Recipe Inspiration from the UrbanMoms Feel Better Challenge
by the Florida Citrus team
posted on: 2/17/2012

 

Over the past three weeks, our friends Carol and Cayla of UrbanMoms have been put to the test in our Florida Citrus Feel Better Challenge. Each week, they faced off to test one Feel Better recipe. Of course, we couldn’t let them have all the fun, so we gave away a Feel Better prize pack including a $250 WaySpa gift certificate and $50 worth of citrusy products from The Body Shop to three lucky readers. 

The first recipe up to bat was our Hearty Orange Lentil Soup.

To keep her family healthy during the chilly winter months Carol incorporates as many fruits and veggies as she can, which can require some creativity and this recipe did not disappoint.   Her daughter Nicky provides this serving suggestion “My favourite part is dipping the cracker in the soup. Orange and crackers taste so good together!” Noted.

Cayla and her family tried the soup with a cheese pizza for Meatless Monday. Her son Billy had this to say: “I’m not sure what it tastes like or why I like it but my mouth just wants to eat more.” We fully endorse his comment.

Consensus: Our Hearty Orange Lentil Soup is an easy recipe that packs a healthy, citrusy punch!

Next up, Carol and Cayla put one of our favourite entrées to the test: our Florida Grapefruit Fish Tacos with Grapefruit Avocado Drizzle.

Cayla thought the recipe was fun and even got her kids in on the action by getting them to set up all the taco ingredients – a great way to let kids lend a hand in the kitchen. The tacos even changed her daughter Maya’s mind about grapefruit: “I didn't think I liked grapefruit but I do.  Can I drink some grapefruit juice now?”

Carol’s family already loves tacos so adding ingredients such as fish and Florida grapefruit was a simple way to make them a little healthier. Her kids also loved putting them together, especially her daughter Rachel: “I had lots of fun helping my mom prepare this meal. I love to cook and this recipe was really easy. The tacos taste good: to tell you the truth the fish tastes like chicken.”

Consensus: Our Florida Grapefruit Fish Tacos with Grapefruit Avocado Drizzle are a fun, family-friendly meal. You won’t miss the cheese and sour cream that accompany a traditional taco.

The final recipe was our Raspberry Citrus Bars, a sweet treat for the moms to test, because hey, it’s important to indulge, too!

The bars became a “new favourite” of dessert-lover Carol’s because of the addition of grapefruit – an interesting departure from ordinary desserts. Her husband, whose sweet tooth is somewhat less pronounced, was won over too: “Yum! Love the creamy centre and crunchy base. The squares have a really great taste, not too sweet and I especially love the fresh raspberries.

Cayla prepared hers after a long day at work, but after having a lot of fun making them with her family, found that “these bars were a little ray of sunshine on a dreary day.” Carol shared the sunshine with her best friend, who also happens to be a master baker. Here’s what she had to say: “It tastes really good.  Like a lemon square except the citrus taste is more complex.  The filling is really rich, almost like custard.  These would be really good baked as a tart.”

Consensus: Our Raspberry Citrus Bars are a decadent treat – the perfect, small indulgence after lots of healthy eating, a long week or a great workout.  

Thanks so much to Carol and Cayla for testing out our recipes – we loved reading your reviews!  

If you’d like to try any of these recipes, you can find them on our Florida Citrus Feel Better Recipe Swap. For even more great recipes you can also join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Cheers,
The Florida Citrus team

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