Celebrate National Grapefruit Month with a cocktail!

   By DianeHoffmaster  Feb 29, 2012

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February was National Grapefruit month and I decided to head over to my local grocery store and pick up a bag full of this tart and tasty fruit to share with my family. My son has always loved grapefruit, even when he was a toddler. I thought this was a bit odd, seeing as it is really not considered a 'kid friendly' food but of course, this is the same child that loves hummus and asparagus so I shouldn't be surprised!

Grapefruit was first cultivated in Barbados in the 18th century but didn't become an agricultural success until the 1930's. Grapefruit comes in many varieties, including red, white and pink. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and studies have suggested that it may help lower cholesterol levels. It does have a tendency to interact with some medications so talk to your doctor before adding it into your diet if you take any prescription drugs. 

Did you know that grapefruit got its name from the way it grows in clusters (like grapes) on the tree? A serving size is approximately 1/2 a medium grapefruit and it has about 37 calories per serving! That is a nice low calorie snack if you are trying to watch your weight!

Want a nice little drink to serve at your next get together? Try this sweet and tart combination and get a boost of grapefruit with your evening cocktail. If you prefer to skip the alcohol, just omit the vodka! It is tasty even without it!
 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 can Sprite

Crushed ice and 1 ounce of vodka per drink

Directions

1. In a bowl or pitcher, combine cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, sugar and lemon juice.
2. Cover and refrigerate if you are not serving immediately.
3. Just before serving, stir in soda.
4. Into a cocktail or margarita glass, add crushed ice and one shot of vodka. Fill glass with the grapefruit cocktail and serve.

Do you have any creative grapefruit recipes that you enjoy or do you prefer to just slice and eat?