… When life gives you lemons …
At home, we have a lemon, lime, and an orange tree in our backyard, pressed up against the fence. During the big storms, my mom ties the trunk of the tree to the fence to prevent the weight of the fruit from falling the tree. The lemon tree is one of the most prolific trees I have ever encountered. When my mom came up for tea over the weekend, she brought me another bag of lemons.
When life gives you lemons, I actually know a really good lemonade recipe. More importantly, it’s sometimes necessary to sit on a porch with a friend, drink a long, tall glass of lemonade, and enjoy yourself.
Homemade lemonade and candied lemon zest: 15 minutes (plus time to cool).
- Start with eight beautiful lemons. Wash the outsides well. Squeeze the juice of all eight lemons, set aside.
- Cut the rinds of two lemons into small, 2″ pieces.
- Combine 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of water, and lemon rinds in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stir and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the syrup from the stove. Cool the syrup. Strain the syrup from the lemon rinds.
For lemonade: Stir equal parts syrup together with lemon juice. For a pitcher, add 1/2 cup each, to taste; then fill with water and stir. For a single glass, add 2 tablespoons of syrup and lemon to a glass of ice water.
For lemon candies: spread the candied rinds on a platter (a plastic cutting board works well, or a bowl. Toss with sugar; let cool. (If you have a sweet tooth, these are like candy!)
Enjoy!
