1. The citrus should be at room temperature.

2. Roll it on the counter, applying firm pressure with your hand.

3. Microwave it for 15 seconds.

Each of these actions releases more juice from the sacs.

Today is Oranges & Lemons Day. Check out the different types of lemons—plus the history of the lemon—in our Lemon Glossary.

And use the search box at the top of the page to find lemon recipes, lemon tips and lemon-flavored foods.

Use more lemons for virtually no-calorie
flavor and vitamin C. Photo by
Nico | SXC.

Five of Inko’s 11 bottled flavors.
Photo courtesy Inko’s.

No matter how brilliant your idea is, there’s the marketing conundrum. It’s very, very hard to get your products on the shelf of major retailers. And you probably can’t make a living just selling to specialty stores.

If your product doesn’t catch on in a big way (like Red Bull—which had deep pockets), your distribution will be limited. We’re chagrined that we can’t find Inko’s bottled white teas everywhere.

When we first tried Inko’s, the first (and still the only) beverage company solely dedicated to producing all-natural, ready-to-drink white teas, we were hooked. We don’t buy many bottled beverages because of our personal pledge to limit recycling, but we make an exception for this one.

Now there’s good news for Inko’s:

To improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages available for sale to students at school, the New York City Department of Education has a mandate to improve the quality and nutritional value of foods and beverages that are available for students. With specific regard to beverages, the policy states:

• Water is permitted
• Low calorie drinks without any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners are permitted
• Maximum of 25 calories per 8 oz. serving
• No serving size limit

While the regular line is sold in bottles, the vending machine line is (of necessity) in 12-ounce cans created especially for the school program, along with new graphic art to appeal to a younger market. The products are sweetened with a small amount of fructose—better on the glycemic index than sucrose, table sugar.

If you’re involved with your school system’s vending program, give Inko’s a call.

If you’re looking for a wonderfully refreshing, low-calorie beverage, look for Inko’s at fine retailers; if you can’t find it, ask your retailer to bring it in. Or order it online at HealthyWhiteTea.com. Our personal favorites include Apricot, Blueberry, Hint o’ Mint, Honeydew and Honeysuckle—but we’d be glad for a bottle of any flavor.

• Read our review of Inko’s Bottled White Teas.

Until recently, we didn’t know what we were missing from our Rival Crock-Pot 5-quart slow cooker. Then we were given the Hamilton Beach Ensemble Stay Or Go five-quart slow cooker.

To say that we appreciate our Hamilton Beach slow cooker—a device originally known as a crock pot—is putting it mildly. We simply love everything about it.

We love that we can prepare an entire meal simply by tossing a bunch of ingredients inside it (which can be done the night before). Then we turn it on and forgetting about it, until it’s time for dinner. We come home from work (or errands, or other obligations), our stomachs growling, to something hot and delicious.

Read the full review to see all the features and discover how much easier it is to cart food somewhere else—even across town on public transportation.

Don’t worry about any spillage when the lid is
on the Stay Or Go Slow Cooker. Photo courtesy Hamilton Beach.

[1] It’s easy to color coconut to make desserts more fun (photo © McCormick).

[2] Shredded coconut from Gourmet Food World (photo © Gourmet Food World).

It’s easy to tint coconut for Easter cakes/cupcakes or any other holiday, using food coloring.
 
 
HOW TO COLOR SHREDDED COCONUT
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PLACE the shredded or flaked coconut in a large resealable plastic bag.

2. SQUEEZE the food color into the coconut: 5 to 6 drops per 1 cup of coconut.

3. SHAKE until the color is evenly distributed.

4. DRY and store if not using immediately. Spread the coconut in a shallow pan to dry, and store the coconut in an airtight container.
 
Find more cake and cupcake ideas by pulling down the food menu in the column at right.
 
 
MORE USES FOR SHREDDED COCONUT

You can use the tinted coconut in other dishes as well, like ice cream, pudding and yogurt.

One if our favorite uses is in a spring or Easter salad.

That’s what Nora Schultz thought when she created Naturally Nora Baking Mixes—and frosting mixes, of course! The packaging is environmentally friendly as well.

The mixes are free of artificial ingredients, colors and preservatives. Instead, the company seeks out natural ingredient suppliers to create dessert mixes that you can use to easily whip up a frosted cake, cupcakes or brownies.

All of the products are kosher and most do not contain dairy or soy (the only exception is the Doubly Fudgy Brownies mix), although they are produced in a facility that also uses milk, soy, tree nuts and peanuts.

You can use the mixes to make the basic cake or brownie recipe on the box, or incorporate them into other desserts, including the Wholly Coconut Cupakes Recipe from Naturally Nora herself.

Wholly Coconut Cupcakes Recipe

Use Naturally Nora to make all-natural
desserts. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE

Ingredients For The Frosting
– 1 box Naturally Nora Extraordinary Vanilla Frosting Mix
– 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
– 3 tablespoons well-stirred canned, unsweetened coconut milk (not “lite”)
– 3 1/2 cups sweetened flake coconut

Preparation
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.

2. Mix cake mix, 1 cup coconut milk, oil and eggs for 1-2 minutes on medium speed with an electric mixer. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

3. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.

4. Beat frosting mix, melted butter and 3 tablespoons coconut milk with an electric mixer on medium speed 1-2 minutes until fluffy.

5. Frost cupcakes generously with frosting. Press coconut on top of cupcakes.

Makes 18-24 cupcakes.

• For more information about Naturally Nora, visit NaturallyNora.com