1 pint of fluid). When done, drain the peel and keep the liquid, allow to cool and pop in a glass bottle. Once cooled place in the fridge. Your elixir is now ready.
If you are feeling a bit unwell. Take 2 tablespoons every 4 hours for 5 days.
P.S. It may be quite sour so you could add honey once it has cooled right down
Did you know that if you add honey to hot drinks most of the beneficial qualities go, as the heat kills it. Always consume a good quality honey unheated.
4) Garlic and lemon tea
A great 'stop that cold' tea...
1 lemon
1 garlic clove, crushed
2cm fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
A pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp raw honey or maple syrup
Peel your lemon and pop the zest in your cup or teapot, add crushed garlic and sliced ginger. Add 200ml freshly boiled water.
Leave to brew for 15 minutes.
Remove the large matter, then add the juice of the lemon, then the honey or maple syrup.
Avoid drinking before bed as the ginger and cayenne pepper is quite stimulating.
Added one more in here! The citrus water dispenser which is a new wonderful addition to our household.