I Like It! Clementines

Along with other signs of the season - crowded shopping malls, Christmas trees and twinkling lights - there's something else that puts in an appearance this time of year. The little wooden crates of clementine oranges start showing up in grocery stores. These have long been a favorite treat for my twins, and one that I'm always happy to indulge. It's nice to find a snack that is not only tasty, but also healthy and easy to prepare.

Clementines are small oranges that peel neatly and easily divide into segments. There are few - if any - seeds and less pulp and pith than regular oranges. Even little hands find them easy to pull apart and eat. And clementines are usually very sweet and mildly flavored; no reason to fear the tongue-puckering sour or bitter sensation that can afflict other varieties of citrus fruit.

When my twins were small, they were happy to share a Clementine between them; I'd dole out the segments, keeping them equal of course! As they've gotten older, they want one -- or more! -- of their own; they're a perfect lunch box treat or after-school snack. Get a sample of these "Christmas oranges" for your family to try. Then leave a comment and let me know what you think.