When Life Gives You Lemons:
Part of the reason why people hate diet foods so much is that they have no flavor. Let’s face it. Most of the so-called ‘diet’ foods that you buy in the grocery store have been processed beyond recognition, and are as bland as cardboard. They are either sweetened with sugar substitutes, or so highly salted you can’t find the taste advertized on the outside of the package. By putting more flavor into the foods that we do eat, we can eat less, be more satisfied, be healthier, and not feel as though we are being punished. One simple food that is cheap, easy, and will add lots of flavor to a variety of foods is the humble lemon.
I have a dwarf lemon tree in my back yard, and I love it. It is about as tall as a large bush and will produce enough lemons for me to last most of the summer. They store well in a cool area, and last for weeks after having been picked.
Lemon will also take the garlic smell off of your hands, take the alkalinity out of your skin if you have touched wet cement, cut grease on your counters, make your dishes smell fresh, make a nice relaxing bath, as well as flavor your foods. A combination of lemon juice and salt can clean your copper pots and make them shine like new.
Here is a quick and easy trick to utilize your fresh lemons.
Zest two lemons, being careful to get only the colored portion of the peel, but leaving behind the more bitter white pith. Take the lemon zest and stir it into 1 cup of your favorite cooking oil - any oil will do. Heat the oil for 1-2 minutes in the microwave to release the oils in the lemons. As the oil cools it will increase in both the flavor and aroma of the fresh lemons. Store oil in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Strain the oil through cheesecloth for cooking (so the zest will not burn), or use as is for salad dressings and food flavorings.
Juice the leftover lemons and freeze in ice cube trays. They will form pre-measured 1 tsp size chunks for your recipes. Frozen lemon juice will keep for months. It tastes better than the plastic lemon juice, and is always ready when you need it.
A squeeze of lemon across the top of your dishes will also reduce the need for extra salt, making it one of the healthier things that you can eat.
And, when life gives you lemons, there’s always the traditional hot summer treat, lemonade! Or float a lemon slice in ice water for a refreshing treat.
Fall back in love with the lemon. It’ll do wonders for your meals, your home, and your health.
© Loretta Sinclair 2009
