Sweet Or Sour? (And Great Citris Recipes Too!)

Do you like the combination of sweet and sour?  Or do you prefer one over the other?  I am talking about more than just the flavor combinations of Chinese cuisine and your favorite mixed drink too. 

In life, do you think most people are compiled of sweet and sour traits?  Does it vary depending on the person's mood? 

Lately I find myself jumping from sweet to sour.  Then back to sweet again.  I am happy and content for a day.  Then I'm bored and irritated.  I'm optimistic one minute, then negative nelly visits me moments later. 

I hit a writing groove, with several drafts saved on my computer.  Then my words fade and turn to dust.  Blank pages (or screen) set in and my disappointment lingers. 

I told Kirk recently that sometimes I feel uninteresting.  That I worry about turning into some boring housewife and mom.  He laughed at me and said I was crazy. Then he asked me if I was hormonal.  (We women just love that remark, don't we?)   I know he finds me interesting.  That's not the problem.  The problem is that I am putting myself to sleep from lack of luster.

I was doing well with my monthly challenges.  And I'm still keeping up with reading and staying fit.  Yet I've not been motivated to do much beyond that.  I'm still searching for the right quest, the next task that I feel passionate about taking on.  Hopefully something that will enable both my sweet and sour components. 

Is your personality more sweet than sour?  Or are you a combination of the two as well?  Do you think that both is a necessity to human life? 

While I figure out how to better appreciate or understand my sour ways, I thought I'd share some great recipes with you.  That is while I'm in a playful, generous and sweet mood.

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Here are THREE delicious ways that I've been enjoying treats over the past several days.  With the summertime heat index hitting over 100 here in Florida these days, I've been craving citris desserts and dips. 


Please try one of these that I've personally tested -


Tomato Mango Salsa



Ingredients:
- One to two mangoes (about 1.5 cups diced)
-Two to three medium size tomatoes
-1/3 chopped sweet or red onion
-Two tablespoons of lime juice
-1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
-Two to three tablespoons of cilantro

Preparation:
Cut the mango open and detach it from the seed.  Slice and dice it into small squares.  Do the same with the tomatoes.  Place both in a bowl.  Mix in all remaining ingredients.  Stir.  Let chill in refrigerator for about two hours.  Serve with chips or crackers.


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Light Lemon Bars



Ingredients:
-Four lemons for zest and juice (just over 1/3 cup of lemon juice)
-3 large eggs
-6 tbsp of butter, softened
-3 tbsp of flour
-1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar
-1 cup of flour
-2/3 cup of granulated sugar
-1/2 tsp of baking powder

Preparation:

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium size bowl, beat 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar with the 6 tbsps of butter until it becomes creamy.  Add in the 1 cup of flour.  Beat on low speed until the mixture is crumbly.  Press the mixture onto the bottom of a greased 8 x 8 square baking pan.  Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, until the crust is brown.  Let it cool for about ten minutes.

Step 2 - While Step 1 is baking and cooling, grab another mixing bowl.  Whisk the eggs on medium speed until they become foamy.  Take your lemons and use a zester to grate the lemon zest.  Then juice your lemons until you have 1/3 cup of juice.  Add the lemon zest and juice to the eggs.  Then add in the 3/4 cup of granulated sugar and 3 tbsp of flour.  Beat the mixture until smooth. 

Step 3 - Pour the lemon liquid mixture over the cooled crust in the 8 x 8 pan.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  Place immediately in the refrigerator.  Let it chill for about two hours.  Cut with a plastic knife into 16 squares.  Enjoy! 

(P.s - each square is less than 100 calories and has less than 2 g of fat.  So indulge and don't feel guilty!  :)



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And the THIRD way that I like to enjoy citris flavor on a hot, summer day is to grab one of these:



Beer With Fruit

Reach into your fridge.  Grab a beer.  Add a lime or lemon. 

Open, drink and enjoy!



WHAT?  It works for me!  :-)


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Let me know what sweet and sour things you love -- with regards to food, people and life in general!  

I hope you stay cool in the hot days that lie ahead!