Between now and January 25, it's Central Market's annual Citrus Fest. The place is teeming with all manner of zesty treats, including imported sparkling lemonades, marinated fish filets, and lemony baked goods. Being a purist, I was most excited by the huge display of gorgeous fresh citrus fruits like Mandarins, sweet limes, and discounted Meyer lemons all tumbled together and looking bright and cheery. I selected a big bag of assorted fruits and took them home to do some experimentation.
The sweet limes aren't bad on their own, tasting much like a hybrid of a Clementine and a lime. I squeezed some into sparkling water, but the taste was too mild to add any real zing, so I ended up slicing one up and letting it steep in cold water overnight. The next morning I woke up to a refreshing, slightly sweet beverage that paired perfectly with my veggie Panini.
The mandarins were wonderful on their own - so sugary that the phrase "nature's candy" got annoyingly stuck in my head for hours. I haven't yet decided what to do with the Meyer lemons. Baking or cocktails? Maybe I'll try both and report back to you on the results. And please feel free to send me any suggestions you may have, because honestly, I went a bit overboard on the fruit buying, and I need some help.