Lemon
pie. Lemonade. Lemon sherbet. Lemon bars.
Lemon drops. Lemon cookies. Lemon zest.
Lemon water. Lemon pudding.
Limoncello. Lemon basil. Lemon thyme.
Lemon balm. Lemon marinade. Culinary dishes, both sweet and savory,
utilize the tart, delicious juice and zest of lemons.
Is there another citrus tree that produces fruit
as versatile as the sunny-yellow lemon?
Besides a
variety of sweet treats, lemons contribute hints of tartness to savory dishes
as well. Lemon juice can be drizzled over a hot tuna casserole for some extra
zing. Lemon juice can be sprinkled over
a tossed salad in place of a high-calorie creamy dressing. Lemon juice is a key ingredient when I make
guacamole; although I’ve tried making guacamole with lime juice, a friend
suggested using lemon juice instead… I’ve never gone back!
Lemon zest is a creative way to add the
sweetness of lemon to a dish—without adding
tartness. Whether you use a lemon
zester or Microplane® grater to harvest the zest, be sure to keep the lemon
whole before proceeding. Remove
outermost yellow layer only, leaving all white pith remaining on the fruit (pith
tends to be bitter and can offset the sweetness of the zest). Lemon zest can be sprinkled over blueberry muffin
batter; stir, then bake as usual. Lemon
zest can be mixed with freshly grated parmesan and sprinkled on your favorite
hot pasta dish.
Lemon juice mixed
with warm or cool water is an easy beverage to start off your day; this is
especially beneficial for those trying to reduce caffeine intake. Lemon juice mixed with baking soda can be
an effective, low-abrasive cleanser; try it with a stiff brush to remove stains
from sinks, or pots and pans. Versatile lemons are also incorporated into
various cleaning aids, like dish soap and furniture polish.
Although
lemon trees originated somewhere in Asia, China or India, they are surely here
to stay. They thrive in southern states of the US and recently I was able to
pick lemons from a tree in southern AZ.
Green, glossy foliage adorned each tree; the elliptical yellow fruits
were ripe and ready!
Citrus
limon, you ARE my SUNSHINE!
M. Lynn
Schmid, Certified Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
