Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbet

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:46 am

The ingredients are: water, blood orange juice concentrate, organic cane sugar, tapioca syrup, orange juice concentrate, pectin, orange oil, lemon juice concentrate, and "natural coloring". When I called the co. to check, I was told that beets were the source of the coloring.

This is a tasty treat for those who can do citrus, tapioca, sugar and beets. And Kari, it comes in a tiny serving too - they have a 3.5 ounce container available. It's so full flavored that this is definitely enough!

Polly

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:17 pm

I bought some for my son. He loved it in a smoothie made with banana, sorbet and coconut milk. They had many other flavors that also looked delicious.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:24 am

YUM!!!

Not only am I jazzed to learn that this Ciao Bella flavor is friendly - thanks to this thread, I will be making sorbet the first hot day we get in the Northeast! I had forgotten how easy and delicious that can be.

Will report back from the kitchen lab ;)

Sara

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:37 am

Sara,

I am making strawberry sorbet today (plus a bunch of other stuff). We picked 20 pounds of strawberries yesterday. Sorbet is so easy to make and you can control the sweetness and ingredient list. I have a Cuisinart electric ice cream maker and it couldn't be easier.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:59 am

I can't remember which brand we have - the simple electric ones make it so easy. It's one of the few biggish kitchen gizmos that I don't use regularly, but feel it completely deserves its cabinet space.

Kind of jealous you *picked* strawberries yesterday! We've got leaves on those plants, but the fruits and flowers are a long way off...

And I so agree - controlling the sweetness is a huge plus. To my taste, a little less sweetening lets the fruit flavors shine. I had big plans for a 'gazpacho sorbet' appetizer - now on hold till I figure out whether I can eat tomatoes! But those are even farther away for us than the strawberries. (We also have notions for "Fido Friendly Flavors" - actually, that chicken soup I made with banana would probably be a big doggy fave.)

Enjoy the sorbet!

Sara

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:08 am

Mary Beth,

Great idea about the smoothie. I just made one with banana, the blood orange sorbet, and apple juice, and it was thick and awesome!!!

Hugs,

Polly

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:45 am

Sara,

Spring comes early here in Texas. I have tried to grow myown berries with little success but we have a local farm where you can go pick your own. I am trying to figure out what to do with all these berries. So far I have made jam (so good) and pureed and froze some for strawberry margaritas. Sorbet and popsicles are next.

I have made a watermelon gazpacho before and it was really good - strawberry would be equally as good I think.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:51 am

Those are all great recipe suggestions - we're having the latest spring I can remember. but soon we'll all be complaining about the heat... and the watermelons won't be far behind.

Strawberries grow beautifully where they like growing. And then they go pretty wild, so maybe not having them in your own garden isn't so bad. They're also great container plants, and will tolerate a lot more shade than most folks lead you to believe... so if you have a spot on the patio without a ton of sun, and would enjoy reaching out for the occasional berry as a treat, I highly recommend them.... good "kid plant" for that reason. How great to have that farm nearby for real volume.)

Popsicles, margaritas... WOW! I was just talking to a friend who was just baffled at the idea of cooking "without" - I've always believed that cooking and eating should be "all about the yes," not the NO. Though I'm currently eating NO dairy/grains/legumes... I'm totally focused on my YES ingredients, and how to combined them, flavor them, vary the ingredients & techniques. And I can't wait to say YES to popsicles (talk about kid-friendly!) and margaritas!

Sara

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:11 am

Good attitude Sara! I went through a brief grief period of feeling like I was doing without. But as I got better and tolerated more foods I began experimenting and creating recipes. I am still gluten, dairy soy/legume (and a few other things) free but now eating is enjoyable again. When I changed my 9 year old's diet he said "It helps to think of what I can eat rather than what I can't eat". From mouths of babes!!

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:40 pm

Thanks, Mary Beth! I do think fondly of what your son said. Our niece invited us to join their family trip, and perhaps my 'grief period' will hit me in Paris... we want to take her out for a special meal. (I was hesitating about going, but my husband was keen to do it, and I'm glad he persuaded me.) Or, as the weeks or months wear on - there's sure to be some food or some occasion that tugs at the heartstrings.

I've always liked creating recipes. Some of the best meals I've ever whipped up came about right after my husband declared, "we have no food in the house," and I rose to the challenge. My recent 'banana soup' was born of similar desperation, for a different reason ;)

Sara

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:30 am

Morning Polly,

Just purchased that one myself as well as the raspberry and it was delicious and no reaction. Sunday I found a brand called Just Enjoy sorbet in mango and it was equally good in ingredients and reaction. There is a life after ice cream.

Love, Maggie