I never cook without some kind of seasoning. I learned early on that gourmet cooking is all about adding the right accessories. Sometimes it’s all about what you serve with your entrée. Other times, it’s all about the herbs, seasonings, or flavoring.
When I’m watching what I eat and want to remain strong and healthy, I cook a lot of fish and chicken. However, I’m not talking about bland grilled chicken or baked fish. I’m into the exploration of combinations, flavors, and seasonings. Consequently, I’m always trying something new.
Some of my favorite chicken dishes involve the use of lemon and lime flavors. My family loves my cooking. One of their favorite dishes is my Chicken Picata, which includes a subtle hint of lemon. I love my homemade fajitas (chicken, steak, and shrimp), which require delicate notes of lime.
While there are a multitude of seasonings out there that can deliver the lemon or lime bursts that I require, they aren’t all the same. Some are strong and can quickly overpower a dish. Others are so weak that it takes a whole bottle to achieve the desired effect.
Recently I discovered True Lemon and True Lime, crystallized versions of natural fruits. It’s citrus made simple.
One box contains 40 packets of crystallized fruit that can be:
Added to water for a refreshing fruit drink;
Added to hot or cold tea for a punch of pizzazz; or
Added to your favorite beverage for a quick pick-me-up.
It can also be:
Sprinkled on seafood, meats, or vegetables;
Used in cooking and baking in any recipe calling for fruit; or
Used as a salt substitute to reduce sodium intake.
One packet, added to any 10-ounce beverage, will produce perfect results. For cooking, one packet is equal to one tablespoon of fruit juice.
Both True Lemon and True Lime have zero calories, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates per packet. Both are 100% all natural.
I love using the True Lemon in my Chicken Picata recipe as follows:
2 thinly pounded chicken breasts,
1 tablespoon finely chopped spring onions,
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives,
½ teaspoon course black pepper,
2 packets True Lemon, and
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
Heat a cast iron skillet until it sizzles when you add a drop of water to it. Insert the olive oil and swish it around in the skillet until it is evenly heated.
Add the chicken breasts, allowing each side to brown to a light golden color. Do not overcook or the meat will become rubbery. Remove the breasts from the pan.
Add the onions, chives, black pepper, and lemon, reducing everything to a small amount of glaze. Pour that over the chicken breasts and serve with vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or brussel sprouts for a light, low calorie meal.
I love using the True Lime for my fajitas as follows:
1 package of thinly sliced chicken strips,
1 cup sliced onions,
1 cup of mixed sliced peppers,
½ cup of sliced baby bell mushrooms,
1 teaspoon of coarse black pepper,
1 packet of True Lime, and
3 tablespoons of olive oil.
Heat a cast iron skillet until it sizzles when you add a drop of water to it. Insert the olive oil and swish it around in the skillet until it is evenly heated.
Add the onions, peppers, mushrooms, chicken, and pepper, cooking until everything is soft without being overly done. If the chicken or vegetables cook faster than the remainder of the items, remove them temporarily from the skillet.
Once everything is properly done, mix in the lime crystals and stir to distribute them evenly throughout.
Serve the mixture with your favorite fajita fixings and warm tortillas.
Both True Lemon and True Lime are excellent products with a considerable shelf life. I give them both four out of five stars.
