Have you had your Cuties today?
I have only just realized that small oranges, mandarins, that you find in the store are not created equal! Every year around the holidays, carts of Cuties mandarins are stacked in my local supermarket and sometimes even Costco. Early in November I picked up a crate of "small oranges" and was very disappointed that they weren't sweet and I had to expend too much effort to peel them…messy. Hmm. What happened to my delicious mandarin orange treats? Turns out I didn't buy Cuties. They have to be Cuties California Clementines. These are nature's nutritious and delicious sweet treats.
What Makes Them Different?
You'll notice most of these characteristics for yourself, but as outlined from their Web site:
- Seedless (no spitting out seeds!)
- Easy to peel, zipper skin (you can peel it without getting any juice or fruit residue on your fingers! Kid friendly.)
- Super Sweet (no lip puckering due to tart or sour…they are deliciously sweet.)
- Source of Vitamin C
- Snack-sized (when I took these to the Office for an afternoon treat..I had to pack at least 4. You can't just eat one!)
I've noticed that these treats are their sweetest between Thanksgiving through after Christmas. There are release periods for the Clementines and so it will depend on which period you buy them as to the variety. I'll miss them when Spring comes around. Too bad they can't be frozen.
For Christmas and Valentines the stickers change on the Cuties. I know it doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the delicious treat, but it's a cute touch (no pun intended) and the stickers give these little guys a personality of their own. They have their own Facebook and Twitter followers.
Hurry up and pick up your Cuties before they're out of season…then you'll have to wait until November to enjoy 'em again.
Click on over to the following blogs for some foodie ideas with these Cuties:
The Dabble: Losing It and Clementine Granita
So Many Recipes… Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fry with Tangerines and Chile Sauce
Please note: I'm not in anyway affiliated with Cuties California Clementines. This is a Teenie Cakes' personal musing.
Teenie Cakes
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I too love these things! I usually buy a crate every year.
These have been in the stores for a few weeks now and I love their easy to peel skins, very few seeds and freshness that seems to be lacking in most “fresh” oranges these days.
Culinarily yours,
CCR
=:~)
Love Cuties – and you’re right you have to get “Cuties” the others do not compare!
I love these! I just made a cutie granita with their sweet juice and pulp and it was tasty.
It’s true. Cuties are definitely the way to go… unless you can find satsumas!
Have been gorging myself on satsumas this year! Hopefully when their season is out there will still be a few Cuties to be had.
I wonder if Cuties are the fruit version of Smarties? I never knew this name for this fruit. Thanks.
I love them, especially when my cat climbs into the empty box for a photo-op!
I just blogged a recipe recently whereby I discovered that you can slice these with the peel on and saute/stir-fry them as is. Totally edible and you get ALL the flavor from your Cuties.
I love cuties :)
I love these little cuties as well. So easy to eat and store and peel. Nice information!
Such a cute name too. My mom would absolutely love these oranges.
I love these!
These are my favorite afternoon snack at work! I’ve been eating them every day. You’re right, I always have to bring 3 or 4 since I can’t stop at just 1!
I love these, great pic