Jennifer

I’ve used it a few times and every recipe comes out great, which is why if I’m in the mood for something sweet and citrusy, I immediately go for Sweet and Tart. So far I’ve made Snyder’s delicious Lemon Blackberry scones, her lemon and lime curds and recently, these scrumptious cupcakes. Combine the lemon juice, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Spread the shredded coconut on a baking sheet and bake for 2-3 minutes, stir the coconut and bake for another 1-2 minutes or until golden.

As a matter of fact, citrus juices are frequently used in cocktails because they add the sour that’s so often needed to balance out said cocktails. Actually, the only liquor in this 30’s cocktail is gin, the same liquor used in the 1930’s Bloom. It’s a great liquor that’s full of herbal and floral flavors; Combine those floral flavors with the orange juice and you have a wonderful cocktail that keeps the winter alive while bringing forth the wonderful scents of spring.

I tasted this salad a couple weeks ago at Melissa’s Produce when Snyder visited to promote her newest cookbook, One Pan, Whole Family. I loved this salad so much, I requested some arugula along with Melissa’s steamed beets and their Pixie Ojai Tangerines, just so I could make the salad for my “whole family” that very night. But the best part about her One Pan books are that there’s barely any cleanup because… you guessed it, it’s all made in one pan. It’s the perfect cookbook for busy parents like me, and if the other recipes are as good as this salad, I can’t wait to use it over and over again.

The poppy is a bright orange flower that blankets the state every spring and is believed by some to be how California got it’s nickname, the Golden State. See, all different types of citrus from Meyer Lemons to Cara Cara Oranges are available during the winter months, and Cointreau, which comes from a variety of orange peels, is one of the Bloom’s ingredients. A tipple like this three-ouncer that combines sweet and tart (or winter and spring) thanks to the gin, Cointreau, and sweet vermouth. So, while we’re still getting the occasional rain and/or snow storm, that’s okay because it means that wonderful super bloom will be around a little while longer, which means there’s still plenty of time to mix up your own personal Orange Bloom and enjoy a little winter with a just a hint of spring.