Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Greatfruit

Upon consuming a perfect specimen of grapefruit the other day, I was inspired to list a few reasons (among many) why grapefruit is such a delicious and useful wonder.

Yum

Well, eating of course. Peeled like an orange or the regular sectioning are both delicious ways to start your morning. I've also enjoyed a grapefruit broiled with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon atop. Different, but tasty.

Apparently, grapefruit intensifies caffeine intake in your body because of the flavonoid naringin. Now, while I like the sound of having a bigger kick from my morning coffee, it also has the same effect on other drugs, so you need to be mindful of combining certain prescriptions and grapefruit.

I love the clean and invigorating scent this giant citrus gives you and enjoy most products that imitate that:

Method home cleaning products really work well and have trustworthy ingredients, fun scents, and stylish packaging. I especially love the dish tablets.

 I'm obsessed with NEST candles. I love all of their scent combos.


Nothing is better than a margarita. Except a grapefruit margarita. Except a grapefruit margarita with friends!

I tested this recipe and was appropriately happy. Is it Cinco de Mayo yet?

Grapefruit margarita
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Wedge of lime
2 teaspoons coarse margarita salt
14 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice, with pulp (about 3 medium grapefruits - I always go for freshly squeezed)
1 ounce lime juice
5 ounces reposado tequila
2 ounces triple sec
4 slices grapefruit or twists (if you are fancy like that)

1. Run a lime wedge halfway around the rims of four margarita glasses and dip into salt. Set aside.
2. Combine 7 ounces grapefruit juice, one-half ounce lime juice, 2 1/2 ounces tequila and 1 ounce triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Shake over ice until chilled. Strain into two ice-filled, salt-rimmed margarita glasses.
3. Garnish with a twist or slice of grapefruit. Repeat to make two more cocktails.

Grapefruit Margarita via the LA Times

Sweet Lily is a fancy schmancy nail spa that I discovered while babysitting a ward in Tribeca. The cozy and high ceiling interior is white-washed and filled with french farm house tables and shabby chic overstuffed chairs. It is also filled with celebs like Mary Louise Parker and Kirsten Dunst. So needless to say, it isn't cheap, but you can emulate their all natural spa treatments at home. This is one of my favorites, although I cut down on the amount of grapefruit used (who buys a gallon of grapefruit juice for anything?!?).

What you need:
1 gallon grapefruit juice (no pulp)
1 sliced grapefruit (pink or yellow)
2 limes (1 sliced in wheels, the other halved)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 shot glass of vodka
Preparation:
1. Pour 1/4 cup sugar into small bowl and place lime half on top.
2. Heat grapefruit juice on stove or in microwave until warm (not hot).
3. Pour heated juice into a large basin, add shot of vodka, and garnish with sliced grapefruit and lime.
Application:
1. Soak feet for a few minutes.
2. Dip a lime half into the sugar and squeeze out a bit of the juice.
3. Use lime to gently apply sugar to feet in a circular motion to exfoliate rough skin.
4. Repeat with remaining sugar and the other lime half.  Rinse well.  Follow with foot lotion and polish.
Grapefruit Vodka Pedicure (seasonal)
Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa & Boutique

Is it just me or do the foot bath and the margarita seem somewhat interchangeable? Hmmm... Either way, cheers to you, grapefruit!

1 comment :

  1. What an interesting post! I'm not sure I see the value of putting Vodka in a foot bath unless you are trying to stop drinking Vodka. Grapefruit has always been one of our favorites. We sprinkle salt on the halves before digging in with the grapefruit spoon. There was a popular diet a number of years back that claimed eating a half of a grapefruit before meals would help one lose weight. I'm not sure how effective it was but it didn't hurt sales of the fruit.

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