"BloodOrange" news and stories

Why is it that when I read the name of this innocent little dessert, I hear it in a cockney accent? "Wench, fetch me the blood orange tart!" It's like something Tyrone Power's pirate character would have called for in The Black Swan before he took a huge swig from a stein, or a mug, or whatever pirates call their stout-drinking vessels.

Of course, this has nothing to do with this absolutely lovely way to marry fresh fruit with buttery pastry dough, but if it gets one more person to watch The Black Swan, my job is done. Blogger thedabble was inspired not by swashbucklers, but by a recipe from Santa Monica pastry chef Zoe Nathan (of restaurant Rustic Canyon and café-bakery Huckleberry), and the peak of blood-orange season. The salted caramel sauce is a rich addition, but if you're not inclined toward gooey caramel goodness, the tart is delicious completely unadorned (insert joke here). For more serious talk on blood oranges, see my recent post.

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When it comes to assembling the bar for your holiday party, there's a certain list of basics you must have on hand--vodka, gin, whiskey, cola, tonic, etc. Such a bar will certainly serve to make a decent drink and satisfy most customers, but won't add anything special to the festivities. The easiest--and cheapest--way to add a little magic is with unusual mixers. Here's five that will add a twist to your cocktail menu.

1. Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale
It mixes equally well with bourbon, vodka and light rum and works nicely in a punch. The antioxidants listed on the bottle may come in handy when battling the holidays' excesses, but the large amount of sugar won't help with that Christmas waistline.

2. Sence Rose Petal Nectar
If you wish to offer chick drinks that are more Deneuve/Dietrich than Carrie Bradshaw, rose petal nectar can come in handy. Try the elegant American Beauty--not the brandy version, but one made with vanilla vodka, lemon juice and rose petal nectar.

As we approach December, I start to crave the diversity of fruits available during the rest of the year. I get tired of seeing apples and pears. So, what I look forward to is the citrus season when you can find vibrant gorgeous oranges full of vitamin C. From December to early spring, markets are full of seasonal citrus fruits to fulfill your fruit needs and your sweet tooth.

While oranges taste perfect on their own, they can add a unique sweet and citrus tang to some of your most simple dishes. And, the citrus fruits that one may not necessarily want to eat plain, such as lemons and limes, create tasty salads and enhance flavors in poultry and fish.

Below are 8 citrus recipes to try:

1. Lentil stew with oranges
2. Orange, arugula, and Kalamata olive salad
3. Mahi-Mahi with blood orange, avocado, and red onion salsa
4. Orange tart with orange cream and pistachios
5. Orange chutney over pork chops
6. Citrus Slaw
7. Blood orange chicken
8. Roast lemon vinaigrette

What are some ways you like to add a citrus tang to your meal?