Entry # 3. ZESTY SUMMER'S

On blazing hot summer days, my sister and I lounge near the pool side almost always eating a fruit cup along with a frosty chill drink. The steamy heat melts the ice in my favorite drink almost always and makes my cup sweat. Can you guess what my favorite beverage to drink during a hot summer day is?  This drink’s main ingredient comes from a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae. Pieces of the fruit float on top of my drink when the ice melts. It’s a fruit that almost always comes in a round shape, it’s small in size but, heavy in weight when it has it’s “zesty husk”. It’s skin peel has a smooth surface with bumps that feel like skin pores all around. I rarely peel this fruit but when I do, it’s a great spice. It adds lots of flavors to my recipe. What I do to zest this fruit I start by peeling the whole fruit. Grabbing a blade, I gently rub the pale-yellow fruit all around. Did you guess what beverage I am drinking? Not yet?! Okay let me give you a few more details.

When I slice this fruit open, I automatically smell a strong scent of freshness and cleanliness. I think to myself “WOW! I can clean with this and wipe my counter tops and glass mirrors.” (which you can!). When sliced, I see a white fleshy rind that holds wedges of translucent pale-yellow juice. You can see it’s stems connected to the rinds and “zesty husky". I love the taste of this fruit, it’s sour and tart. When I suckle the juice out of this fruit, it brings memories of me sitting poolside with my sister drinking and eating this delicious fresh fruit. When I squeeze more into my drink, I close my eyes and squint! This fruit also burns when you get its translucent juice in your eyes since it’s acidic. Did you guess now? If you guessed a word that rhymes with shade, then you’re correct!