A small sampling of grapefruit peels that have been dehydrated. These will be pulverized and used as zest! |
If you have ever noticed a grapefruit has thick rinds...really thick! That white junk on the inside can sometimes be almost a half inch thick depending on the growing season of the fruit. When using the peels for things like zest or marmalade, the white inner layer can occasionally add a little too much bitterness even for my taste. So, Michael uses a potato peeler to skin the grapefruit for the zest (to be dehydrated) albeit, he still makes these quite thick. Later, I peel off the white pithy part from the zested fruit before using the squishy inner parts. So far this winter, I have dehydrated nearly two gallons of the orange and grapefruit zest and this is after I pulverized the things into a lovely powder form! I will be prepared for any recipe that calls for the stuff! Actually, I just have a terrible time tossing anything into the compost that is at all usable. Stuff has to be deemed totally beyond use before it heads out the back door and down the hill to the compost! The raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, 'possums, fox, birds and any other critters that raid the pile in hopes of a free and easy meal go begging at times. I try to make use of just about everything..peels included.
One of four jugs of citrus zest that I have made this winter! Each jug holds one half gallon! |
Now perhaps you are wondering just how I would ever find the need of two gallons of zest..it is not that hard! I am a firm believer that Vitamin C is one of the healthiest things I can partake to ward off any unwanted colds or bouts of flu. So, I eat this stuff daily! Not only is it used in jams and jellies, this stuff is incredible used on seafood, poultry and other meats. Vegetable dishes as well as fruit dishes take on a citrus goodness with a tablespoon or so of the powder. I, also, have a habit of adding a tad to every baked item I make! Breads, pies, cakes, custards, muffins and even cookies receive a dash or two! Then..there is oatmeal! My breakfast of choice is always better with the zest added right at the end of cooking! And! We mustn't forget the teas! Herbal tea is phenomenal with a tad of zest! My two gallons of zest will be depleted rather quickly! I must make more! Quickly!!! Haha! This will definitely not be a problem as the Satsuma trees still have nearly a bushel of fruit dangling from the limbs and the grapefruit...oh, my goodness! The grapefruit trees are still loaded! Hundreds of the globs of gold are suspended from the branches just waiting to be picked and preserved! Busy, busy...zest, marmalade, jams, jellies..oh, and frozen! I am sure glad Vitamin C is healthy for the body but as far as any other claims, all I can say is...I hope these prove true! Besides a cure-all would taste great when it comes in the form of citrus zest!
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