mixed citrus spritzer + an overhaul coming soon

1.15.2011

my posts are boring. it's a snoozefest, actually. i was reading some of my posts and for chrissakes, they lack personality, they don't really show who i really am, and how i talk most of the time. i was reading it and most of them seemed so, sterile... well, sterile could still be considered an understatement. i am honestly more fun(ner) than this -- it's redundant, i know, but i had to emphasize). oh, by the way, i have been remodeling the site little by little (if you haven't noticed). i am planning for a total makeover, the look, the feel and the tone of this blog - an overhaul, but without the tears and ratty, crazy glued weaves flying all over, just like in top model.

with the overhaul i was talking about, i am planning to inject more of myself into my writing. i think that i have been censoring myself a lot to the point that i am not portraying who myself in my posts. i have been too careful not to offend anyone with the way i write, that i am pretty sure many end up reading a line or two then scrolling straight down to the recipe, if they're even still remotely interested.  i guess this is more of a promise to myself, to not censor myself as much to give this almost pulseless blog a breath of fresh air.

so let's talk about this recipe!!! adding two more exclamation points than necessary makes it more exciting... no?

i have a confession to make, the oranges i used in this recipe was stolen from our neighbor. i know, it's cheap at the store, but it was there, looking at me straight in the eye calling my name, telling me to pick them. since oranges (and lemons, i think) are in season, there were a crap load of fruits on that tree, some on the ground with ants feasting on it (i had to put that in, so i could lessen my guilt). i took a couple, but i'm not going there anymore, because the fruits didn't have a lot of juice. it could be just the ones i got, or it could be because it was stolen, who knows.

back to this drink, let me tell you, it's quite addicting. it's tart, a little bit sweet and totally refreshing. i got this recipe from this new mexican giada de laurentiis on food network. well, i had  to google her because i forgot her name, but she reminds me of giada whenever i watch her, a little less prudy though. shawn also said that, this would really taste good with vodka, so you can skip the sparkling water and use it as a mixer if you like.

mixed citrus spritzer
(adapted from marcela valladolid's mixed citrus spritzer)

i did not have mandarins/clementines that the original recipe had, i actually didn't read the entire recipe before i made it, but even without it, it was still good. i'm pretty sure there will be less tart if you add mandarins/clementines, but since we like tart drinks, it was perfect without it.

what you need:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
juice of 1 grapefruit
juice of 2 oranges
juice of 2 lemons
3 cups sparkling water

what to do:
1. make a simple syrup by putting sugar and water in a small pot and heating it up until the sugar dissolves. set aside to cool.
2. combine all the juices in a pitcher, add simple syrup and top off with sparkling water.
3. serve over ice.