[The Meyer lemon, actually a cross between a lemon and possibly an orange or a mandarin, was named for Frank N. Meyer who first discovered it in 1908.] "This is the kind of Lemon Tree I have in my back yard."
- A bowl of fresh lemons will add fragrance and color to a room for days.
- Add a slice or two of fresh lemon to a glass of water. It has visual appeal and makes the water taste and smell better.
- If you are reducing your sodium or fat intake, try squeezing a wedge of fresh lemon on salads, steamed vegetables, soups and stews. You'll never miss the salt or butter!
- Roll a room temperature lemon on the counter a few times to maximize the amount of juice.
- Add the grated zest of fresh lemon to recipes for added intensity in cakes and cookies.
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree (Citrus × limon, often given as C. limon) native to Asia and the tree's oval yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and nonculinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used, mainly in cooking and baking. Lemon juice is about 5% to 6% (approximately 0.3 Molar) citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste, and a pH of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice an inexpensive, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments. Many lemon-flavored drinks and candies are available, including lemonade and lemonheads.
Culinary Uses Lemon juice, rind, and zest are used in a wide variety of culinary applications:
- Lemon juice is used to make lemonade, in soft drinks, and as a marinade for both fish, where its acid neutralizes amines in fish by converting them into nonvolatile ammonium salts, and meat, where the acid partially hydrolyzes tough collagen fibers tenderizing the meat.
- Lemon juice is also used as a short-term preservative on certain foods that tend to oxidize and turn brown after being sliced, such as apples, bananas and avocados, where its acid denatures the enzymes which cause browning and degradation. Lemon juice and rind are used to make marmalade and lemon liqueur.
- Lemon zest, the grated rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice and other dishes.
- Pickled lemons are a Moroccan delicacy.
Non-culinary uses
- Citric acid - Lemons were the primary commercial source of this substance prior to the development of fermentation-based processes.
- Lemon battery - A popular science experiment in schools involves attaching electrodes to a lemon and using it as a battery to produce electricity. Although very low power, several lemons used in this way can power a small digital watch.[11] These experiments also work with other fruits and vegetables.
- Sanitary kitchen deodorizer - deodorize, remove grease, bleach stains, and disinfect; when mixed with baking soda, lemon juice can remove stains from plastic food storage containers.[12]
- Insecticide - The d-limonene in lemon oil is used as a non-toxic insecticide treatment. See orange oil.
- Antibacterial uses because it has a low pH
- Wood treatment - lemon oil is used in both wood cleaner and polish, where the solvent property of d-limonene is employed to disolved old wax, fingerprints, and grime.
- A halved lemon is used as a finger moistener for those counting large amounts of bills such as tellers and cashiers.
- Aromatherapy - In one of the most comprehensive scientific investigations done yet, researchers at The Ohio State University reveal that lemon oil aroma does not influence the human immune system but may enhance mood.[13]
- A halved lemon dipped in salt or baking powder can be used to brighten copper cookware. The acid cuts through the tarnish and the abrasives assist the cleaning.
- Lemon juice may also be used to lighten hair color.
Lemon juice is valued in the home as a stain remover, and a slice of lemon dipped in salt can be used to clean copper-bottomed cooking pots. Lemon juice has been used for bleaching freckles and is incorporated into some facial cleansing creams.
Lemon peel oil is much used in furniture polishes, detergents, soaps and shampoos. It is important in perfume blending and especially in colognes.
Petitgrain oil (up to 50% citral), is distilled from the leaves, twigs and immature fruits of the lemon tree in West Africa, North Africa and Italy. With terpenes removed, it is greatly prized in colognes and floral perfumes.
Lemon peel, dehydrated, is marketed as cattlefeed.
Lemonade, when applied to potted plants, has been found to keep their flowers fresh longer than normal. But it cannot be used on chrysanthemums without turning their leaves brown.
Wood: The wood is fine-grained, compact, and easy to work. In Mexico, it is carved into chessmen, toys, small spoons, and other articles.
Medicinal Uses: Lemon juice is widely known as a diuretic, antiscorbutic, astringent, and febrifuge. In Italy, the sweetened juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue. Lemon juice in hot water has been widely advocated as a daily laxative and preventive of the common cold, but daily doses have been found to erode the enamel of the teeth. Prolonged use will reduce the teeth to the level of the gums. Lemon juice and honey, or lemon juice with salt or ginger, is taken when needed as a cold remedy. It was the juice of the Mediterranean sweet lemon, not the lime, that was carried aboard British sailing ships of the 18th Century to prevent scurvy, though the sailors became known as "limeys".
Oil expressed from lemon seeds is employed medicinally. The root decoction is taken as a treatment for fever in Cuba; for gonorrhea in West Africa. An infusion of the bark or of the peel of the fruit is given to relieve colic.
I like boiling the lemon leaves and making a light tea with added milk it taste great! Try it and let me know if you like it! with a Lemon Bar! mmm mmm good! Hope you enjoyed your Lemony stay with me!
SOME GREAT SITES TO REVIEW HOUSEHOLD REMEDIES AND TRICKS & TIPS TO DO WITH LEMONS!!!
http://bit.ly/bdDnTP - Extraordinary Uses for Lemons
http://bit.ly/12zPxI - Science Projects Using Lemons
http://bit.ly/cRGaYu - A recipe Using Lemons
http://bit.ly/cRGaYu -A treat Using Lemons
Disclaimer!!! none of these photographs are my personal photographs just used to enhance the content of the blog thank you!
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I ♥ any food with lemons! They are amazing fruits. I like to decorate with them too. They are bright and cheery!
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