For the Love of Oranges

I love oranges. I mean I really love oranges! I remember getting angry at my mother when I was a child because she wouldn't let me have another one. She said eating five in one sitting was quite enough. She was probably right. I limit myself to two at a time, now.

Everyone knows that oranges are a great source of vitamin C, calcium and folate, fiber and antioxidants. Orange juice is commonly thought to be just as beneficial, but how can it be when it has been processed so much to "keep it safe" until it reaches you? Orange juice must be heated to near boiling to be pasteurized and/or concentrated, has had its pulp separated out only to be mixed back in - sometimes - and is sealed inside plastic coated containers. Plus, the calorie count for a cup of orange juice is almost double the calorie count of a whole orange. Double the calories but not all the nutrients, not a good trade off.

Among the nutrients that get left behind when only the juice is taken are flavanones. One of these flavanone, herperidin resides in the peel and inner white pulp of the orange, rather than in its juicy center. Herperidin has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and to lower high blood pressure and reduce cholesterol in animal studies.

Superdoo! My second favorite sweet is candied orange peel. So I get some herperidin with my sugar. Dip candied orange peel in chocolate, my very favorite sweet, and you have the best candy in the world.

Oranges are not just for eating raw. I have an easy recipe for a batter bread laced with orange peel. My favorite Chinese dish is orange flavored beef or chicken which starts with almost burning Chinese hot peppers and strips of orange peel in the oil. I soon discovered that simply sauteed orange peel had a piquant flavor and a pleasant texture.

This discovery led to the grand experiment of keeping quart jars of oil stuffed with strips of orange peel to flavor the oil in the fridge. So of course, I had to try sauteing the orange peel with the veggies for fried rice. Well, there was no stopping me after that. Orange peel (preserved in oil) has become an essential element in any stir fried veggie combo. Now the only part of an orange that gets thrown out around here is the seeds...and the occasional little stem stubbie thing.

Oranges have long been used to dress up so many dishes. Peel and divide an orange into sections, cut them in half to add to spinach salad. Lay orange slices on top of sweet potatoes along with pecans, brown sugar and tiny marshmallows before baking. Lay thick slices of orange on top of roasting chicken, turkey or ham.

But back to the sweet, incandescent, juicy, basic orange as it comes off the tree, fresh and pure. Oranges may be eaten more neatly if quartered or sliced, but little beats peeling and eating one with your bare hands.

So what's not to love about oranges? Do you know anyone who doesn't like them? Have an orange today. Eat a piece of sunshine.