Best of Citrus Part 2

Orange chocolate chunk cake

This orange + chocolate + chocolate ganache cake comes from Barefoot Contessa Parties, adapted above by Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen. We’re talking 1/4 cup orange zest + 1/4 cup orange juice flavoring some serious chocolate.

Yogurt grapefruit cake

Here is a yogurt grapefruit cake/sweet bread that Deb Perelman tweaked from Ina Garten. I appreciate her consideration of how to capture grapefruit’s more elusive flavor in a baked good. I made it a few years ago, and took her suggestion of making two mini loaves. Somehow things are more scrumptious when they are miniature.

Linguini with shrimp scampi

This lemon shrimp scampi recipe is one of my favorites. Lemon, garlic, butter, and white wine have a little party in a frying pan…

Lemon risotto

It was a sad day when Martha Stewart said the thing she missed most in prison was lemons. And yet, not a disingenuous one — the woman makes a fabulous lemon risotto. This was the first (and only?) risotto recipe I have ever attempted. For anyone who is intimated by risotto, it is a doable and delicious place to start.

And finally, here are some citrus recipes that I have tested with eyes only. Let me know if you try them. They come from much-respected sources that as a rule, leave very little desired for the inexpert home cook.

Roasted Citrus Wedges

Serve as a side with waffles… or pork loin…or something

Lime Glazed Cookies

These cookies remind me of Sanibel Island, Florida. And Martha Stewart usually gets cookies about right.

Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Orange

This last recipe from Epicurious is calling my name like a long, sun-drenched nap on the beach… Seems like a  pretty elegant take on comfort food?

As I was aggressively chipping ice off my dashboard last week, following ongoing TV and radio coverage of the impending snow storm, I thought of Audrey from “Little Shop of Horrors,” crooning campily for “Somewhere That’s Green.” On that note, I wish you plenty of something green (or yellow/orange/pink) and healthy dose of vitamin Deee-licious.

[Photos: Marcus Nilsson, frankfarm’s photostream, WGyuri’s photostream, & Chugy’s photostream, poopoorama’s photostream, Daniel Slaughter’s photostream, jmackinnell’s photostream, pcarpen’s photostream]