Welcome to the final week of the Florida Citrus Feel Better Challenge! At the end of this week we will crown the Top Citrus Chef. Will it be Cayla, or Carol? Read both Cayla and Carol's recipe reviews, compare the pictures, and then let us know whose dish looked best!
During cold and flu season, eating right is essential! Florida Citrus is an easy and delicious way to help you get your 7-10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Comment below and share how you pamper yourself to help feel better when you're under the weather for your first second chance to win a $250 WaySpa gift certificate and products from The Body Shop courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus.To enter your third ballot in the contest share how you pamper yourself to help feel better . For another ballot, upload your own citrus-infused recipe the Florida Citrus Feel Better Recipe Swap.
Visit the Florida: Feel Better facebook page for more tips, recipes & daily smiles from the growers of Florida Citrus.
This week's recipe is: Raspberry Citrus Bars
This bright refreshing dessert can be served casually as a bar or dressed up with a dollop of whipped cream and mint for any special guests.
Makes 24 bars
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 mL) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (25 mL) cornstarch
3/4 cup (175 mL) butter, softened
2 cups (500 mL) fresh raspberries
Citrus Filling:
5 egg yolks
3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50 mL) all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups (325 mL) 35% whipping cream
3/4 cup (175 mL) Florida orange juice
3/4 cup (175 mL) Florida grapefruit juice
1 tbsp grated grapefruit rind
Whipped cream for garnish
Grated Florida grapefruit rind and fresh mint leaves for garnish
Directions:
1. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar and cornstarch.
2. With fingers work in butter until mixture clumps together.
3. With floured hands, press dough evenly into parchment paper lined 13 x 9 inch (3 L) baking pan.
4. Bake in 350 F oven for about 25 minutes or until firm to the touch and edges are light golden.
5. Let cool slightly and sprinkle with raspberries.
Citrus Filling:
1. In bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and flour until smooth; set aside.
2. In saucepan, heat cream, orange and grapefruit juices and grapefruit rind over medium heat until bubbles start forming around edge.
3. Gently pour some of the cream mixture into egg yolk mixture and whisk to smoothen and combine.
4. Pour in remaining cream mixture and whisk until well combined.
5. Pour back into saucepan and return to medium heat.
6. Cook, whisking gently for about 5 minutes or until thickened.
7. Pour over raspberries and gently shake pan to even out and remove air bubbles.
8. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm and set.
9.Cut into bars to serve.
Tip: Whip cream and dollop onto bar and garnish with grapefruit rind and fresh mint for an extra special treat.
Recipe provided courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus.
See what our Chef #1, Cayla of The UrbanMoms Kitchen, had to say:
On the night I had planned on making the Citrus Squares, there was nothing I felt like doing less than baking. It had been the kind of day when you leave before the sun comes up and don't come home until after dark. The kind of day where you go to work, drive the kids everywhere, and then go to work some more. The kind of day that had not one second of "me" time.
When work was finally done, I felt like doing nothing more than crawling into bed. But then I heard a little voice, "Mommy, when are we making the squares?"
"Now." I sighed as I started to assemble the ingredients. I don't know if it was the smell of the grapefruit zest or the fun we had squishing butter between our fingers, but within minutes, the smile had returned to my face.
Between the buttery crust and the rich filling, these bars are decadent! But after a week of hard work, a few great workouts and lots of healthy eating, I felt I deserved a treat. Not only that, I didn't have to work for it. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to prepare. So fast and easy, in fact, that I almost didn't have enough time for the crust to cool before topping it with the filling before it set.
Overall, Maya and I had a great time making this dessert...even if it was a bit of a comedy of errors. We forgot to put the parchment down under the crust, we spilled grapefruit juice all over the kitchen, and when it came time to serve, almost dropped the entire thing on the floor. But, really, who cares? Especially when being imperfect is so much fun!
After (im)patiently waiting for the squares to cool, here's what the crew had to say about them:
Maya: So yummy! I love the raspberries!
Billy: Can I have more? I like that there's fruit, which is healthy, but it doesn't taste healthy.
Husband: Wow! They're sweet, but not too sweet. Sometimes this kind of thing is too sweet.
Best friend (and master baker): It tastes really good. Like a lemon square except the citrus taste is more complex. The filling is really rich, almost like custard. These would be really good baked as a tart.
These bars were a little ray of sunshine on a dreary day. They were a great reminder that sometimes it's ok to spill grapefruit juice on the floor, get flour on your nose and not worry when your dessert doesn't look as pretty as it was supposed to. Because, man, does it taste good!
See what our Chef #2, Carol, UrbanMoms staffer, had to say:
Are you a dessert fan? Some, like my husband, are chips and nut lovers. Others prefer cheese and crackers. I must admit that there is nothing I love more than a delicious dessert. While I do my best to prepare well-balanced, healthy meals I still enjoy including the occasional treat. Small indulgences are important to our overall health.
My weeks can get hectic, running the kids around to their sport practices, extra curricular activities, and my own appointments. Every week I try to find ways to regroup and recharge. Date night with my husband is one of my favourite ways to recharge. When I have even less time I enjoy taking a bath, or reading a great book. I also love to bake and find it to be a great stress reliever. Finding new and exciting recipes to prepare is so much fun. You should see the stack of recipe books I have in my kitchen.
I was thrilled when the Florida Department of Citrus asked me to try out their Raspberry Citrus Bars recipe. I found myself with another intriguing recipe that combined the unique flavours of grapefruit and fresh raspberries.
Well let me tell you that these bars are now one of my new favourites! What makes this recipe so interesting is the addition of grapefruit. I love serving my guests desserts that stand out and are a departure from the expected. This recipe will definitely create a long-lasting impression with your friends and family. No need to be intimidated by this recipe as it has simple and easy to follow steps. The grapefruit flavour nicely offsets the sweetness of the filling. The shortbread base was absolutely divine. My husband and daughter absolutely loved this dessert. They both really enjoyed the creamy rich filling and loved the addition of the fresh raspberries.
Here is what they said:
Husband: Yum! Love the creamy centre and crunchy base. The squares have a really great taste, not too sweet and I especially love the fresh raspberries.
Carol: The recipe makes a large batch of squares, the perfect amount for a party. It's a great dessert to bring to a friend's house. They transport well and stay fresh and delicious in the fridge. My family thought they tasted just as great on day 1 as day 3.
Nicky: The squares are really gooey and yummy.
Rachel: I love the crust! They taste a lot like lemon squares, only better.
So don't forget to take time out to pamper yourself and include small indulgences weekly in your life.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! VOTE AND COMMENT BELOW.
TO ENTER THE CONTEST share how you pamper yourself to help feel better when you're under the weather. For an additional ballot add your favourite citrus recipes to the Florida Citrus Feel Better Recipe Swap application. The new "easy-upload" feature allows you to share your recipe with ease.
(The content on this post is sponsored by Florida Department of Citrus. Click here for more information)
Click here for contest Rules and Regulations.
Which review do you like best?
i pamper myself when i am feeling crappy by staying in bed with my faithful blanky and getting my husband to peel my oranges and break them into segments for me so all i have to do is eat them...!
I pamper myself by going to bed early and watching a movie.
I pamper myself by eating chicken soup
I snuggle under the blankets with a cup of tea, and if I'm up to it, a good book.
A hot bubble bath, followed by snuggling up on the sofa while watching a movie.
I have a hot bubble bath, then lay on the couch with a hot apple drink and a good book.
I take a long bath
I wrap myself up in a nice warm blanket and sleep as much as I can.
a foot rub from my husband!
Definately a bath to shake off that chill and then a nice little nap with a cozy blankey while watching a movie with my two little boys. Usually a movie I've seen 1000 times...like Toy Story or Cars. lol!
When I am feeling under the weather, I like to have a relaxing bath and use bath oil or a bath bomb to make it even better. I always feel much better after that.
carol wins for presentation! well, i feel crappy and should have had a nap and some ginger tea but life got in the way :-)
hot tea and lots of rest
When I'm not feeling well I tend to take to my bed with a cup of tea and turn on the TV and nap.
a little retail therapy never hurts, when I am feeling blue.
take as many naps throughout the day to boost my energy
I like to pamper myself by heading into the hot tub.
A nice long bubble bath does the trick for me as well.
I take a nice hot vapor bubble bath, make a hot tea with honey and snuggle in bed and watch a movie.
I pamper myself by sitting in my infared sauna and then shower and into bed for a nap.
pamper yourself to help feel better when you're under the weather.
Pjs, my bed and a movie!
Sadly, I do nothing.
I take a hot bath, then crawl into bed early with a hot rum toddy and a good book. I'm soon asleep and usually wake up the next morning feeling a lot better.
Sleep! I crawl in bed and sleep and sleep and sleep.
I like to go to a spa where I can get a facial or massage and then just hang out if they have a pool...of course, THAT hasn't happened in a LOOOONNNNGGG time! By the way, tried out this recipe yesterday! It's great!!!
When I am under the weather I curl up in bed with several magazines and a cup of tea.
I curl up with a good book and listen to music I like, never mind the comments from the gang.
I make myself a bowl of chicken soup and then get lots of rest.
I make myself feel better by sleeping it off and drinking lots of clear fluids
I snuggle under a warm duvet and read my favourite book.
I pamper myself by making hot lemonade, grabbing a good book, a warm blanket and reading until I fall asleep for a great nap. Thanks
I make some hot green tea with lemon and read a good book or watch a romatic comedy movie to relax myself.
I pamper myself by relaxing with a great cup of tea, and when I feel I need extra pampering, I treat myself to a small treat, so the citrus bars mentioned above would be perfect!
I would love to say it was with a long massage and a facial...but no, it's probably more like a hot coffee picked up from a drive through and a long quiet drive home alone and a movie that only I like.
I like to pamper myself with a long hot bath with scented candles lit in the bathroom...it makes me feel so relaxed,after I put on my favorite scented moisturizer and a warm pr jammies!
The raspberry citrus bars sound amazing; Thanks for the recipe!
pamper myself by having some me time with a nice fire in the woodstove; curled up on the couch with a book and a glass of white wine!
Love these recipes - thank you. Have a fondue party this w/end & these would be the perfect ending with chocolate!!
I pamper myself with my book & a lemon tea & a quiet house!
I usually pamper myself with a night out with a friend at the local Starbucks.... good conversation and warming up on a cold winter night.
I pamper myself with a cup of tea with honey & lemon drink, my warm comfy pj's along with my big blanket, curled up in my favourite chair and watch an old B&W movie, when I'm under the weather.
Pamper myself? What's that?, I don't think that I have ever pampered myself. Even when I am under the weather, I still do everything. I do think I remember one time just staying in bed and trying to sleep, but didn't last very long. LOL, the life of a mom.
I pamper myself with extra sleep.
I like to have a hot bath, get in my fleece pjs and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea!
If I get the chance to actually pamper myself, I like to crawl into bed with my kitty curled up at my feet, and sip on a hot honey and lemon drink (or Nyquil if I'm REALLY bad), and then sleep...
Honestly, the one thing that really does make me feel better, is being close to my sweet 6 year old daughter. A hug from her, to be close to her, makes everything alright again. Sometimes when she knows I am under a bit of stress or not feeling well, she attempts to rub my shoulders and remind me that I'm a beautiful and the "best" mom. So sweet.
Nice comforting meal risotto or mac and cheese. rest and tv :)
snuggling under the covers and watching a movie.
The best thing always is a long hot bath with a nice cup of tea beside and a fabulous smelling bath ingredient. After that a complete oiling and straight to bed with another fresh cup of tea and a good book
When I am not feeling well, I curl up on the sofa with a good book.
When I'm sick I pamper myself by eating a bowl of chicken soup and then crawling under the covers to read or watch a movie.
A bubble tea, some tea and a good book.
The picture of desert #2 clinched it for me. How yummy looking. To pamper myself to feel better I like a hot bath with peace and quiet.
hot tea, water and rest
I pamper myself with a at home spa day!
I pamper myself with a hot bath, hot tea or neocitran, and go to sleep.
Having some time alone and a good book
When I'm under the weather I have my husband pick up won ton soup!
Soup is the best comfort food! If I really have an appetite, a nice rich dessert is in order...you realize life's too short, so indulge! lol Feed a fever (dessert), starve a cold (soup)...works for me! :D
I pamper myself by taking long bubble bath
When I am under the weather, I sip orange juice and lay in bed surrounded by magazines and books
I like to pamper myself with a good book and hot tea with lemon.
I vote for Carol.
I pamper myself with quiet time, a cup of green tea and a really good book.
I like Cayla.
I like to pamper myself with a hot bath, healthy food and lots of rest.
I have a big cup of coffee and the afternoon with a great book.
A good hot bath and a book and then a warm bed.
I like to pamper myself with a good HOT bath, a cuppa tea, and an afternoon in bed
I like to pamper myself with a nice warm blanket and a good hockey game on TV
I pamper myself by calling in sick and actually staying in bed, and not worry about cleaning the house and making dinner.
I have a nice hot epson salt, eucalyptus, lavendar scented bath. Its so refreshing!
When I require pampering, I take a hot bubble bath and read a trashy celebrity magazine.
the pampering would involve sofa, tv and turning the phone off
When I am sick, I pamper myself by actually giving myself the time to sleep and rest... As a bonus, the last time I had a cold (which happened to be last week), I scheduled a massage which was sheer bliss for my achey body.
I stay in bed and sleep
When I feel unwell, I like to pile up the bed with blankets and burrow down into them so I can stay nice and cozy. I also like to use the heating pad on my tummy if it is upset. All that warmth and coziness always makes me feel better. A nice long nap also goes a long way towards making me feel better. I could really use one right about now! :o)
I pamper myself by having chicken noodle soup, curling up with the heating blanket and watching a wonderful movie. (or reading a good book)
I cuddle up and read.
How I pamper myself to help feel better is indulge in something sweet, curl up with a movie, tv or a book & just spend time on myself ... a good nap does wonders too
I like to have a nice cup of mint tea and a long bubbly hot bath.
I stay in bed and get some rest.