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New Year, New You: Blood Orange, Grapefruit, & Mint with Acacia Honey!

With the indulgence of the holidays behind us (literally!), January is the perfect time to renew our dedication to living a healthful existence. I’m a strong believer that breakfast is crucial to starting your day off right and this deliciously healthy recipe for Blood Orange, Grapefruit, & Mint with Acacia Honey is perfect for getting your metabolism going! There’s no... Read More

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New Year, New You: Blood Orange, Grapefruit, & Mint with Acacia Honey!

Blood orange, grapefruit, lemon, mint, honey, breakfast

With the indulgence of the holidays behind us (literally!), January is the perfect time to renew our dedication to living a healthful existence. I’m a strong believer that breakfast is crucial to starting your day off right and this deliciously healthy recipe for Blood Orange, Grapefruit, & Mint with Acacia Honey is perfect for getting your neurons and metabolism going! There’s no cooking or advance planning required other than purchasing ingredients; simply slice, arrange, and drizzle and it’s ready to go.

Blood oranges are named for the color of their flesh which is a gorgeous, deep, crimson-red. Most varieties look just like a regular navel orange we’re used to seeing here in Florida; it’s not until you cut into the fruit that the differences are readily apparent. The blood orange originated in Italy where it is still the primary orange grown and has a delicious tart, citrusy, herbal flavor that tastes like Aperol, the Italian liqueur (for more on Aperol, click here). As indicated by their rich color, blood oranges are higher in antioxidants than regular oranges and are also chock full of vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber making them a very healthy and flavorful option. They can be served simply sliced in recipes like this one or used to make marmalades, compotes, cocktails, and granitas as well.

In order to slice the citrus you’ll need to remove the skin first which is much easier to do if the fruit has spent about a half hour in the fridge. Start by slicing off the top and bottom of the fruit, giving yourself a firm base to work with. Then, using a sharp knife, start at the top of the fruit and slice from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit in order to remove only the skin and white, bitter pith. It may take a few passes to get it all and once you’re done slice the fruit crosswise and you’ll have beautiful, jewel-like slices which you can then arrange on a platter. Once arranged, scatter the mint leaves over the citrus and drizzle with the acacia honey. The light taste and delicate sweetness of acacia honey really lets the wonderful flavor of the citrus to shine through (for more on acacia honey, click here). I really hope you enjoy this recipe and what are some of your favorite healthy breakfasts options? Please let me know in the comment section below!

Cheers,

SIGNATURE

 

Blood orange, grapefruit, lemon, mint, acacia honey, breakfast

“Blood Orange, Grapefruit, & Mint with Acacia Honey”
Serves 2-4

1 Blood Orange, peeled and sliced crosswise
1 Grapefruit, peeled and sliced crosswise
1 Meyer or regular lemon, peeled and sliced crosswise
Handful of fresh mint leaves
Acacia honey for drizzling

Arrange citrus slices on a platter overlapping the different colors. Once arranged, scatter fresh mint leaves over the citrus and then generously drizzle with the acacia honey. Enjoy!

Fourth of July Cocktail Couture: Pomegranate-Aperol Royale!

Kick off your Summer soirée in style with a very special Fourth of July Cocktail – the Pomegranate-Aperol Royale! This super patriotic drink is a mixture of sparkling wine, Aperol and pomegranate juice garnished with fresh raspberries. It’s incredibly tasty and features Fourth of July’s signature red, white and blue colors. Aperol is a delicious Italian liqueur with a distinct, bright orange color that calls to mind a fabulous,... Read More

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Cocktail Couture: the Fourth of July Pomegranate-Aperol Royale!

Chandon Sparkling Wine, California, Fourth of July, Pomegranate, Aperol

If you’d like to kick off your Fourth of July celebration in style this year, give this patriotic cocktail a try! This special edition of Cocktail Couture features the Pomegranate-Aperol Royale, an enticing mixture of sparkling wine, Aperol, pomegranate juice and raspberries. In addition to being extremely tasty, this drink also features the signature colors of this most American of holidays: a blue sugared rim; ruby red pomegranate juice mixed with the clementine color of Aperol to create a dazzling, ruby red; and the “white” of the sparkling wine.

Aperol is an Italian liqueur with a very distinct, bright orange color which calls to mind a fiery South Florida sunset. It was created by the Barbieri brothers from Italy’s Veneto region and introduced to Italians at the International Fair of Padua in 1919. This Italian liqueur is an infusion of ingredients including bitter and sweet orange and a variety of carefully selected herbs and roots. The result is a delicious concoction which is simultaneously sweet, bitter, and herbal in nature. Aperol is actually quite similar to Campari just not as bitter, and for those who find Campari a little too intense, Aperol is an excellent alternative.

Our featured sparkling wine for our Pomegranate-Aperol Royale is the fabulous Limited Edition Chandon Blanc de Noirs Brut ($20). The festive red, white and blue limited edition bottle will make a stylish addition to your Fourth of July soirée! This sparkler is made from two red grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and is delightfully fruit-driven and full-flavored. It is also made in the same method as Champagne, Methode Traditionelle, and can be enjoyed on its own or as part of our fabulous cocktail.

In order to keep your cocktails sufficiently chilled pop the fresh raspberries in the freezer the night before your party. They make a colorful, eye-catching garnish and are a delicious treat to enjoy as you finish your drink as well!

So greet your guests with Pomegranate-Aperol Royales and kick off your Fourth of July in patriotic style! The Limited Edition Chandon Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine is available at The Wine Atelier (click here for pricing information) and we are offering free local delivery for orders over $50 in the Boca Raton/Delray Beach area and $10 shipping on any purchase of 4 bottles or more. Wishing you a very fabulous (and safe) Fourth of July weekend!

Cheers,

Signature

 

 

Fourth of July Pomegranate-Aperol Royale
Makes one drink

1 bottle of Chandon Limited Edition Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine
Aperol
Pomegranate juice
Blue sugar**
1 lime
Frozen raspberries

Put the blue sugar in a saucer or small, shallow dish. Squeeze the juice of one lime into a similar saucer or small, shallow dish. Dip the rim of the Champagne flute first into the lime juice and then immediately into the blue sugar to coat the rim evenly. Shake loose any excess.

Add one frozen raspberry to the bottom of a flute. Pour equal amounts Aperol and pomegranate juice so together they occupy 1/4 of the glass. Gently pour the chilled sparkling wine to fill the rest of the glass. Pouring gently increases the chance of keeping the red and white layers separate. Enjoy!

**To make blue sugar for the rim, add a half cup of regular sugar to a container with a tight fitting lid. Add approximately 3-5 drops of blue food coloring to the sugar in the container, fasten the lid and shake vigorously until all the sugar is colored blue. You can always add more food coloring if you feel the blue isn’t dark enough, just be sure to shake it really well to evenly distribute the color.