November 25, 2014 at 2:43 AM
One of the great things about winter is the abundance of citrus fruit, rich in Vitamin C – the very thing we need to keep healthy and necessary to fortify the body against infections and colds. Lemons are like little rays of sunshine during the dark, wintery days, they give a refreshing boost of flavour to sweet and savoury dishes. Even Sir Edmund Hillary used lemons when he conquered Everest: “Out came all our delicacies – we had sardines on biscuits, fresh dates and pint after pint of hot lemon drink crammed with sugar.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Quick tips for using up lemons:
• Use freshly squeezed lemon instead of vinegar when making dressings and vinaigrettes
• Squeeze a little lemon juice over steamed vegetables and add a knob of butter
• Add the finely grated zest of a lemon to meatballs, It gives them a delicious lift
• Freeze lemon juice into ice cube trays, store cubes in an airtight container in the freezer for use later
Below are some of our favourite recipes that make good use of the abundance of lemons – it’s time to get friendly with lemons!
Lemon Spread
Call it Lemon Curd, Lemon Honey or whatever you want, you can’t beat this homemade tangy delight. We have some neat ideas on how to put it to good use – it’s not just for spreading on toast!
Lemon Yoghurt Cake
Topped with a lemon syrup, this cake is ideal served with a good dollop of natural yoghurt.
Lemon Syrup Loaf
Anyone who has made this recipe loves it - it is one of our most popular loaf recipes!
Apricot & Lemon Golden Syrup Dumplings
A lovely modern twist on a classic, the lemon juice cuts through the rich syrup.
Homemade Lemonade
Our recipe makes a concentrate that you can dilute with water or sparkling water for a fizzy version.
Enid’s Marmalade
If you love marmalades, you have to make them now while the fruit is plentiful!
Gluten Free Lemon Shortbread
Rice flour gives this recipe a lovely melt in the mouth texture to this shortbread.
French Lemon Tart
Oh so grown up! Why wait until you go to a restaurant to indulge in this popular dessert?