Spunky brunette tries to save the world.
Spunky brunette tries to save the world.
Eco-friendly DIYs. Zero waste living. Green eating.
Maybe this is my inner Florida gal rising to the surface like a hangry alligator, but backyard-grown citrus is one of the things that makes life worth living, especially when those golden juicy fruits are encased in soft, edible peels.
When life gives you fresh Meyer lemons, eat the whole dang thing, peel and all.
Read on for 13 Ways to Use the Whole Meyer Lemon, Including the Peel.
Read MoreI just had cake for dinner, if you want to know how my day was, and it was delicious. I’ve literally gone from giving up carbs as a New Year’s resolution to cake for dinner, which I am justifying because it’s cheaper than therapy and no one raises an eyebrow when you eat cake alone (unlike my beloved wine)… and I’m still working from home in a strict spandex-only uniform. It’s best to lean into those pandemic silver linings, y’all.
But let’s get to why you’re all here (even if it’s just you, Mom!): a gooey, fluffy, slice of citrusy goodness. You’re jonesing for some Meyer Lemon Upside Down Cake.
Read MoreDisclaimer: Baking requires patience and poise that I frankly don’t have and also don’t aspire to. If you landed here expecting Martha Stewart, honey, you better brace yourself. My celebrity chef idol is the Swedish Chef from the muppets.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s dive into some quick, easy, and delicious Whole Meyer Lemon Bars with Raspberries and a Graham Cracker Crust. They’re just the thing to chase away those winter blues, and you get to use the entire lemon in this recipe, peel, pith, and all!
Read MoreYou know what’s better than sweater weather? Nothing. It hides that I haven’t been to the gym since last March when the pandemic kicked off. But soup weather is a close second!
A Greek-style chicken soup is one of my weekday go-tos, and this time we’re making it with an entire roasted lemon. Did the idea of eating the ENTIRE lemon just make you do a llama face? Read on, because roasting the lemons takes a bit of the sting out of the peels, and they are DELICIOUS.
Read MoreI’ve just received a motherload of Meyer lemons, which I’m honestly pretty thrilled about, and in true Compost and Cava fashion, I’ve challenged myself to not waste any of them. Like, any of them. I hate food waste of any kind, and you can actually enjoy the whole Meyer lemon, peel included.
That’s right, get ready to eat some Meyer lemon peels, y’all. If you just made a face and said, “Ew, that’s gross!” please remember that you once also thought boys had cooties and wine tasted gross, so sit back down and keep reading.
Read MoreOrange garlands are one of my favorite zero waste Christmas decorations. They’re beautiful, they smell amazing, and they’re compostable, assuming you use plant-based twine and thread. But isn’t it a shame to only use them as a decoration and then throw them out? Guess what, there are actually a number of ways to upcycle your dried orange garland! Waste not, want not, y’all!
Read MoreWhen we left last off, I was drowning in a heap of delightful miniature fruits. Backyard grown (no pesticides or fertilizers), packed with vitamins, and destined to fall and rot, I committed to not letting any of the 37 cups of kumquats go to waste.
So today we explore the wonder of chutney! Click through for a delicious kumquat chutney recipe, which will extend the shelf-life of excess fruits for more than a month.
Read MoreKumquats are basically citrus' wild party girl: the peels are sweet, the fruit is sour.
When I stumbled on a small tree covered in unused kumquats, I decided to do another Waste Not, Want Not Challenge. "What does it matter, it's just one tree?" I was asked.
With 925 million people hungry worldwide, it matters. Here's how much food that one tree generated, and here's why taking the Waste Not, Want Not Challenge will change your relationship with food.
Read MoreA super easy Seville orange jelly recipe that will brighten your morning, and is the perfect counter recipe to the Sour Orange Limoncello post, leaving you with only the seeds and a thin husk of pith as food waste!
And some final thoughts on my first Waste Not, Want Not personal challenge.
Read MoreWhich brings me to my next Waste Not, Want Not project: Sour Orange Limoncello! It's bright, orangey goodness. Click through for the recipe!
Read MoreWhen life gives you a giant basket of backyard-grown sour oranges...
Make Seville Orange Marmalade!
It uses the ENTIRE ORANGE, y'all. Waste not, want not. And spread cheer!
Read MoreFloridians know that Christmas means citrus, and while life took this girl out of her home state, oranges are still synonymous with holiday flare at Moore Manor!
I was planning my follow up to the DIY Home Scents for the Holidays: Part 1 post and got sidetracked by a beautiful trip to Costa Rica, which actually was quite serendipitous. I arrived off the airplane in Florida to be welcomed by a HUGE basket of sour oranges, thanks to my parents' neighbor Valerie.
Look at this amazing bounty of backyard citrus!
The sour orange (also known as the Seville orange) is a hybrid known for it's bitter taste (I find it similar to a Meyer lemon) and beautiful aroma.
I was so excited, and I immediately decided to not let any go to waste, though several were already at the point they wouldn't be winning any beauty contests. What better use for them than some dried potpourri? (As a reminder, chemical air fresheners are basically air pollution, and they contain toxic hormone disrupting agents.)
It smells amazing, and it's beautiful. Every time I walk into my bedroom and catch a whiff or catch sight of it, I can't help but smile. It's so feminine and pretty... even if it's a little grandma chic. Whatever, get off me. I love grandma chic.
Here's what you need:
Oranges (any sort will do)
Star anise
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Spray roses (if desired) and rose leaves (optional)
Orange essential oil
*This gallery contains affiliate links. This means that if you click through and give the product a whirl, I get a tiny fee for spreading the news at no extra cost to you. This helps me offset the enormous amount of time that goes into Compost & Cava.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wash oranges, scrubbing peels. Slice oranges as thin as you realistically can. Don't fret if they get a little irregular.
Cover baking sheet with parchment paper. Layer orange slices and other fresh ingredients (I threw in some rosemary). You can also arrange items directly on oven grill rack to reduce cooking time.
Place baking sheet on middle rack of oven, and check occasionally. Flowers, leaves, and herbs will dehydrate much more quickly, orange slices should take about 2 hours. Remove oranges before browning occurs. (Don't worry if they're still a little tacky. I burned the crap out of one batch trying to get them all the way dry.)
Allow oranges and flowers to cool. Combine with spices in bowl, spritz with essential oils if stronger scent is desired or as scent begins to fade. Enjoy until potpourri loses color or texture, then compost!
And there you have it! Easy, fun, and pretty. Best of all, it won't release toxins into your home!
I packaged up several in glass jars for fellow hippie friends, and played around with creating an orange lavender version, and loved it.
I've left mine out in bowls around the house, and I refresh them with the occasional spritz of essential oils. They brighten my mood each day! Living greener often means slow living, and so far I love it. It's a richer, and more fulfilling experience.
I got you!
Don't underestimate the beauty and incredible scent of clove studded citrus. (This is lifestyle blogger code for "shoving whole cloves into an orange".)
It's colorful, nostalgic, and the scent lasts for days and days!
Grab several oranges and a handful of whole cloves. Push cloves (pointy end first) into the peel of the orange. Aaaaaand you're done.
So simple, right?! And you can get fancy with patterns if you want, but it's definitely not necessary.
Remember to take a moment to breathe and relax this holiday season, and remember that these little details are where the joy is found in life.
Even if you're on a tight budget, these little sensory experiences are a great way to treat yourself while taking a break from wrapping presents and food prep!
Shoot me a note and let me know what potpourri combinations y'all come up with!
Just a girl who wants to save the world. And share some bubbles.
{Cheese addict. Hiker. Cooker, crafter, NOT cleaner. Australian Shepherd wrangler. Loves to play with food. Once dressed in a full body carrot costume for Halloween.}
Reese Moore
reese@compostandcava.com
Photo inquiries
www.reesemoorephotography.com
Welcome to Compost and Cava, a little green space on the web for all things eco-friendly. Want green living tips? Plastic free hacks? Plant-based crafting? Or just some slow living? You’re in the right spot, friend.
Let’s hang out. I’ll make the coffee.
Current spirit animal: Barred Owl
