I was making a protein shake the other morning, since I am currently on a health kick again (hopefully this time the kick ends up being the kick in the ass I've been waiting for to keep me healthy). I decided that I have berries every morning and I wanted something different... something tart, something amazing and refreshing! Lo and behold, I had a counter full of wonderful citrus and by God, I was going to make it into a smoothie! I began with the usual: a banana, some soy milk (in my favorite vanilla flavor), some ice, and slowly, I began adding oranges, a tangelo, and part of a grapefruit. I blended it, tasted it, and decided it was still missing something. How could that be?! What could possibly makes this amazing and refreshing drink better?
Just then, I remembered the key limes I purchased for a Mexican dish I was planning to make later in the week. Just the thing! I pulled one triumphantly from my fridge and was about to cut it, when it hit me! I could simply peel the fruit and throw it in, blending it with the rest of my fruit. It would be the most amazing beverage in all of creation. I began the task of trying to peel the lime.
Have you ever tried to peel a key lime? I am here to tell you, after four rounds, it is simply not possible. I pulled a tiny bit of rind off at first, and got it stuck under my nail. Drat. Got a toothpick. Pried the bit of skin out from my nail bed. Stared at the lime, trying to plan my attack. I swear, it stared back at me in silent mirth at my difficulties. I thought about a peeler, but all at once ruled it out. I wanted every bit of that lime that was now thwarting me in my drink. I thought some more.
Deciding to start round two with a knife around the edge of the skin, I found one of our ceramic paring knives in the drawer and brought out a cutting board to keep it steady. Holding the lime still, I slowly worked at prying the skin off. About two miniscule strips in, the lime shot out of my hand and landed on the floor. I think I heard it laughing at me at that point, as I cursed and retrieved it from under the lip of the cabinet. I took it to the sink, rinsed it off carefully with some warm water and vegetable cleaner, and set it back on the cutting board. I stared. It stared back, daring me to try again.
I finally decided to try my peeler idea, deciding that a knife of sorts with a handle would be an easier grip than an actual knife, and I would be less likely to have it slip and cut me. For good measure, I wet the blade, and dried my hands so as to avoid having them do a slip-n-slide all over the lime. Gripping the sucker, I prepared the first cut. It sliced easily around the lime, and I grinned triumphantly, preparing my second slice. I was far less careful than with the first, and as I came too quickly around the curve of the lime, the blade slipped and sliced into my index finger, which had a death grip around the lime. My eyes opened in surprise, and once again, the lime went shooting out of my hand, skidding across the counter top, landing somewhere behind one of the pots on my stove. Racing to the sink to put my finger under cold water, I wondered if the lime was really worth all the trouble. My stubbornness answered for me: of course it was. My drink, therefore my morning, would not be complete without the tart, refreshing taste of that lime in my drink. I had to have it now. Staring at the place where the lime lay, I wondered how on Earth I was going to consume it with only half the peel gone. I was frustrated beyond belief, close to tears, and screaming obscenities at that green monster gleefully hiding behind my pots. I believe I invented several curses I have never heard that morning, venting my frustrations to the room while I wracked my brain.
Then.... it dawned on me.
As soon as my finger stopped bleeding, I calmly dried it off, crossed the kitchen and removed the lid from my blender. I picked up the lime from where it lay concealed, and squeezed with all of my might, gleaning every last ounce of juice I could squeeze from the pulp between my fingers. I looked at the husk that now sat in my palm, a mere shadow of its former glory. I opened the trash, and watched cheerfully as it fell into the depths, never to resurface. I put the lid back on the blender and turned it on, then poured myself the most potent protein drink I have had the pleasure of consuming, made all the tastier by my victory.
As I finished it and rinsed out my cup, I realized I have received a valuable lesson from this experience. No matter how impossible a task may seem at first, there will always be a solution, if you can wade through the difficulties to find it.
That, and key limes are almost impossible to peel, and squeezing them will suffice when making citrus-y protein drinks.
Have a wonderful day, folks.
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