citrus celebration
dinner party
as winter’s chill begins to thaw, citrus season is here to brighten our kitchens with its vibrant colors and tangy flavors. from the humble lemon to the exotic blood orange, this time of year offers a bountiful selection of citrus fruits that are perfect for cooking and baking. their refreshing tartness can elevate everything from savory dishes to decadent desserts, adding a burst of flavor that cuts through richness and balances sweetness. whether you're squeezing fresh juice into a marinade, zesting an orange to infuse your batter, or experimenting with citrus curds and cakes, there’s no better time to bring these juicy gems into your culinary creations. so, in a plan to celebrate all the magic that citrus can bring to a dish, this month we are embarking on a vitamin c voyage. if you’re just here for some tasty little recipes that celebrate citrus, my citrus forward recipes are below. i really tried to pick mediums that would celebrate, challenge, and highlight the complexity of the entire fruit: the bright tang from the zest, the bitter earthy flavor from the rind, and the sweetly sharpness from the juice.
the recipes 🍊🍋
the recipes 🍊🍋
creamy grapefruitade
the little bubbles have my HEART. this grapefruitade (grapefruit-aid?) is fabulously balanced, a little bitter, a little sweet, a lotta yum.
check out the recipe ->
orange and spice chicken thighs
no one asked the glaze on these orange and spice chicken thighs to look that good but she clocked in and she did that.
check out the recipe ->
whole a** roasted lemon potatoes
the tiny swirls of lemon within the recipe are the mandatory thing that makes this dish one of the cutest potato sides that will grace your table.
check out the recipe ->
pomelo loaf
cake
the glaze of this cake really is just that perfect little bit of sweet. and it can be made the day before to make things so much easier!
check out the recipe ->
invitations
& menus
i wanted to keep thing bright and fun since after all, this is citrus that we’re celebrating. little drawings of assorted citrus adorn the invitations and i can never pass up the opportunity for a good themed outfit, so neither should my guests.
the link to these templates are completely editable on canva. check them out here!
the tablescape: inspo vs reality
the inspiration for this tablescape was to be airy, light, and focus all in on the citrus. i definitely want to incorporate candles into the table design and maybe even incorporate the citrus and candles into one single element (you’ll see what i mean). keeping all of the flatware to my usual solid brass and plates to a simple, clean, and minimal glass option.
image credits: @carl.ostberg, @libertyfennell, and
the actual table turned out so incredibly cute and my exact vision. the citrus candle holders were made by simply using an apple corer to cut a whole into the fruit, then i just stuck a candle inside. some of the more round fruits got a little trim on the bottom to help them stay up. once that was on the table, i simply just used my regular flatware and plates to finish the tablescape. sneaking a citrus leaf into the napkin ring was also a beautiful little touch.
other bits & bobs:
to make this process as easy as possible, see the shopping list and the breakdown downloads! the shopping list makes a run to the grocery store a breeze! the breakdown helps to keep you on track to make sure everything gets to the table hot, fresh, and ready to be eaten up! want them? subscribe to my substack to get the link!
