What to do with bags of lemons?

[bstandlee]

Our neighbor graciously shared her lemon harvest with us. I've already zested and juiced a bunch (and barely made a dent!) and started a bottle of lemon-infused vodka. What else do I do with them?!

Ideas, recipes, links...please

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by bstandlee

Our neighbor graciously shared her lemon harvest with us. I've already zested and juiced a bunch (and barely made a dent!) and started a bottle of lemon-infused vodka. What else do I do with them?!

Ideas, recipes, links...please

What about those pretty lemon slice christmas ornaments? Ooh, this site has lots of cool uses for dried lemon: http://www.dryit.com/driedlemonslices.html

Lemon curd is delicious. (I like it on the tart side)

Lemonade and then freeze it?

This is how to make lemon oil, for flavoring foods and candies etc. : http://www.ehow.com/how_4842183_lemo...ard-candy.html

I'm totally jealous. I love adding a squeeze of fresh lemon to salads, smoothies, most of my cooking etc. we always have lemons and limes in our fridge. They will last quite a while (2 or 3 weeks) so don't be too hasty if you like to cook with fresh lemon!

[lifeguard]

If you don't have enough things to do with them right now you can squeeze them & freeze the juice for later use. I freeze it in premeasured amounts with some sugar added to make lemonade - just add water.

[katelove]

My mum used to freeze lime juice in ice cube trays and then store the cubes in a bag in the freezer for cooking. She and dad also used to make a big batch of lime marmalade each year.

Would you have a use for preserved lemons? The salted ones used in Morrocan etc cooking? I believe that is pretty easy to make.

[dogmom327]

This won't really make a dent either but I have a small bag and I've been making lemon bars and cutting them up and stuffing inside a chicken prior to roasting.

[cristeen]

Preserved lemons, candied lemon peel, heck - candied lemon slices.

Drying the peel (not the zest, the whole peel) to use for cooking, in mulled wine/cider mix, etc.

[Maluhia]

lemon curd as a Christmas gift

[RiverSky]

Putting lemons and/or lemon peels through your garburetor (kitchen sink disposal) cleans it and puts a beautiful scent into the air.

With about 8-10 lemons (juiced) you can make a gallon of lemonade (with say, a cup of white sugar, depending on your taste preference).

You can put a whole chicken in a crockpot with a few halved lemons stuffed into and make a yummy meal in 6-8 hours.

Hot water and lemon juice cleans counters and other fixtures nicely, with a bit of disinfecting action.

You can brew tea, pour it over ice or put it in a jug in your fridge (iced tea) and serve each glass of iced tea or water with a slice of lemon. (experiment with various ways of cutting it up to look pretty)

Lemon cookies, lemon poppy seed loaf, lemon ice... (recipes on allrecipes.com)

You can donate them to a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

You can offer up a bag on freecycle.

You can make lemonade (as above) and then pour it into popsicle trays and have lemon popsicles in your freezer.

You could make lemon gelato.

[bstandlee]

Great ideas! I feel more inspired now

I think I'll definitely try lemon curd for gifts, and maybe a lemon marmelade or something. I'm doing the Moroccan preserved lemons, and that site on drying lemons looks great too! I like the idea of making lemonade "concentrate" and freezing it. Mmmmmm!

[Rosehip]

I make chicken with a lemon-soy sauce. It's from Bittman's book. In short - brown the chicken parts (I use thighs usually). Remove from pan. Pour off most of the fat. Throw in a bunch of chopped garlic & cook a few minutes until soft. Put the chicken back in and add - soy sauce (2 TB?), lemon zest (1 lemon?), stock (I think it calls for water, I use stock & keep adding as needed), a pinch of cayenne pepper (I use less than called for), a bit of sugar...and I think that's it. I then cover the pan & turn it pretty high - turn & add more stock as needed. When it's done, pull the chicken out, & add the juice from the lemon you've zested. Mix it well & serve it with the chicken. It goes really well with rice. It's a big hit with the whole family, and nice & light.

[choli]

Originally Posted by katelove

My mum used to freeze lime juice in ice cube trays and then store the cubes in a bag in the freezer for cooking. She and dad also used to make a big batch of lime marmalade each year.

Would you have a use for preserved lemons? The salted ones used in Morrocan etc cooking? I believe that is pretty easy to make.

OMG the Morrocan Pickles Lemons are the best. The Wholefoods near me used to have them in the olive section, but don't carry them anymore.

Also you can stick them with cloves for a really nice smelling Christmas decoration.

Juice them, freeze the juice, and freeze the peels as well for cooking, throwing into the bath. Boil peels on the stove to make the house smell nice.

I'm jealous - I'm sure those fresh lemons must be light years better than what you buy in the supermarket.

[Shantimama]

I would juice them and freeze the juice in ice cube trays, then put the cubes in zipoc bags in the freezer. That makes it super easy to make lemon tea early in the morning!

[spring978]

lemon syrup
candied lemon peels dipped in dark chocolate (these are to die for)

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by Shantimama

I would juice them and freeze the juice in ice cube trays, then put the cubes in zipoc bags in the freezer. That makes it super easy to make lemon tea early in the morning!

OOooh I do this and it's fabulous. I don't no why I find it annoying to squeeze lemons on an as need basis since I use a little here and there sometimes several times a day!

I do the same with orange juice and it's fabulous to use in smoothies.

Speaking of smoothies my kids favorite drink in the world is a strawberry lemonaide thing. Not sure what you'd call it, but I use frozen strawberries, lemonaide and blend, it's kind of like an icee.