How to get rid of all your mandarin oranges #1

Well, Chinese New Year is OFFICIALLY OVER. 15 days of fireworks and lion dances have passed, 15 days of dinners and cookies are over. And now, we're left with a whole bunch of leftovers and a heap of mandarin oranges no one wants to eat.

The pile of mandarin oranges has been there since maybe the 7th day of the new year. Maybe because people are so sick of eating them, that no one touches them. Personally, I just don't feel like eating them once the New Year, or the New Year hype is over. Well, whatever the reason people don't eat these oranges, so much so that they created a tradition where people chuck them into the river on the last day of the Chinese New Year.

 

Chap Goh Mei is the last day of the Chinese New Year. On this day, single ladies would throw mandarin oranges into a river, and their soul mate would fish it out. Today, women write their names, phone numbers, email and possibly their Facebook addresses on the oranges, while men wait at the end of the river to 'pick up' their dates.

I'd throw that orange back in if I were you!

Mandarin oranges are great, and it's a real waste to let them rot and eventually throw them out. And I did not go throw my oranges into the river, because I do think it's a little creepy... guys picking up girl's oranges.... Anyway, I've seen first hand how these oranges are picked, sorted, packed, and shipped all across the seas, from China to various countries. So much effort was put into it, I don't want them all to go to waste! Plus, they are a great fruit - plenty of vitamin C and a whole lot of flavor packed into an easy to peel skin.

So I've devised a quick and yummy way to finish up all my oranges at home.

Hues of Orange Fruit Salad!

So easy, and it gives you your serving of fruits and vitamins for the day! Just peel a mandarin orange, chop up some of your favorite fruits (I did pineapples and strawberries) and squeeze some lemon on top. Shake 'em and stick 'em in the fridge. If this is too plain for your liking, add a dollop of yogurt on top. Have it for dessert!








More orangey ideas in my next post! :)

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