* When you need fresh lemon juice, make sure and roll the lemon on a hard surface first. It makes juicing it 10x easier!
* When you squeeze the lemon, squeeze it cut side UP. That way the seeds and pulp stay in the lemon and do not get into whatever you are cooking!
*Don't throw it away yet! Take that squeezed lemon, cut it into quarters, add some water to cover it in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 3 minutes. The steam mixed with the lemon make the crud in he microwave SUPER easy to clean off! When it is finished, carefully remove it, and wipe down the microwave with a wet wash cloth......no cleaning fumes!!!!!
*One more thing! Now take the whole thing and dump it down the garbage disposal. It will freshen it up!
Now that I got you all excited about lemons, how about a recipe???? Here is one of our FAVORITE easy recipes as a great side dish for dinner. This was found in a Rachael Ray magazine a few months back (November, I believe).
Cucumber Salsa (My notes in itallics)
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped (*fresh!!!! It's a must!)
2 Tbs. chopped flat-leaf parsely (*tonight I used dry and it was just as great!)
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
-Mix all together and either serve immediately or refrigerate.
*Yummy! ENJOY!
Another recipe with lemons (searching for my favorite lemonaid recipe at the moment....till then CAKE!)
ReplyDeleteLemon Poppy Seed Cake
Cake:
1 package lemon cake mix with pudding in the mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons poppy seed
Lemon glaze:
1 cup powered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoos lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel (grated lemon peel, if desired)
1. Heat oven to 350. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening; lightly flour.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, ater, oil, and eggs with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir poppy seed into batter. Pour into pan.
3. Bake 38-43 minutes or until toothpickinserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn upside down onto wire rack or heaproof serving plate; remove pan. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
4. In small bowl, stir powered sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and the lemon peel until blended. Stir in additional lemon juice,1tesapoon at a time, until smooth and consistency of thick syrup. Spread glaze ver top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Garnish with lemon peel. Store loosely covered at room temperature.
I'm going to use your salsa recipe. Sounds good and very few calories!
ReplyDeleteI had heard about cleaning your microwave that way before but totally forgot it. Thanks for the reminder. I'm having fun reading your blog!
ReplyDelete