Let Them Eat Citrus

This all started with a shipment of grapefruit.  I'd ordered some of those super-sweet, low-acid  Texas Ruby Reds for various family members, so of course we needed a few for our mean selfish selves.  I figured a little mid-winter extravagance never hurt anyone -- except maybe people who are as sabbatical-poor as we are at the moment.  Ah well -- gone is gone, wisely says the old story my mother used to read to us. 

Then I took a fateful trip to Fairway, where I saw that my favorite Temple oranges had come into season.  I love their zipper skins and the bright, tangy pop of their juice exploding in the mouth.  And they don't cost much -- 3 for a dollar, a veritable bargain.  So into the cart they went.  Then, once inside, I saw the loveliest thing -- a whole box, an entire 2-pound plastic clamshell of Meyer lemons for only $5!  Why, I remember only a few years ago, when I had to dig around for a few lonely specimens that cost the earth, more than three dollars apiece.  Now I can ponder lovely things to do with my huge stash of Meyer lemons.  Dangling on a display post nearby was a net bag of Sicilian Tarocco blood oranges.  You see, I've never had the Sicilian kind, only the California clones.  And I am therefore deprived, a situation which now could be so easily remedied for a mere $3.49, a pittance.  And then, next to them, I saw a pile of Cara-Caras.  Never mind that these still really and truly cost the earth.  I wasn't leaving without at least six of them. 

So, many dollars lighter, few pennies left for other groceries, we find ourselves in the midst of a veritable citrus glut.  Never mind that we're not going to get the Locavore of the Year award any time soon.  At least no-one around here is coming down with scurvy, not on my watch. 

Comments

[Lisa]

Fairway rules, if you can stand it. The fruit, the produce, the cheese... it's pretty much my only indulgence when times are tight.

[(another) Julie]

While I firmly believe in buying asparagus, tomatoes, sweet corn, and any number of other fruits and vegetables locally and in season only, a February without citrus fruits (or any month without lemons and limes) is a good argument against being exclusively locavore.

And it sounds as if Fairway does rule. I wish my local grocery store had that much citrus variety.

[Lea]

Wish I could share our Meyers with you again. Enjoy your bounty - it sounds fab.

Lea xo

[Julie]

Hi Lisa! Fairway's my big indulgence too. I justify it by figuring that we save a good amount by cooking at home...

Hey Julie -- yep, we need our citrus. I know I'd be pretty miserable without lemons and limes all year round, too. Is citrus covered by the famous locavorian "Marco Polo" exemption? If not, we'll have to think up another exemption.

And Fairway does indeed rule. But sadly, it's not my local grocery store (all of which are pretty terrible). I make long detours to get to Fairway...

Lea darlin' -- How well I remember the Christmas when I opened up a glorious box of your Meyer lemons, lovingly packed and wrapped for shipping! Using Meyer lemons always makes me think of that.

[superluckykitchen]

i wish i lived closer to fairway

[Moncler]

February without citrus fruits (or any month without lemons and limes) is a good argument against being exclusively locavore.

[Tory Burch Outlet]

I justify it by figuring that we save a good amount by cooking at home...