
Home Made Oyakodon
The oyakodon is a classic Japanese bento dish.served in many Japanese restaurants including here in Malaysia. Check out this recipe and try making your own.
It’s that time of the year where our rubbish bins get overloaded with discarded mandarin orange peels. Did you know that these orange peels have many interesting uses that we can benefit from in our everyday lives? Let’s do things a little differently this Chinese New Year and repurpose our mandarin orange peels! Here are a few ways how:
Candied Orange Peel
Who doesn’t love candied orange peel? They’re great for a quick snack with tea or to nibble on after dinner as a citrusy-sweet dessert. Try this simple method – cut your peels into quarter inch-wide strips and add them to a saucepan containing cold water. In a separate saucepan, simmer a mixture of sugar and water for about 10 minutes to make syrup. Add your cooled peels to the syrup mix and cook for a further 45 minutes (or until the peels turn translucent). Once ready, store your candied peels in a jar and save any excess syrup for a nice cuppa tea!
Orange Peel Tea
A steaming cup of orange peel tea is not only delicious and refreshing, it also serves as a useful herbal remedy. Particularly handy for keeping common ailments such as colds and flu at bay, this tea contains a myriad of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties that can also aid digestion! So what are you waiting for? Make yourself a cup by putting fresh or dried orange peels into a pot of water, pop the lid on and leave to boil. Let it sit for an hour so before you kick back and enjoy a cup or two.
A Healthy Boost To Your Food
With so many nutrients stored beneath an orange’s skin, you’ll find that adding them to food and drinks will greatly enhance its taste and nutritional value. Wash your orange skins well and simply grate the zest into salads, yogurt, cooked vegetables, or even on top of desserts. Apart from food, try blending the peel along with your favourite fruits to make a scrumptious smoothie! The high levels of vitamin C strengthen the immune system and is also useful for losing weight due to added fiber.
DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaner
Just when you thought this fruit couldn’t get more a-peeling, it throws one more surprise at you. Follow these simple steps to make your very own all-natural cleaning solution: fill a large glass jar with layers of orange peel, pour white vinegar until the top and let it sit for up to two weeks. Once ready, strain the liquid (leftover peels can be used as compost) and mix with water using a 2:1 ratio, and start spraying! You’ve now got an organic solution that cleans well and disinfects dirt-ridden areas while keeping your home environment safe.
We hope these ideas have inspired you to treasure the many practical uses of a humble mandarin orange peel. They will be ubiquitous during this CNY season so keep your eyes peeled, spread the word to your family and friends to prevent further waste, and enjoy the benefits of repurposing orange peel together!
P.S.: Join us at our grocer for a CNY to remember – see what’s going on in store here: http://bit.ly/BIGCNY2018. Don’t forget to grab your CNY hampers while stocks last! More info in our Hamper Catalog
The oyakodon is a classic Japanese bento dish.served in many Japanese restaurants including here in Malaysia. Check out this recipe and try making your own.
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