I don’t live in an area known for its lemon production (West Virginia) so I tend to buy bulk lemons whenever I find a good deal. I use them for a variety of things from cleaning to baking. Experimenting is one of my favorite things to do so I will almost always try something new! Below is a list of uses that I have found so far that are actually useful. All of these recipes are relatively easy to make and most importantly are recipes that you can actually use in your day to day life.
A lot of these recipes use lemon zest, but I’m not one to waste anything. Doing a few of these recipes together with the Strawberry Lemonade/Lemonade concentrate means you’re not left with a bunch of zestless lemons at the end of the day. I have video all about the process of taking 10 pounds of lemons and making all the recipes below in just a couple of hours.
Lemon Curd
If you haven’t tried lemon curd before, then you are seriously missing out! Mostly, its deliciously bright and fresh and a great alternative to standard jellies. Lemon Curd is one of the few recipes that you can water bath can that contains eggs. You do have to do some temperature control. Your water bath needs to be at 180 degrees when you put your curd in. This is because in order to properly can your card it requires the both the time it takes to bring the water up to a roiling boil as well actual 15 mins of boiling time.
Click Here to see the Recipe!
Limoncello
This is possibly one of my favorite things to do with lemon zest. Nothing says summer like sipping limoncello on the patio. Maybe throw in a fresh from the garden strawberry or two. I would call this the makings of a great afternoon. You don’t even need a fancy vodka to start off with, just something that is 100 proof. A lot of people use Everclear, but I’ll use whatever I have on hand.
Its a pretty simple recipe, take your vodka place it into a mason jar and add a half cup of lemon zest. Let it sit for a week or two up to a few months gently turning it every now and then. When your ready, strain out the lemon zest and add simple syrup. Start with a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar heated on the stove until the sugar dissolves. If you like it sweeter, just add more sugar!
Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate
The recipe for
Lemon Cleaning Solution
I love using white vinegar around the house, but Schraver is not a huge fan of the lingering smell. I’ve found that adding a bit of lemon really cuts down the vinegar odor and leaves fresh clean scent behind. White vinegar is a great cleaner. It not only works as a degreaser but also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Take all your left over scraps of lemons, the piths, rinds, and ends from all your other projects and place them into a bowl or container. Pour white vinegar over them and let sit for a day or two. Strain out the vinegar and you have a lemony fresh cleaning solution!
Gardeners Sugar Scrub
If your a gardener this homemade sugar scrub is a great way to wash away the dirt at the end of the day. Sugar has just the right amount of grit to get any stubborn dirt off and the lemon fresh scent reminds you of summer days. With Vitamen E, Almond and Jojoba Oil it also leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth.
Full Recipe Coming Soon!
Homemade Lemon Pepper
Lastly we come to an easy way to save some money. Way shell out extra dollars when you can make lemon pepper at home? I dry lemon zest on its own to add a little brightness to heavy sauces. Similarly, homemade lemon pepper can take a boring dinner to the next level. A great seasoning on fish and chicken just a pinch adds a big punch of flavor.
Dry left over lemon zest in a dehydrator or on the lowest setting in your oven. For every 1/2 C of dried zest add a 1/4 C of fresh ground pepper and 2 tsp course salt. Mix and Enjoy!
One Response
Loved your sugar scrub. My cuticles thank you. Yes, does leave a nice feel from the oils.
I want to try some of your other recipes with the lemons. I check in on your website weekly to see whats new. Thanks again.