Celebrate the sweetest people in your life with bright, fruity treats perfect for Valentine’s Day. This month we shared cheerful, citrus- and apple-forward recipes on Indy Style that chase away winter blues and make thoughtful, delicious gifts for family and friends. Below are the recipes and tips featured in our segments so you can recreate these easy, flavorful ideas at home.
Indy Style Valentine’s Day with MandaRosa Oranges
This season we’re highlighting a stunning citrus: the MandaRosa. A cross between mandarins and blood oranges, MandaRosas offer a beautiful ombre interior, are easy to peel and mostly seedless—making them ideal snacks for busy families. They’re a fresh, sweet option to feature in many recipes.
To prepare MandaRosas for snacking, trim both ends so the fruit sits flat. Place the orange on one trimmed end and slice downward between the skin and flesh around the fruit until you remove the peel completely. Do this six times to create neat, bite-sized segments without any bitter pith.
MandaRosa Tea
Don’t discard those peels—use them to make a soothing MandaRosa green tea with ginger and honey. This fragrant drink reduces kitchen waste and can be enjoyed hot in the morning or evening.
Add the washed MandaRosa peels to a mug or jar and pour hot water over them. If using glass, avoid sudden temperature changes to prevent cracking. Peel a one-inch slice of ginger (a spoon is great for removing the skin) and add it to the mug. Sweeten with honey if desired and steep until the flavors meld for a bright, warming cup.
MandaRosa Ice Cream Bread
This playful ice cream bread uses only three ingredients and yields a moist, flavorful loaf. Note: the recipe requires self-rising flour to achieve the proper texture—do not substitute all-purpose flour without adding leavening.
We used one pint each of two ice cream flavors to make two loaves—feel free to choose your favorites. Mix the melted ice cream with self-rising flour until combined, pour into a parchment-lined loaf pan, top with MandaRosa rounds, and bake 30–40 minutes at 350°F.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups self-rising flour
- 1 pint ice cream (flavor of your choice)
- MandaRosa rounds for topping
Directions:
- Melt the ice cream in its container.
- Mix the melted ice cream with the self-rising flour until combined.
- Pour into a parchment-lined loaf pan and arrange MandaRosa rounds on top.
- Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes or until set.
Grilled Peanut Butter Apple Sandwiches
We featured the EverCrisp apple, a naturally sweet, crunchy cross of Honeycrisp and Fuji. Its texture adds a delightful contrast to sandwiches. For a grilled peanut butter apple sandwich, lay thin EverCrisp slices on bread, squeeze a little MandaRosa juice over them to slow browning and add bright flavor, sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, spread peanut butter, and grill until golden and crisp.
Chicken Salad Apple Bowls
Turn EverCrisp apples into reusable bowls for chicken salad. Slice the top off each apple and use a melon baller to hollow them out, leaving a thin layer of flesh under the skin. Chop the scooped apple pieces and fold them into your chicken salad for extra sweetness and texture instead of wasting them. Spoon the mixture back into the hollowed apples for a fresh, attractive appetizer or lunch.
Dipped MandaRosa and EverCrisp Treats
Make heart-shaped apple slices by using a small cookie cutter on thin slices, then dip in allergen-free chocolate for a family-friendly Valentine’s treat. Let kids decorate with sprinkles for a fun snack activity. For a classic pairing, dip MandaRosa segments in chocolate and arrange them as citrus hearts on a tray—an elegant, simple dessert for sharing.
MandaRosa Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
MandaRosas are excellent roasted with proteins. Halve the fruit and squeeze fresh juice over chicken or salmon before roasting; the heat caramelizes the citrus and enhances flavor. For a simple sheet pan dinner, arrange salmon filets, halved fingerling potatoes, broccolini, and trimmed MandaRosa halves on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, squeeze one MandaRosa over the salmon and vegetables, and roast.
Ingredients:
- 4 salmon filets (4 oz. each)
- 3 MandaRosas, halved
- Fingerling potatoes, halved
- Broccolini
- Olive oil, salt and pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Arrange salmon, potatoes, broccolini, and MandaRosa halves on a sheet pan.
- Squeeze one MandaRosa over the salmon and vegetables; scatter remaining halves on the pan.
- Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for about 15 minutes or until salmon is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Serve warm.
Thanks for joining us — have a lovely Indy Style Valentine’s Day full of bright citrus and crisp apples!