The Homestead Way of Life

When Life Hands You Lemons...

I just got home yesterday after a week long visit with family in Southern California.  It is very hard to be away from the homestead, as there is so much waiting to be done when I get back (which is probably why I don't travel much!).  But, that's another blog!

What I really want to talk about is lemons.  It seems like everyone in So. Cal has a lemon tree!  And this is the time of year when folks are absolutely swimming in the mouth-puckering fruit.  Here in the Pac Northwest, lemons don't do so well.  My little lemon tree is a very sad sight, indeed.  So, imagine my joy when at least three different members of my family offered to send me home with a bag of lemons!  No small thing when you consider the little buggers go for 25 cents a pop at the market.

What to do with so many lemons, you may ask?  I like to have a marathon squeezing session.  I have an electric citrus juicer, which is one of those gadgets not often used, but when it is needed it is a gem!  The kids love to get in on the act of reaming the fruit.  Once all of the fruit is juiced, I pour the juice into ice cube trays and freeze.  When frozen, I pop them into a Ziploc freezer bag.  These are just the perfect size for throwing into a batch of jam or other recipe calling for lemon juice.  Or, thaw a bunch for lemonade.

Lemons

06:15, 2006-Feb-25 .. Posted by smmagers

I live in so calif and yes there are tons of lemons!
What you can do with your lemons is eat them!
My children and I love to eat them. Give it a try.
mj

Untitled Comment

06:41, 2006-Feb-25 .. Posted by OurLittleHomestead

Glad you're back ! I used to love the fresh lemons, limes and avacados when I lived in SoCal...and that I could get a steak taco smothered in guacamole at any hour of the day or night :)

Enjoy those lemons--welcome home!

Lis

some of my favorite things to do with lemons....

09:49, 2006-Feb-25 .. Posted by Joanna

1. in the winter, drink a glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning
2. in the summer, drink a room temp. glass of lemon water first thing and also throughout the day
3. quarter a lemon and place in saucepan with pure water to cover-bring to a boil and then simmer until the water nearly runs out. You want to see steam coming from the pan. This cleanses the air up to 150 feet away. I've only done this a few times so far but my goal is to do it once a week.
4. put my used lemon slices down the garbage disposal to deodorize it
5. This one I just did today for the first time-buy lemon hand washing soap and lotion at Bath and Body Works-it's a new product. Smells yummy!
Can you tell I'm TOTALLY into lemons lately? lol.
Oh, one more thing-someone gave me a bag of homegrown lemons a couple of months ago and I didn't expect the aroma to be so much stronger than the store bought lemons...when I cut into them to quarter them for the freezer, the juice smelled SO good! I'll be bummed when I have to go back to store bought ones. :(

lemons

12:59, 2006-Mar-25 .. Posted by ThistleCoveFarminVA

Lemons are fifty-eight cents at wally-world so everything but the pith and seeds are being used here <g>.

I've made lemon chess pies recently...some to eat, some to share and each one was enjoyed by many.

God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands.