This is the orange tree that I have agonized over for 15 years. 2008 was apparently not much of an orange year as they look kind of sparse. Whether I water, fertilize, and prune really does not make much of a difference in regard to the quality of the oranges. The picture doesn't really do the oranges justice as most of them are larger than grapefruit. As we have heard that oranges should not be picked until after Jan. 1, we just had our first "taste test" today. We usually don't pick the last ones until Valentine's Day. One of Greg's favorite "orange products" is grated rind mixed with sugar. It keeps for a year in a Mason jar in the refrigerator and you can use it to sweeten tea or sprinkle it on anything.
Another yummy thing to make with oranges is orange butter to spread on warm toast. Cream together 2 Tbsp. butter and 4 Tbsp. powdered sugar, add 2 tsp. orange juice, and 1/2 to 1 tsp. grated orange rind.
1 comment:
Wow! Impressive tree! Seeing your orange tree made me want to go into my own backyard and pick an orange or two. Oh, wait . . . it's 15 degrees below zero and all my trees are covered with the four inches of snow that fell on Saturday. Thanks for reminding me that eating an orange in Minnesota in January involves going to the grocery store and buying a bagful at $800 a pound!
Enjoy the oranges, and try not to feel guilty about all your old friends and relatives back in Minnesota. :)
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