Harvesting Lemons! What now? Recipes and ideas for lemons

If you are one of those lucky Southern Californian's that happens to have a lemon tree on your property then you may be asking yourself, "What am I going to do with all of these lemons?"

Well, I have some ideas for you!
Some of my favorites include Paula Deen's Fresh Squeezed Lemonade recipe.

Joy of Baking's Lemon Curd Recipe is an exceptional addition to a graham cracker crust with a little whipped cream. It's also great with fresh blueberries. Yum and double yum!

PHOTO: From ALifeMoreVibrant

A light lemon vinaigrette goes well on spinach salads with some fresh herbs (basil, thyme, oregano) and a sprinkle of feta cheese, olives, and tomatoes if you have them ready in your garden. Vinaigrettes are easy, can be stored for long period in the fridge and out of the refrigerator if you are canning. Also inexpensive, especially if you grow the lemons yourself.  Cooks.com has an excellent recipe to try out.

Photo: Zulay Kitchen Cast-Iron Orange/Lemon Juice Squeezer

Lemon Pound Cake is great for parties, by yourself, or to share with that special someone. Long ago, neighbors would give food as gifts, a way of sharing and developing companions, and a great way to exchange your garden's plentiful gifts. Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

A few others include:

• Lemon Bars by AllRecipes.com
• Marinade for Chicken by Rachael Ray
• Lemon Meringue Pie by The Food Networks' Alton Brown (I went to culinary school with him :)
• Garnish with lemons: iced tea, water with lemon, addition to seafood (crab cakes, shrimp, fish), drizzle on couscous.
• Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
• Lemon Ricotta Granita

The possibilities are endless, if all else fails and you are just done with the lemons donate them to your local food bank or a family in need. I would love to hear about your favorite lemon recipes and/or uses.

A Lemon Poem by Pablo Neruda

Out of lemon flowers loosed on the moonlight, love's lashed and insatiable

essences, sodden with fragrance, the lemon tree's yellow emerges,

the lemons move down from the tree's planetarium.

Photo: Lemonade Stand Supplies, Lemonade Stand Kit

OMG, this is the cutest stand! My girls have used it for years. We recently had to replace it, and we loved this one so much that we reordered another one! 

Photo: 16oz Lemonade Cups with Lids and Paper Straws

I love these cute cups; they are 16 ounces, perfect for ice and fresh lemonade!

Photo: Alex's Lemonade Stand Electric Citrus Juicer Machine and Squeezer

I bought this a few years back and use it for my backyard oranges and lemons. What an arm saver!

 

Free Gardening Help

Do you have gardening problems that you just cannot solve? No matter how much internet research or book reading you do, nothing works. So, what now? Should you give up on your plant? Well, here is another option for you. Some gardeners throughout California help other gardeners find solutions for their horticulture issues.

Here are a few resourceful links and additional contact information for associations that may be able to help you:

UC Davis Helpline: The Master Gardener helpline is available by phone at (323) 260-3238 or by email at mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu

I recently ran across this website. And boy, it is popping with information and links. They have put together a great link/resource directory for gardeners. Kudos to you, Cyndi! GardenList.com

 

Ketzel Levine, host of NPR's Talking Plants, offers a list of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums throughout the US. This may be an excellent place to network and ask the natives a few questions.

If all else fails, bring in some extra help, maybe just to solve your problem. The California Landscape Contractors Association has some handy tips on what to look for when hiring landscape help.

The Garden Helper offers everything from gardening basics to calendars to problem-solving guides.

Better Homes and Gardens - free gardening plans

Photo: BHG

Gardening for Dummies, the writers of How to Garden for Dummies, make it easy to problem-solve and design your garden.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/home-garden/gardening.html

If our grandparents even knew how much information we have at our fingertips...wow!  

Photo: Growing Your Own Fruit and Veg For Dummies

Photo: Claw Gardening Gloves for Planting

Questions to solve:

1. What are some of the most common gardening problems that Californian gardeners face?

2. How can gardeners find the right gardening expert to help them solve their horticultural issues?

3. What are the most effective ways to prevent garden pests and diseases from damaging plants?

4. How can gardeners use technology to improve their gardening skills and solve problems?

5. What are some of the most innovative ways that California gardeners use to conserve water and protect the environment?

I would love to hear some of the readers' responses to these common gardening questions. Please leave comments below! Happy gardening.

Photo: Garden Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder