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Pink Grapefruit Bars

Grapefruit bars

An adventure with winter citrus

“Well, let’s see how it goes. There’s no hurry. We’ll feel it out.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The favorite cookie at my house is Chocolate Chip, preferably still warm from the oven. But my favorite cookies are Lemon Bars. Every time I have thought about trying lime, orange or Mandarin bars I always return to making Lemon Bars. I know that I might be disappointed with too much sweetness when I crave the balance of sweet and tart. Grapefruit Bars could be an option. Lots of tang, loads of zest, a serious cookie bar contender. And pink grapefruit piqued my curiosity. I thought about Pink Grapefruit Bars for a very long time. I kept making Lemon Bars. After all they are my favorite. Two batches of Lemon Bars were made during our annual cookie baking frenzy. After the holidays I wasn’t looking for another batch of Lemon Bars, I’d had my fill. Maybe, just maybe it was time to discover a new bar cookie. READ MORE . . .

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Grapefruit Cake with Olive Oil and Walnuts

Grapefruit Cake with Olive Oil and Walnuts

A Visit to Mission Olive Oil

“And then came the holidays—Natividad, the Nativity; Nacimiente, the Birth; Soledad, the Solitude.

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

With an abundance of press swirling around the authenticity of the olive oil available for purchase at our grocery stores I was prompted to learn more about olive oil produced locally. Mission Olive Oil is located in Soledad, California, a half hour drive south from Salinas. Athena and I drove right past the olive grove on the way to Lemovaro Ranch just a few weeks earlier. We met Maria Maldonado, who with her husband own Mission Olive Oil and manage the olive grove which is located on the property of Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, or Mission Soledad. A portion of the olive harvest is returned to the Diocese of Monterey for church sacraments, while the balance is bottled for Mission Olive Oil. Once harvested, the olives are transported to Templeton for pressing and bottling. The grove of Mission Olive trees is harvested late season, usually in November which insures a smooth buttery oil suitable for cooking or baking. This small grove of Mission Olives produces a limited amount of olive oil that is sold in local grocery stores and specialty stores or directly on-line from Mission Olive Oil. READ MORE . . .