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Florida Citrus Recipes from Florida’s Top Chef

February 28, 2012 By nancy

The only full-time state chef in the nation, Florida’s Top Chef, Justin Timineri, travels the state cooking up delectable mealtime treats and healthy snacks that feature delicious, fresh Florida citrus fruit and other locally-grown Florida produce and seafood (see our previous post). Florida oranges and Florida grapefruit are excellent sources of vitamin C, the B vitamin folate, dietary fiber, potassium, antioxidants and other healthy nutrients. Low in calories and sodium- and cholesterol-free, it’s no wonder Chef Timineri recommends including several servings of Florida citrus fruit in your daily diet.

Fabulously easy-to-make, Chef Timineri’s delicious Florida Citrus Dream Smoothie recipe is a tasty and nutritious way to start the day. Florida citrus smoothies also make a cool, refreshing snack when you need an afternoon pick-me-up, as well as a healthy after-school snack for the kids. You’ll find Chef Timineri’s favorite Florida citrus recipes, including the one below, on his website at TheFloridaChef.com.

Florida Citrus Dream Smoothie

2 cups Florida orange juice, freshly squeezed
2 cups vanilla frozen low-fat yogurt
8 ice cubes

Place orange juice and yogurt in a blender. With lid tightly sealed, blend on high speed until smooth. Add ice cubes, continuing to blend until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately. Freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray for later use. Makes 2 servings.

Filed Under: Citrus Health Benefits, Florida Citrus, Florida Citrus Recipes Tagged With: , ,

State Chef Whips Up Delicious Florida Citrus Treats

February 23, 2012 By nancy

Florida’s state beverage is, not surprisingly, fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice. The state flower is the delicately-scented orange blossom. The tall and stately Sabal palm is the official state tree. The Sunshine State is big on state symbols. Where most states have a state animal and bird, Florida has a whole menagerie, including a state animal (Florida panther), bird (mockingbird), butterfly (zebra longwing), reptile (alligator), marine mammal (manatee), saltwater mammal (dolphin), saltwater fish (sailfish), and freshwater fish (largemouth bass). Like a few other states, Florida also has a state rock (agatized coral), state wildflower (coreopsis) and state song (Old Folks at Home by Stephen Foster, better known as The Swanee River); but Florida has one very special honorific to which no other state can lay claim. Florida is the only state in America with a state chef.

Anointed by the Florida Department of Agriculture to promote Florida-grown food, Chef Justin Timineri travels the state whipping up delicious Florida citrus treats, shrimp kebabs, blueberry smoothies, grilled fish and a host of culinary delights that feature fresh Florida produce and seafood. The 37-year-old Tallahassee native and former event chef has held the post of Florida’s Top Chef since 2006. When he’s not on the road showing people how to incorporate healthy Florida citrus fruit and other locally grow foods into their diet, Timineri cooks for Governor Rick Scott and his family where fresh Florida citrus fruit, fresh local vegetables and fresh-caught seafood are always on the menu.

Next time: Chef Timineri’s recipes

Filed Under: Florida Agriculture, Florida Citrus, Florida Citrus Recipes Tagged With: ,

Florida Citrus Fruit Protects Against Birth Defects

February 21, 2012 By nancy

Florida citrus fruit contains what many pregnant women consider to be a magical ingredient that helps keep their unborn child healthy. There’s nothing “magical” about folate, but it has been proven to decrease the risk birth defects. One of the B vitamins, folate is abundant in fresh Florida citrus fruit. Instrumental in the creation of healthy DNA, the genetic material in our body’s cells, folate is also essential to the creation of amino acids, protein’s building blocks.

If women consumed the recommended daily dose of folate before becoming pregnant and while pregnant, the American Dietetic Association says up to 75% of traumatic spine and brain birth defects in newborn infants could be prevented.

The folate found in Florida citrus fruit also promotes heart health and can decrease your risk of developing coronary heart disease. Eating fresh Florida oranges every day of your pregnancy to protect your baby’s health is a delicious habit you can follow for the rest of your life to protect your own health.

Next week, FloridaOrange.com will be sending out its final shipments of ripe, juicy, fresh-picked Florida Honey tangerines and Florida Temple oranges. Why not send a Florida citrus gift box to your favorite pregnant mom? Or if you’re pregnant, order a crate of your favorite Florida citrus fruit for yourself! Through March 31, 2012, you can save 10% on all orders of Florida citrus fruit on FloridaOrange.com by entering coupon code 7777 at checkout.

Filed Under: Citrus Health Benefits, Florida Citrus, Florida Citrus Gift Baskets, Florida Grapefruit, Florida Oranges, Florida Tangerines, Honey Tangerines, Temple Oranges Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pucker Up for National Grapefruit Month

February 16, 2012 By nancy

February gives you more than one reason to pucker up. Valentine’s Day, of course; but February is also National Grapefruit Month. Loved for its puckery tang, Florida grapefruit is the bold member of the Florida citrus family tree, but it has a sweet side too!

Grapefruit has an undeserved reputation for mouth-puckering tartness that is only true of highly-acidic grapefruit varieties, not those sold by FloridaOrange.com. High acid content gives grapefruit, lemons and limes their tart taste. Some people like a fruit with kick, but most of us prefer to mix a little sweetness with our pucker. That’s why Florida grapefruit have been crossbred to create varieties that are deliciously sweet but still retain that desirable tangy zing.

  • Florida Marsh White grapefruit have a sweet, mild flavor with just a hint of tang to wake up your taste buds. The perfect breakfast food, Florida Marsh White grapefruit are exceptionally sweet and juicy, making them an excellent choice for both whole eating and juicing.
  • Florida Ruby Red grapefruit have a naturally sweet flavor that will have you wondering if you’re actually eating a grapefruit. Their juicy, blush-red flesh makes Florida Ruby Red grapefruit a colorful and tasty addition to salads and salsas.

Packed with vitamin C, B vitamins, folate, fiber and antioxidants, eating half a Florida grapefruit or drinking a glass of fresh-squeezed Florida grapefruit juice is a healthy way to start the day. Celebrate National Grapefruit Month by ordering delicious, sweet Florida grapefruit from FloridaOrange.com today.

Filed Under: Citrus Health Benefits, Florida Citrus, Florida Grapefruit, Vitamin C Tagged With: , , ,
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