The name may come from Valencia, Spain the location of where orange trees and other citrus fruit are grown, however the Valencia orange is an all-American fruit. The Valencia orange is a cross between a pomelo and mandarin orange.? The fruit was hybridized by William Wolfskill, a pioneer American agronomist and land developer, in the mid-19th century on his farm in Southern California. Before his death in 1866 he sold his patented orange hybrid to the Irvine Ranch owners who dedicated almost half of their lands to the cultivation of Valencia oranges. The success and popularity of Valencia oranges resulted…
Recipes
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Cara Cara Margarita Recipe
Recipe Type: BeveragesContinue ReadingIf you are looking for the perfect Cinco de Mayo celebratory beverage or just creating your own happy hour specials from scratch nothing beats enjoying a weekend or evening with an ice-cold margarita. Served on the rocks or frozen, a margarita is an awesome choice for any occasion or environment. There are many stories as to how this wonderful drink came to be. According to some, the margarita was created by a bartender named Don Carlos Orozco in 1941. As he was experimenting with some drinks, the daughter of a German ambassador visited the bar and he offered the refreshing…
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Jasmine Tea and Orange Juice Recipe
Recipe Type: BeveragesContinue ReadingWe all know that tea has been part of British culture for about 350 years and is quintessentially a British drink. However, truth be told tea history goes back much further. Drinking tea was established in China hundreds of years before it reached the west. The tea tree originated in southwest China, Tiber and Northern India. During the Tand dynasty around 618-907 AD drinking tea became widespread. Jasmine flowers originated from Persia (Iran) and were imported to China during the Han Dynasty in 206 BC ? 220 AD. It was first infused in white or green based tea in the…
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Continue ReadingWe all love something sweet to satisfy both our appetites and taste buds before, after or even in between meals. The issue is, not all of us can eat cakes, pastries and ice cream to satisfy our sweet tooth craving. There is a healthy alternative solution to all those with a sweet tooth but need to watch their calorie and sugar intake. Around the world seasonal fresh fruits are served instead of baked or cooked goodies because they are easy to make to go along with the fact they are delicious and refreshing. With using only fresh orange slices and…
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Homestyle Peach Cookies Recipe
Recipe Type: DessertsContinue ReadingBy definition, cookies are baked, cooked dough batter.? They are small, hand-held sweet cakes that are either crisp or soft. History says that the creation of the cookie was an accident and happened when cooks were trying to test the temperature of their oven by using a small amount of cake batter. The said temperature testers were called “koekje”, which means “little cake” in Dutch. Thanks to the Dutch inventing cookies as in the United States it has given birth to a billion dollar industry. There are hundreds of cookie recipes in the United States and most of the varieties…
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Black Forest Cake Recipe
Recipe Type: DessertsContinue Reading?A decadent, elegant, flavorful cake that demands an audience? are the words I would like to use when describing the classic Black Forest Cake. It is so rich in taste that it should be served to and enjoyed by all family and friends during Christmas festivities, birthdays and any special occasions. Black Forest Cake or Black Forest Cherry Torte (Schwarzw?lder Kirschtorte in German) is a Gateau style chocolate sponge cake frosted with cherry schnapps-flavored whipped cream, chocolate shavings and garnished with cherries on top. Some say that the Black Forest Cake is named after the Black Forest located in Southwest…
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White Peach Sangria Recipe
Recipe Type: BeveragesContinue ReadingWhile there are never-ending varieties of wine and different types of fruits and herb mix-ins to choose from, the signature sangria is the drink for summer. We are no longer bounded to use the customary red wine cocktail; rather this wine punch has diverged so far from its modest origin. What is the history of sangria? More than 2000 years ago when the Romans explored the Iberian Peninsula, they planted vineyards along the way. Since water at the time was unsafe for drinking, alcohol was mixed in to kill the bacteria in the water. The first sangrias (came from the…
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Whole Orange Cake Recipe
Recipe Type: DessertsContinue ReadingWhy you should serve Orange Whole Cake I am in love with all things sweet; candies, preserves, ice creams and of course cakes in all their glorified tastes and sizes! Problem is not everyone is the same as me, some people prefer to have their cakes tangy. If you are looking for a cake recipe that would suit everybody?s taste, then you are in for a treat. You can easily make a delectably-moist and fruity Whole Orange Cake that is perfect for any occasion and a delight to be paired with a cup of tea or coffee. How to make…
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Grapefruit and Temple Orange Jam Recipe
Recipe Type: CondimentsContinue ReadingWhat is the history of jam? Jams are made from pulps or crushed pieces of fruit cooked with sugar and thickening agent (usually pectin). It is conventionally thick and sweet, spreadable and not as firm as jelly. It is also inadvertently tastier and has better texture than jelly. Our beloved jam has a long and colorful history. The first ever jam recipe recorded in history appeared in the cookbook De Re Coquinaria (The Art of Cooking). It dates from the 1st century AD and it provided steps on how to cook soft fruit with honey, cooled then stored. There are…
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Christmas Hot Mulled Wine Recipe
Recipe Type: DessertsContinue ReadingWhat is mulled wine? Christmas is one of the most favorite times of year for many of us out there. This is the time when friends and love ones come together to spend time together, have fun and share their blessings. In so saying, I can?t think of a cozier way to cuddle up and count them than with a brewing mug of mulled wine. If you?ve never had it, hot mulled wine is a warming, aromatic beverage that is delectable to sip on winter days or cold weather. It tastes like a spicy, yet fruity red wine with a…