purloined citrus is best

okay, so we asked permission for these oranges.

but they sure taste all the more sweet knowing they were not only free of charge, we were saving them from being wasted. there's something so much sweeter about a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice when its made from oranges that would otherwise die the fate of a merely decorative lawn ornament. because that is what happens out here. people grow the most miraculous trees laden with fruit and their yards become littered with rotten fruit. that's just messed up. [/caption] so what does any self respecting food lover do? they convince their girlfriend to get a fruit picker, ask the next door neighbor if they'll be needing all those oranges & thereby secure a steady supply of oranges! you may call it stealing, you may call it foraging, you may call it the most genius thing on earth. this is the most local food a gullet can get. so, most months we have oranges, lemons, oroblancos sometimes. and now pomegranates. and then figs. since moving to LA, i have come to feel silly purchasing citrus when all around us its just weighing down tree branches in every other yard lining the streets. now, keep in mind, while i am not condoning stealing anything, its a nice fantasy/secret ambition to done black ninja outfits & go on a city wide mission to make marmalade. or not. you know, depending on where you stand on free food or ninja costuming.