Just what attracts people to drink this juice each and every day? For many, it’s merely the excellent taste that gets the morning off to a good start (especially if its delicious Sqeez orange juice ) Others note that they enjoy both the good taste and the nutritional advantages that consuming orange juice provides. 

The History of Orange Juice – contd

Oranges have been growing in Southeast Asia and China for approximately 4,000 years. According to historians, the orange made its way to Africa and the Middle East within the next five centuries and eventually came to Europe during the Arab occupancy of Spain (about 700 to 1400 AD). Explorers brought them to the New World in the 15th and 16th centuries, and by the 1800s, Florida had a burgeoning orange industry.

By the 1890s, oranges and orange juice grew in popularity when it was discovered that the fruit contained a wealth of Vitamin C. Doctors knew that Vitamin C would help stave off a very menacing disease of that time – scurvy.

The commercial orange juice industry arose in the 1920s and consumption of OJ began to increase in leaps and bounds, especially when pasteurization techniques and new canning processes improved in the 1930s. Orange juice now tasted better and was safer to drink.

Frozen concentrate was invented near the end of World War II and for four decades was the best-selling orange juice on the market. Its popularity helped spur the growth of the Florida orange industry.

Today orange juice is ever popular & available in a range of variants. Other flavours have also become increasing popular such as apple variants, pineapple, grapefruit & tropical, buts that’s all for history lesson number 3

  History of Orange Juice

 OJ wasn’t always a breakfast drink like it is today. In the mid 1910s there was an overproduction of citrus fruits in California. The OJ growers didn’t know what to do with the fruit and didn’t see another option but to destroy 30% of its trees. At that time, people didn’t have a fridge yet, so if they used the crop for juicing, the juice would only last for a day before it would start to rot.

 However, at the same time, pasteurization was discovered and the national railway system was completed. Now, the growers of the citrus could juice their oranges, pasteurize them for longer storage and then ship the juice to the big cities. This is when the OJ was first mass produced and mass marketed.

The history of orange juice is also important for the American culture. The drink started to play an important roll in the Americanisation of breakfast. The orange juice replaced the more British breakfast of stewed fruit.

 Santa Loves Oranges

 What do Santa and Oranges have in common? Santa Claus originates from his Dutch “brother” Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is celebrated in the Netherlands at Dec 5. Like Santa, he brings the children presents AND oranges!

 Oranges are a symbol of the Dutch Santa. Between 1568 and 1648 there was a war between Spain and the Netherlands (the Spanish War). The trade between these countries never stopped however. In that time, Spain was rich and had many luxury articles and goodies. The Dutch exchanged gold and silver for spices and oranges. Sinterklaas was also the Saint protecting the sailors who in that time brought the oranges from Spain to the Netherlands. When the Dutch came to the US they brought their Sinterklaas, who later was Americanized into Santa.

 Royal Oranges

 Oranges are also a symbol and the last name of the Dutch Queen. The Dutch queen got her last name from the little city Orange in France. Once a princedom that was inherited by the Dutch Royal Family. The Dutch Royalties owned this princedom between 1530 – 1702. For many years, this city was the center of the orange trade. This explains also where the French and English word orange comes from.

The Botanical name for orange is ‘Citrus Sinensis’, which translates as Chinese apple.

Every single year there are approximately 900 billion oranges harvested around the world.

Oranges contain Vitamins A and C: Vitamin A helps in the formation of healthy teeth and skin. It is also known as retinol, and promotes good vision, especially in dim light. Vitamin C promotes healthy teeth and gums, helps in the absorption of iron, aids in the maintenance of normal connective tissue, and promotes wound healing.

Sqeez orange juice 1ltr contains at least 15 oranges per carton. It really is the healthier way to start your day:)

As a proud member of the Love irish Food Initative Sqeez is harnessing the opportunity presented through promotion of its juices as part of this initative.

The vision of Love Irish Food is to help people make informed choices about buying Irish manufactured food and drinks. The overall aim is to safeguard the future of food and drink manufacturing in Ireland. We would hope that you could help spread this initiative by taking the time to log on to www.loveirishfood.ie; enter the competitions; print off coupons for discounted products & use the many recipes that feature a wealth of Irish produce.

Apple & Berry Compote

This is simple & quick but very impressive. I picked this recipe up when working in an a la carte restaurant years ago. It added something very special to even the simplest of desserts. Even just served with Vanilla ice-cream it truly does make simple “special”……

Ingredients

• 4 medium eating apples, peeled, cored and bruises removed
• 100ml Sqeez orange or apple juice
• a pinch of  cinnamon
• handful of berries such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries

Instructions

1. Put the apples, orange juice and cinnamon into a heavy based pan and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes or until just tender,
2. Stir in the berries  
3. Serve warm

Although I haven’t had this variant of scone in years, the legend of the Pineapple & Coconut scones live on (in my memory anyway). These scones are light, delicious, different & exotic………………..

Makes 1 dozen scones

4 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
Egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons milk
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.
3. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Add the butter and cut into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. (Or use a food processor fitted with the metal blade to cut the butter into the flour mixture by pulsing 10 to 12 times. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl to continue making the dough.) Do not overwork the dough.  Add 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut and 1 cup fresh diced pineapple to the flour-butter mixture just before adding the buttermilk. Use only one cup buttermilk.
5. Add 1 1/4 cups of the buttermilk and mix until just combined and the dough begins to stick together. Add the remaining buttermilk one tablespoon at a time if the dough is too dry.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll or pat into two 6-inch rounds, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut each round in half, then cut each half into 3 triangles (pie-shaped wedges) and place on the baking sheets. Brush the tops with the egg wash.
7. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Sitting here desparately tryign to keep my mind off chocolate! Its virtually impossible. After spending the morning in supermarkets all over Dublin checking out the Sqeez products on the shelves, I ran into one display after another of chocolates, we’re talking, Milk Tray, Roses, Butlers- you name it, they were all there, displayed in an almost teasing way.

I very nearly allowed my inner voice to persuade that I DESERVED a big box of milk tray- my rational??? simple, I haven’t had them in ages, plus they are my favourite, plus they are on offer, plus no-one else ever buys me chocolates so I should treat myself.

Needless to say I managed to get out of each shop without a lovely purple box of milk tray. Hence why I’m now sitting here, practically miserable thinking about those displays & how I should have just given in…………………..

Very excited about the weekend. It takes so long to come around, but now its here I’ve got big plans. A nice trip to the West of Ireland.

Planning on watchign the match tomorrow. Come on Irelannd! & possibly catching a movie. Really want to see Invictus. Have heard some fantastic reports and apparently Morgan Freeman plays a blinder int he role as Nelson Mandela.

Here’s to a chilled out weekend, a win for Ireland & a great movie.

Enjoy:)

Now this bad boy crumble is something else! It was recommended to me I thought I’d give it a lash & you know what? I have to say it gets the thumbs up:)

Very tasty, easy to whip up & good if you’re still trying to stick with the Jan detox (off course I fell off the rails come 5th Jan. Never mind there’s always 2011!)

So here you go. GIve it a try & take this recommendation, from the persson who gave me the link- “I leave out the pistachios and raisins and I add a little bit more apple juice because I like it gooey”

How to make Low-Fat Healthy Apple Crumble

Combine the oats and the milk in a mixing bowl, cover and let stand about 30 minutes. Add bran flakes and raisins, let stand 10 more minutes.
Preheat oven to 190°C.
Add cinnamon, sweetener, walnuts or pistachios. Arrange the sliced apples into a lightly greased baking pan, pour the apple juice over the apples and cover with the prepared mixture. Bake about 15 – 20 minutes.

Ingredients

1. 2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. 1 cup bran flakes
4. 1 cup milk ( skim or soy )
5. 3 tbsp Sqeez apple juice
6. 1 tsp cinnamon
7. 2 tbsp sugar
8. a handful of walnuts or pistachios, coarsely chopped
9. 1/4 cup raisins

Eat more fruit and vegetables
This is one of the easiest ways to start feeling good. Fruit and vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals we need to help our body’s work at their best – and they are one food group it is easy to miss out on. Simply eating 2 extra servings of fruit or vegetables a day can make a surprising difference.

Think about having some fruit or vegetables at every meal. Start with some fruit juice for breakfast or add some fruit to cereal – try sliced banana, mandarin orange or fresh or frozen berries. Make sure you have some salad in sandwiches at lunchtime or order a side salad if you are eating out. Snack on some fruit in the afternoon and make sure 1/3 of your dinner plate is vegetables or salad. Remember: it doesn’t have to be a big fuss – even a sliced tomato will count. Frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh and they make a quick handy standby if you are feeling tired or under pressure.