The Power of Citrus

I always find myself feeling gloomy in the winter. The weather is cold and gray, the sun is gone by the time I leave work, and even when I'm lucky enough to escape the flu bug, everyone around me seems to be sick.

The only thing that makes me feel better is eating warm comfort food, but as the pounds add on, the depression comes back. Every year when the winter rolls around, I find myself wishing I lived down south... and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Today, I read an interested article that made me rethink this discouraging season. The January/February 2011 edition of Cooking Light magazine features a piece called "The Winter Warmth of Citrus," by Deborah Madison.

From the moment I turned to the page, colorful and vibrant images of oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes filled my thoughts. Could this fruit be as promising as its pictures?

A native of California citrus country, Madison gives the inside scoop on this wonder fruit. She uses three of the five senses, taste, smell, and touch, to describe these delicious treats. Who wouldn't be craving citrus after reading about its "cheerful yellows and oranges," "glistening deep reds," "hugely aromatic peel," and "tart and sweet taste with a delightfully bitter edge?"

Madison continues on to describe how citrus fruits are the perfect fix for the winter blues. Citrus provides an enticing cure for the common cold, is a refreshing snack on a gloomy winter's day, and is a flavorful companion to many winter meals.

And just when she has my mouth watering, Madison concludes the article with several citrus recipes that are sure to satisfy including a grapefruit buttermilk sherbet, clementine date cake, light citrus pudding, and fish with lemon herb sauce.

So the next time I'm feeling down on a cold winter's day, I plan on giving citrus a try. It's certainly a cheaper option than packing up my things and moving down south. I have a feeling this refreshing fruit might be just what the doctor ordered!