Citrus fruit salad in spicy honey

A BIG bowl of citrus fruit is my best remedy to the early stage of the common cold.

Pills ever never work for me. I used to have a job that was so ridiculously demanding that I wasn't supposed to have time to be sick. So I took cocktailed medicines with extra-strength... how creative huh?! The syndrome seemed to subside for a day or two, then a full-blow followed...

Fresh oranges (not any orange juice) work very well on me, not talking about 1 or 2, but 5, 6 or more. Next day, say 'bye' to the cold.

Today I catch cold. Here is my choice: off-white Kleenex or colorful fruits - orange, mandarin orange, kiwi, exotic plum, lime and lemon - with star anise, clove, cinnamon and honey. But even not sick, this bowl of fruit is still a wonderful treat at any day!

Recipe of Citrus Fruit Salad in Spicy Honey

yield for one person in a deep need of vitamin C

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• juice from 1/2 big lemon or 1 lime
• lemon zest from 1 fruit
• spoonfuls of honey
• for fruits: 1 big orange, 1 mandarin orange, 1 kiwi, 1 plum, few thin slices of lemon and lime

Bring the water to boil, simmer with star anise, cinnamon, cloves and lemon zest for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off, discard the spice, combine with lemon/lime juice and honey. Drizzle the spicy honey to the fruits. Enjoy, stay health!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------