As the weather warms up, nothing sounds quite so refreshing to me as sweet, tart lemons. Make the slightly sour fruit the center of your meal with these delicious lemon-filled recipes. From zesty cocktails to sugary frosted cakes, here are eight tasty recipes to help you get your lemon fix.
Now that Spring is in full swing, we've got our minds on desserts that are not only sweet and satisfying, but also refreshing. Cooling scoops of homemade raspberry-swirl Greek frozen yogurt and a fast and easy strawberry tart are just two of the 18 must-make recipes we've rounded up. Click through for some sweet inspiration.
Sick of potatoes and pasta? Then it's time to start experimenting with couscous! This incredibly quick-cooking grain (it's done in just five minutes), which can be found in most supermarkets, is native to North Africa and consists of coarsely ground semolina wheat that's typically coated in wheat flour.
Besides being superfast to make, couscous is great because it's like chicken: you can season it virtually however you want. This recipe combines golden couscous with lemon zest, scallions, and arugula for a fresh and delicious side that pairs with everything from garbanzo beans to lamb tagine to roast fish. Ready for the uncomplicated method you'll use over and over again? Then read more.
At his oil demonstration, while squeezing a lemon into a bowl of freshly cut avocado, Fabio Viviani said, "If you're afraid of seeds, I'm sorry." He didn't bother to pick out seeds that had fallen from the lemon into the avocado and pointed out that there's really no harm in consuming the seeds of citrus. Normally I'm nitpicky about getting seeds out of salads and such, but maybe from now on, I'll be more like Fabio. How about you? If a seed drops into a dish, say guacamole, are you careful to pick it out?
There's no better time for lemons to star as the main ingredient in a dessert than now. The sunny citrus is in season, and if you love their bright and refreshing tartness, you've got to try this recipe for lemon ginger cheesecake. It's quite possibly the best cheesecake I've ever made! It's creamy, light, and fluffy with an intense lemon flavor that's accented by bursts of fragrant ginger. There are both crystallized ginger and fresh ginger in the batter, which results in a cheesecake that has a super thick texture. This cake is a stunning finish to a dinner party, so get the recipe now.
You've stood on your head. You've held your breathe and chugged a glass of water. You've even tried hopping up and down with your head tilted to one side. Or maybe a quick jolt of fear is enough to scare them out of you. Whatever it is, people seem to have their surefire remedy for the occasional case of the annoying hiccups. Some swear by a spoonful of sugar, a swallow of vinegar, or a loaded ladle of peanut butter. My go-to is a slice of lemon or a spoonful of lemon juice. It's a trick my dad taught me in childhood, and it works wonders for my babes and yours truly. It actually tastes kind of good and it's low-calorie and fat free unlike the sugary and nutty options.
The next time you're sounding a bit like a drunk mouse, give my citrus trick a go and let us know how it works out for you!
For a lighter take on the classic meat and potatoes pairing, get rid of the beef and select a leaner protein like tilapia. The meal is just as hearty, but more fit-friendly. Since the potatoes require more time to cook than the fish, roast them first and add the fish later. This technique could also be used for boneless skinless chicken breasts. Serve with a chilled full-bodied white or a nice, light red. Make it for your family this weekend! Here's the recipe.
I enjoy a lot of sparkling water "cocktails" and often offer them to guests. To make one, I fill a large glass, like a wine goblet, with ice. Then, I pour in the water and garnish with a wedge of citrus. Since I always have both fresh limes and lemons on hand, I ask whomever I'm making the drink for which they prefer. I always pick lemons, but know some people like limes. Where do you stand?
When planning an outdoor party, like a picnic at the park, a barbecue at the lake, or a bonfire at the beach, it's important to get as much prep work done in advance as possible. For the drinks, start by filling several coolers with ice, beer, sodas, water, and white wine. Pack a basket with a versatile plastic glass, a bag for recyclables, and a couple of bottle openers. Then, take the time to make one special drink, preferably a punch or cocktail recipe that serves a crowd.
One I highly recommend is this peach rum punch. It's a potent but delicious mixture of simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, amber rum, cognac, and peach brandy. Since it's Summer and peaches are in season, I would slice a bunch of fresh peaches and float them in the punch. Place the liquid and fruit mixture in a sealable container and pack, standing upright, in one of the coolers. Learn how the party-ready punch is made now.
While I love martinis and martini-style cocktails, I'm not always a fan of martini glasses. Especially at a party where there will be a lot of excited and giggly females. They are just too easy to spill! Also, does anyone really own 10 martini glasses?
Thus, for a Sex and the City party, I'm recommending this simple concoction as the signature cocktail. It's an interesting mixture of grape-flavored vodka, 7Up, lemon juice, and red wine.
The recipe can easily be batched, so fill a pitcher with the cocktail and let the girls get their own glasses. Just be sure to tell them the red wine is floated on top. I would also stock up on your favorite bubbles as some people will prefer to celebrate with sparkling wine. To get the drink recipe, read more
