Mama, I need a ladder. I can’t reach those lemons to help your racolte (picking)!
Donc, about this “if life gives you lemons” thingy. Almost all the quotes about lemons have to do with lemons being a burden or a bad hand in a card game, and almost all of them say, “Make lemonade”, which, of course, is a good response if you can swing it. And like lemonade.
We have another take on lemons, and that is that they grow on the sweetest, most lovely tree and are the most versatile fruit one can have in one’s garden, even in a little pot.
This is what lemons give to us:
Limoncello (I don’t get any but THEY tell me it makes gatherings very sociable and friendly. I’ll bet it does!), which is a digestive and ice-breaker all in one! Plus it tastes GOOD.
Lemon zest and juice for use in everything. Even a small bit of lemon juice balances a recipe of any kind without overpowering its integrity.
Making “sun streaks” in hair.
For use on anything anywhere…a great disinfectant, according to Sandra Bullock, haha.
Cleans fingernails of stubborn garden stains (for THOSE dum dums who forget to wear gloves and love to dig in the dirt).
Lemon pie, lemon chutney, candied peel in sweet breads, preserved salted lemons, a perfumed house by always having a bowl of lemons somewhere, lemon in pasta sauces, any sauce for that matter, and on and on and on. I’m sure you have many more ideas for lemon use.
So if life puts the squeeze on you, definitely put a squeeze on that lemon.
Have a beautiful, productive, joyful week.
Lemon and egg salad with lemon zest, chives and marinated anchovies (a summer thingy…for winter, a minestrone with lots of lemon juice in it!)
Minestrone
I have used lemons for years to ‘clean’ my fingers!! And to get stains off of my old white counters. I always save the rinds after juicing them to use for those purposes. I love to add lemon slices to my water bottle, tastes better thasn plain water to me…
And lets just say I love lemons, limes, too!
But LouLou, please don’t try to make sun streaks in your beautiful tuxedo furs…just enjoy the sun puddles when you can!
Haha, I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a blond, haha. And it’s nice to know you love lemons the way we do!! Mama loves the zest in salad. And the Yuzu lemon, now popular, is incredible but oh, the SEEDS!
Lemons are a wonder fruit! And the mom says that soup looks delish! ~Ernie
Well, you and I, Ernie might like a bit of groud beef instead…but we wish we could tele-soup.
I never thought about it that way … but lemons DO get a bad rep! Pair them with poppy seeds in baked goods; they are hard to beat!
Oui, oui, mama’s grandmama made poppy seed kolaches with a bit of lemon.
Well dear Loulou you say you need a ladder BUT you have your Papa to be your human ladder – he picks you up and carries you around so I’m SURE he would take you to any place that’s too HIGH for you! Lemon – yum. My Mom and Dad love “lemon anything”. They are so versatile (whatever that means) and something as simple as a lemon tart make my Mom smile so big it’s almost too big for her face! HAHAHA Anyway, that old saying “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade” is a very WISE one isn’t it.
Hugs, Teddy
Oui, oui, oui, all the way to the lemon tree! I think I will just direct the mama as she snips. There are so many, but fewer than last year when the windfall was aroud 200 lemons. That’s a lot of limoncello, heh heh. Wish we could mail order some to Virginia.
You already sent Mom and Dad a fabulous and fruity gift….and they are enjoying it beyond desription!
HUGE huggies……………….
SO GLAD you have vitamin C in these cold days!
Lemons are certainly versatile, Loulou, and after reading your blog I’m hungry. Everything looks and sounds delicious.
Merci, Militza, and I hope you found something lemony to munch on. Is there South African cuisine? Mama is googling it..https://cheflolaskitchen.com/delicious-south-african-foods/ and WOW, mama wants to try ALL!!! What are your favorites? We love corn meal and spicey food.
Bobotie, Boerewors, Potjiekos, biltong, milk tart, pap. I don’t think there’s anything on that list that I don’t love, Loulou.
MERCI MERCI, mama is going into South African warp speed soon with bobotie!
Oh, mama went straight to South African recipes and would love your suggestions about what to try, chakalaka, boboti, mealie bread, bunny chow?? Love the names.
I had no idea that lemons were so useful. XO
Oh, and much more….wish I could send you some.
… are you reaching for a lemon, Loulou? and why are bad autos refered to as “lemons”, oh dear! they do get a bad rap which just isn’t fair now is it …
NON,it is not fair. And the SMELL so good.
Having one’s own lemon tree is a dream for many of us, Loulou.
Mais oui…you could have one in a little pot in a sunny place, non? My aunty has a Meyer lemon in a pot and gives it drugs, haha and it produces LOTS of lemons.
we haz sum limoncello in dee licker cabinet and dee mum always put lemon juice in her concokshun she tosses on her pasta, lemon joose,garlic, basil, chives, red pepper flakez, dollop of ricotta, parm or pecorino, kitchen sink, LOL!!! and whine……tho no whine in dee pasta, dee whine goez in dee whine glass. dee mum had sum lemon barz at her furrendz open houze dee other nite
Oh, lemon bars are WONDERFUL, but the whine in the glass is best haha….
Such wonderful suggestions for when life gives you lemons. Also a dash of lemon juice in a plain old glass of water makes a refreshing summer drink at very low cost compared to all those expensive beverages. Luckily we do love lemonade here !
And mama’s southern grandmama used to drink that glass of lemon water “foor mah complextion”….a southern belle’s secret to good skin.