I love lemons!! The smell, the fun, vibrant color, and most of all, the tart POP of flavor lemons add! Lemons just scream happy to me! They remind me of childhood. As children, my cousins and I would eat raw lemons by the handful, while making homemade lemonade for our summer stand! My family is in the citrus farming business, so boxes and boxes of lemons were the norm. We took full advantage!
Fast forward 30 years and I’m still a lover of lemons! Nothing brightens a dish more!
I’ve rounded up my top FIVE ways to use the bright, fresh fruit!
When life gives you lemons…. make lemonade! This is one of my favorite drinks to enjoy on a sunny Sunday afternoon. This recipe has just 3 ingredients, and leaves no part of the lemon to waste! I love the zesty flavor combined with refreshing mint springs. If you follow a Paleo lifestyle, simply substitute the maple syrup for the sugar! If you find its too tart for your taste buds, add the juice of an orange to cut the tart flavor.
2. Martha’s Snapper with Oregano and Lemon
Y’all know I’m a lover of clean eating, and this dish makes it so easy! It only takes TEN minutes, and has earned its place on our weeknight dinner rotation! I usually garnish with capers and serve with cauliflower rice!
When I watched Giada make this on the Food Network, I knew it would be love at first bite. My hubs and I honeymooned on the Amalfi Coast, and the food there is out of this world!
I try to relish in the memory of the Mediterranean when I make this dish.
Serve the lemon chicken with a romaine salad and a zesty lemon vinaigrette.
**I love Giada’s method of using lemon slices to create a rack for the chicken in this recipe.
I use it all the time for baking chicken breasts and salmon fillets as well!
I love baking dates with my daughter! She’s a lemon lover like her Mama, so when I announced we were making lemon bars today, she jumped at the chance to join me! If you are trying to get your kiddos in the kitchen, give these a try! I promise they will never know they are grain free and naturally sweetened! We like to serve these lemon bars with coconut whipped cream for a decadent treat!
5. Pan-Roasted Asparagus with Garlic & Lemon Zest
There is nothing like fresh asparagus in the spring and summer months! My favorite way to prepare asparagus is to saute’ them with garlic and lemon. This recipe does that and really takes it up a notch!! It calls for an extra step of broiling the asparagus for 2 minutes; post saute’, and it really seals the deal!
source: medicalnewstoday.com
Beyond adding zesty flavor, lemons actually have immense health benefits! Lemons are a rich source of Vitamin C, super hydrating and possess antiviral and antibacterial properties! Lemon juice acts as a digestive and a detoxifying agent and helps in cleaning the liver, leading to better digestive health.
I drink warm water with lemon juice almost every morning to start my day and alkalize my body. It’s a great way to hydrate after a long nights sleep and it does wonders for your energy levels!
The juice of a one lemon + 8 oz of water.
There isn’t a more simple lemon recipe than that!
Enjoy Y’all!
