Decorating with Orange

It takes a certain level of courage - and restraint - to decorate with orange, but here are some good examples orange decor that works!

A MODERN TAKE ON FALL COLORS: DECORATING WITH ORANGE

Oranges May Help Keep You Healthy - and Fight Cancer, Too!

Several years ago, a joint Canadian-American study from KGK Synergize and the US Dept of Agricultureflavonoids, may help to prevent prostate cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.
showed that certain substances found in citrus juices, called

A flavonoid found in tangerines and oranges effectively inhibited human lung cancer cells in laboratory studies.

The website Elements4Health, summarizes the health benefits of oranges, in reducing cholesterol, arthritis prevention, kidney stone prevention, and cancer prevention.

That's another great reason to each citrus fruits, which are also an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and folate.

The power of Orange!

What's Fresh & Orange, These Days?

My husband and I just bought a dozen chrysanthemums, today - in shades ranging from deep red to bright yellow - including some orangey ones, of course!

That got me thinking about what orange fruits and vegetables we can now find in the produce section of our supermarkets. Some of my favorite things include:

•  fresh, juicy peaches and nectarines - wonderful just as they are;

•  peaches and cream corn on the cob - be sure to buy them the day you will cook them, not before;

• yellow and orange peppers - fresh, crunchy, and packed with vitamins;

• attractive and nutritious acorn squash - great for baking or for soup; and

• packs of baby carrots - just perfect for anytime snacks.

This is the time to really enjoy the products of our farms and gardens!

Will Your Christmas Dinner include Sweet Potatoes / Yams?

I was stimulated to write this blog post by a column in the New York Times, "Bless the Orange Sweet Potato."

My family always ate candied sweet potatoes (or yams) for special meals, like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.  Yet, I find that many people have never tried this delicious & nutritious vegetable!

I once read that yams of various kinds can be grown all over the world.  Because of their high level of nutrients, if people in underdeveloped countries were to learn to grow yams, much of the world's hunger problems could be solved.  (I learned this so long ago, that I doubt there's an online source for you to read.)  Here's a link to more information about the nutrients found in sweet potatoes.

My mother used to prepare candied sweet potatoes this way:  Gently boil the sweet potato, until it is cooked through, but not mushy.  (Just as with regular potatoes, use a skewer, to check.)  Carefully strip off the skin, slice the potatoes, and lay the pieces in a single layer in a broiling pan or jelly roll sheet (with an edge).  Sprinkle a little brown sugar on top of each slice, then drop a dab of butter or margarine on top of the sugar.  Broil for about 3 minutes, to toast the topping, and serve.

Sweet potatoes can be treated just as regular potatoes: baked, mashed, puréed, croquette, and so on.  Many restaurants are now offering sweet potato fries, as an alternative to regular French fries.  Try them!

And, of course, our common sweet potatoes are orange!