How to Make Zest

Citrus fruits! Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Want to add a burst of natural flavor and color to your cooking? Add zest! Lemons, limes, oranges and any other citrus fruits can be used to make zest.

How to Make Zest

1. Thoroughly wash a whole citrus fruit.
2. Use a peeler or pairing knife to trim slender, thin slices of the fruit peel. Be careful not to get the white underside of the peel known as pith. It has a bitter flavor.
3. Chop the peelings into tiny slivers (I believe chefs call this julienne) or small pieces.
4. Or, use the fine grating on a cheese grater to shave zest from the fruit peel. Hold the whole fruit against the grater and gently shave off the skin.
5. That's it! The zest is ready to use. If you have extra, store it in an airtight container and use it within a day or two before it dries out. 
   

Add Zest to Your Meal

Here are a few ways I like to add the fresh flavor of citrus zest to food.

• Sprinkle lime zest on a bowl of cranberry sauce at the holidays.
• Add lemon or orange zest to a sugar cookie recipe for a springy, refreshing flavor.
• Dust the tops of pancakes with powdered sugar and orange zest.
• Whisk citrus zest into homemade vinaigrette salad dressing.
• Garnish a chocolate cake or cupcakes with slivers of orange zest.

How do you enjoy your zest? Please comment below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: This may be the last day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge, but don't forget to drop by on occasion and see what I've got cookin'! Or, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and I'll let you know what I've been up to! :)

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Facts About Peppermint

Peppermint oil may add a classic seasonal taste to your holiday baking, but how much do you really know about this plant? Also known as brandy mint or balm mint, peppermint usage dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.

Peppermint plant
Photo by MrMac04, Morguefile.com

1. Mentha piperita -- the scientific name for peppermint -- was used for medicinal purposes as early as 1000 B.C. The essential oil is still prevalent in modern medicines that offer relief from headaches, nausea, irritable bowels, muscle pain, congestion and diarrhea, according to the University of Washington's Department of Family Medicine.

2. Peppermint plants grow in North America and Europe, although the plant originated in the Mediterranean. The herb, which is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint, can grow up to 3 feet tall in a well-tended garden.

3. Peppermint oil can soothe inflammation and sunburns. Simply open a capsule of peppermint oil and apply it directly to the skin. The oil also soothes itchy dry skin, scabies, is an antiseptic to clean wounds and soothes acne. Children under 7 years of age and pregnant women should avoid using peppermint oil without the guidance of their family physician.

4. In the early 1900's, peppermint was used to control pests. The strong scent of peppermint oil worked as an insect repellent and a lure for nuisance rats. Business owners placed peppermint oil soaked cloths in bags, then had ferrets chase the rats into the bags.

5. Breathing the fumes of peppermint oil though aromatherapy produces positive results for humans. The oil stimulates the senses, mildly reducing fatigue and depression.

Sources and Suggested Further Reading:

University of Washington, Department of Family Medicine: Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

University of Maryland Medical Center: Peppermint

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Peppermint

Annie's Remedy: Homemade Insect Repellent

Earth Easy: Natural Insect Pest Control

Essential Oils: Peppermint essential oil information

Until next time, 

Choose Healthy!

Angela