Zero Waste: Citrus Fruits: Part 1

One of my favorite snacks is fresh fruit. I love the taste of a freshly peeled mandarin orange and the scent is divine. A lot of people forget the nutritious value and benefits of citrus rinds, and toss them directly in the trash.

We don't eat citrus rind very much in Western cultures, probably because of the bitter flavor in the white portion of the rind. With access to food, 24/7 who can blame us? But citrus zest is a great addition to desserts and not to mention can be used to make yummy lemon, orange, or lime curd for pies or pudding flavoring.

Clean your fruit first!

Before you can work with the peel, you need to make sure the fruit is clean.
Try my recipe for vinegar fruit and veggi cleaner here.

A diagram of a lemon. Photo by André Karwath aka Aka, creative commons. Diagram by Amanda Wedvik

How to Peel Fruit to Save Citrus Rind:

 1. Using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, carefully peel away the thin layer of colorful rind, leaving the bitter white flesh intact. 
2. Don't worry you can scratch off any residual white pith if you accidentally peel it too deep. 
3. Continue until the whole fruit is peeled down to the white flesh. Set the peels aside to use or refrigerate or freeze.
4. Peel away the white flesh (pith) and discard. The fruit is ready to eat and there is very little waste.

**Another option: use a zester for finer grating for recipes requiring citrus zest. A zester looks like a cheese grater but has much smaller teeth.

 Check Out Part 2 for a tasty sugar free chocolate orange tea recipe!

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Zero Waste: Citrus Fruits Part 2

I like  to zest all of my citrus fruit to save it for cooking and baking.Whenever I eat an orange or use fresh lemons or limes, I always zest the fruit first. This also makes peeling it much easier.

Remember to zest only the colored portions and leave the bitter white rind alone.

Citrus zest, which is full of healthy citrus oils, is also great for making citrus flavored teas. Here's a good hot drink recipe for the cold winter months:

Photo by Albadawn under Creative Commons.

 Selena's Spicy Chocolate Orange Herbal Tea (no refined sugar)

1 Tablespoon orange zest
1/2 to 1 tablespoon  powdered cinnamon
1/2 to 1 tablespoon powdered cloves
1/2 to 1 tablespoon powdered nutmeg
1/2 to 1tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dry cocoa powder

Steep in boiling water for a few minutes, strain and serve. You can also add a little bit of orange juice or lemon juice, and honey if you need a little bit of sweetness.

*It may have small traces of caffeine. I would not know the amounts. My understanding is that chocolate or cocoa may have caffeine.

*Make sure to strain well  with a mesh sieve or you will have goo and orange bits on the bottom!*

Enjoy!

Didn't get to see part 1? Check it out here.

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Food Waste: A Global Crisis

I would like to share a video that talks about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. Food waste contributes to world hunger and I believe that by reducing food waste in my own home, I can help to reduce the global food waste problem. This Ted Talks is a really eye opener and I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me.

Tristram Stuart: The global food waste scandal

Here's Tristram's bio from Ted.com:

"Western countries waste up to half of their food. This is an injustice Tristram Stuart has dedicated his career to fixing. In his newest book, Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, Tristram shows how changing the systems that result in food waste could be one of the simplest ways to reduce pressure on the environment.

The winner of the international environmental award The Sophie Prize in 2011, Tristram is the founder of Feeding the 5000, a consciousness raising campaign where 5000 members of the public are given a free lunch using only ingredients that otherwise would have been wasted. Held in Trafalgar Square in 2009 and 2011, the event has also been held internationally.

In addition, Tristram works with a range of NGOs, governments, and private enterprises to tackle the global food waste scandal."

"Waste is certainly one of the most important environmental books to come out in years. But it is more than that. It is an indictment of our consumer culture that should make us all feel deeply ashamed. "

The Financial Times

Do you have any stories of food waste? Have you worked in the food industry or have you seen this issue first hand anywhere else?How would you work to reduce food waste to help solve world hunger?