Friday Favorite: Pucker Up for Free Lemons
I’m a big fan of all things lemon, always have been. When I was a little girl I ate lemons like other kids ate apples. My taste for the lemon hasn’t changed, I find myself adding lemon zest or lemon juice to anything that will take it. I also love grapefruit, must be something about that tartness that I love. Several years ago, when I started becoming more of a local eater I quit buying as many lemons (which was very sad). Then I discovered the joy of supporting small farms around the country for things I can’t buy locally like olive oil, grapefruit, oranges and of course lemons.
Last year I found the Lemon Ladies Orchard and was thrilled with the box of Meyer Lemons I received. They’re not like regular lemons, they’re sweeter, since they’re a cross between a lemon and a mandarine orange. The Lemon Ladies orchard was started in 2004 by Karen. She decided to name each tree after a lady who had inspired her and helped her achieve her dreams. She grows her trees with organic fertilizer, lots of sunshine and fresh water and they flourish under her care.
I received my box of lemons in the mail last Thursday and have been enjoying sliced lemon in my tea every day. Tonight I plan on making berry cobbler with lemon juice and lemon zest. I’ll make another batch of preserved lemons for sure and meyer lemon marmalade to keep the flavor of these all year long. I might even make a lemon cake with lemon icing, if I do I’ll share with a friend of mine who also has a love for all things lemon.
Earlier this week, Karen, contacted me to thank me for mentioning The Lemon Ladies on my blog and she offered to give a Meyer Gift Bag to one of my lucky readers as a Valentine’s Day Giveaway. So PUCKER UP and comment below, you could win a dozen lovely freshly picked Meyer Lemons from a small orchard in California.
What’s your favorite kind of fruit?
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177 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Pucker Up for Free Lemons”
About
This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.
Whatever is in season! But a South Carolina peach in July can’t be beat!
to brandi's comment
I think anything citrus, but lemons and grapefruit come first! There is so much you can do with them. I will have to look into their site – this is the perfect time to order up some sunshine!
to Susan's comment
Funny, I *just* placed an order for some Rio Red grapefruit from a small organic farm in Texas, but a gril can always use Meyers! Like you, though I eat mostly locally, I love to support small sustainable farms for things that don’t grow here in the frigid Northeast.
to kaela's comment
I was just informed by my Dr. yesterday…no more caffeine…including chocolate.
Once I stopped hyperventilating I firmly decided that all things lemon would become my new comfort food – a good lemon meringue pie is just about the closest thing to culinary heaven I know.
to Mija's comment
I do love lemons! Can’t drink tea without lemon. But then there’s grapefruit– I actually have a little song I sing when I eat one. And raspberries! Too hard to choose I think.
to Corrie's comment
i’ve always been a strawberry fan, though blueberries are quickly jumping up the list…
to kirsten's comment
I love all things citrus but my favorite fruit are Mulberries. They don’t travel well, but my happiest memories are stuffing myself under a loaded tree!
to Gabi's comment
Oh goodness that would be so lovely! I just discovered meyer lemons this year and am completely in love.
to Ashley W's comment
I live just south of you in Ohio. We could use a little lemon in our days here. Lemon = Sunshine !!! For our Superbowl dessert I am making chocolate cupcakes with Raspberry buttercream icing. The cupcakes have lemon curd on the inside. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
to Megan's comment
These lemons sound wonderful – and the Lemon Ladies site is terrific!
to Kim's comment
I love cantaloupe! The taste can vary so much . . . from bland to sweet sweet sweet! But lemons, ahhhhh, who can resist a vanilla cake with sweet lemon buttercream frosting! Mmmmm!
to Stone Soup's comment
Apples always top my list, especially (and almost exclusively) McIntosh. They just smell so nice and have a tangy flesh that is so refreshing after a day of fall activities. They are also usually smaller than other varieties and are the perfect portion. I checked out the Lemon Ladies site when I read about it in your blog and have been dreaming of pies, custards and wonderful pastries flavored with zest ever since. I never use the zest of the lemons available up here in Canada because they are waxed and covered with pesticides. My taste buds are a tingling!
to Marcia's comment
I love many kinds of fresh fruit, and blends of fruit in smoothies, but I think raspberries are probably my favorite overall!
The lemon trees on the Lemon Ladies website look so neat! Wish I could grow them here in Virginia! :)
to Renee's comment
ONE favorite kind of fruit? Impossible! Fresh raspberries and blueberries are near the top of the list, and lemons and limes are a close second! These lemons sound like such a treat, as I look out my window at the two feet of snow on the ground!
to Mary's comment
I love most fruits. Currently, my favorite is mango. I have fallen in love with mango pie. That changes though, as I tend to get on a kick for a while and then switch to something else. My all-time fave, the one I keep going back to, is the humble pear. You can just do so much with it. Lemon, blackberry, red raspberry, oranges, oh I love them all!
to Grace's comment
I love blueberries and oranges!
to Sarah H's comment
Ohhhh, those meyer lemons look heavenly and all the things you plan to create with them just make my mouth water. Mmmmm, as for a favorite fruit ~ this is difficult but I think I’m going to go with ruby red grapefruits.
to The Turnbulls's comment
The Meyer Lemon is the best (and my favorite) by far! If you’ve never tried one, definitely do! Even try them in a soda in place of your usual lemon or lime, you’ll never want to go back!
It’s so wonderful to see the beauty of them during this cold season :)
I had seen the earlier post on the lemons and olives and referred a friend to the post…she commented that she usually liked to read blogs/posts that are local (Texas), but REALLY enjoyed the site (she in turn, sent her sister the link :). Little did she know that we would soon be competing with the northern states for cold and snow records!!!
to Jaye Whitney's comment
My most favorite fruits are lemons and limes. My dear friend and I used to share a lemon after school nearly everyday. I would eat my half w/ salt and she would coat hers in sugar. Years later, after she moved a few states away, we decided to get matching lemon tattoos so that those memories are fresh and close at all times. No joke! To make the memory even better we got them right smack on our “cheek.”
I’ve grown a little lime tree in a pot for the last few years, but am not sure that I will be able to produce any fruit here in OK. I’m planning to add a lemon tree this year. The idea is to lovely to not give it a shot!
to Kendi's comment
I love ruby red grapefruit. I love eating it in the middle of winter – it reminds me of warm sunny days growing up in Florida.
to Kara's comment
Cantaloupe ~ in season, there is nothing better. Lemons take a close 2nd though. ;)
to L's comment
I love grapfruit and oranges but lemons, I can’t stand the taste alone, but i always have lemons around in the winter for my sore throat remedy. 1 cup water, Juice of a whole lemon, and sugar to taste ( or honey personal fav.) Really helps my throat and just tastes so yummy!
to Shannon Ball's comment
I live in the PNW and the blackberries we get here are absolutely to die for! I usually make a cobler with them and lots of lemon zest on the top – pair with a mojito and there’s nothing like it :).
to Jacqui's comment
Ohio blueberries and honeycrisp apples!
to Jennifer's comment
I love blueberries, strawberries, cherries and anything citrus! To be honest, I just love fruit :-) What a lovely giveaway!
to Melanie G's comment
I fell in love with Meyer Lemons last year after my first order wtih LemonLadies. I kept seeing them mentioned in various cookbooks and websites, and decided to give them a try. Last year, I made and froze a few batches of Meyer Lemon curd, did lots of fresh lemons in sparkling water, preserved Meyer Lemons, and a great Meyer Lemon pudding cake. I also froze some juice for viniagrette recipes. So far, this year I have tried my hand at making Limoncello, Meyer Lemon Marmalade, and Meyer Lemon curd.
Meyer Lemons are one of the reasons to be wildly jealous of all of you west coast residents… The shipping fees are sky high, but ulitimately, worth it for this great seasonal indulgence.
EileenB
to EileenB's comment
It has to be the pomegranate. The season is so quick but sooo sweet. The color and texture are absolutely beautiful, the taste is perfect – sweet and tart blended together. Just the act of eating one over my sink releases any stress I carry during the holiday season. I reminds me of life simple pleasures. Then just like Christmas – they are gone.
to Jill Sonka's comment
My brother grows absolutely wonderful peaches. I love my homegrown blueberries. My sister says I’m twisted because I like grapefruit. I’ve been eating different varieties of apples this winter. I agree with others who say there is something memorable about anything lemon flavored.
The colloquialism around here when something tastes REALLY good is to say that it will make a bulldog climb a marble wall (or it will make a fice dog break a log chain). A blueberry tart flavored with a little lemon will make a fice dog break a log chain!
to bonnie's comment
…Ooo, I love lemons! I love all sorts of fruit but lemons and grapes have to be at the top of the list for me. Please put me in – what a lovely giveaway and thank you!
…Enjoy! :o)
…Blessings… :o)
to tj's comment
Your question is a tough one…I, too, love lemons and can never really find good ones in the stores. And grapefruit….oh and strawberries and grapes.
Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
to Lynn's comment
I love perfectly ripe kiwis ; they are just the right serving size for me. And now that I have discovered the best way to peel them (with a spoon!) eating kiwis has become a nice little ritual from start to finish.
to Eli's comment
That’s a toughie! Pears, peaches, and kiwis are pretty high up on the list, but when push comes to shove I think cherries top it. A bowl of ripe, juicy cherries is just mesmerizing!
to Sarah's comment
Anything I can put in a pie. :)
Seriously, if I had to pick one it would be Colorado peaches.
to Kris's comment
I have been craving lemon pound cake, or these little lemon madeleines available from a favorite restaurant of mine.
Funny thing is I rarely bake with lemons, almost all of my recipes for lemon are savory.
I love almost all fruit. It would be very hard to choose a favorite. Berries maybe. Blackberries or strawberries. I love watermelon and a good flavored cantaloupe (some are so blah) I have never had a fresh honeydew (green) melon and find the ones served in restaurants blah. When I was pregnant with my oldest, 30 years ago I craved watermelon. I could have lived on it. By the time she was born in December I was paying a pretty penny for imported ripe melons.
There is _nothing_ better than the taste of a sun warmed fresh peach right off of the tree. FIGS! OMG … I almost forgot figs. I love love love figs. I have 4 fig trees planted, none of them taller than my hip, in hopes of an excess of figs one of these days. I can’t imagine having more than I would want to eat fresh. I love banana bread, banana pudding and banana smoothies. I made some of the best sagged pear butter last summer. mmmmm….
We have started a mini orchard with apples, pears, peaches, figs, loquat, cherry, and plum trees along with blueberry bushes, blackberry and raspberry vines and two beds of strawberries. I have one lemon tree that has to be brought inside for the winter (It is about 2 feet tall). And none of these trees have started producing yet.
(We have had a week of below freezing temps. I’m praying they have lived)
Ok. YES. I could be a fruititarian.
I would love to have the gift bag! Yum.
to Seren Dippity's comment
Any kind of fruit, whether strawberries, raspberries, apples, stone fruits, blue berries or citrus; I love them all. Almost better than a cookie for dessert!
to Nancy's comment
That is such a hard questions b/c I am totally in love will fruit in general! But honestly I LOVE a good ole sweet naval orange! When I was little, my grandpa had a beautiful orange tree and we used to pluck a bunch down and slice them into wedges and just eat until we couldn’t stand it anymore!
to foodies at home's comment
You want me to name one fruit? Impossible when there are so many to love. I guess what ever is currently in season at any given time is my favorite. I eat mostly local and winter is tough in the northeast. Mostly storage apples right now. They are really good though.
to Sheila Z's comment
I can see these lemons sparkling in jars of marmalade. Or the lemon/pineapple jam I tried last summer. YUM> DEE
to Diana Smith's comment
I love love love a ripe, sweet, juicy orange. And ripe strawberries dipped in sour cream and brown sugar is one of life’s most delicious pleasures.
to Kirsten's comment
We enjoy all kinds of berries but the favorite is probably raspberries. We are big fruit eaters in general and tend to enjoy anything that is in season at the time. Right now we are using up the last of our fresh, frozen lemon juice that we squeezed from some Arizona lemons we got last month. We use them for canning, tea, and lots of winter time lemonade. Yum!!
to Michelle's comment
I tend to go for fruit that is in season and local. Right now I am really enjoying grapefruits!
to Alyssa's comment
Yum! I looked at their website last week. I’ve never had a meyer lemon.
to Andrea's comment
I’m with Brandi; my favorite fruit would be peaches in the summer! I’ve never had a Meyer Lemon either; I think ordering some is a great idea.
to Jennifer R's comment
You mean I have to pick just one? strawberryblueberrypeach
However, my sister was in California awhile back and picked some off the tree. She said they don’t even begin to compare to what we can buy in the store here in Oregon. So I would love to try some!
to KimP's comment
It is hard to pick a favorite. Blueberries, peaches, hmmmm. Apples, mangoes, hmmmm. Hard to say.
to Phillip's comment
That’s a really tough call, I guess I would have to go with apples. I love that there are so many varieties. They grow well in our area so the prices are low and they are so useful. My kids love them too.
to Andrea's comment
I’ve been snowed in all week here in southern Missouri and dreaming of warmer weather. Those gorgeous Meyer lemons remind me of the beautiful sunshine I’ve been craving! I’ve never tasted a Meyer lemon and suddenly feel as if I’m missing out on something wonderful!!
We are moving to a little four and a half acre farm in June, so I have been trying to learn everything I can about organic farming before we move. I have read every page of your gorgeous blog this week! So happy I found you!! :o)
to Kelly's comment
Grapefruit is my first choice, but lemons, raspberries, and blackberries are close behind!
to Wendy's comment
oooh, thank you so much for the link!! I went ahead and sent a gift bag to my mom, who is suffering from some serious winter blues up in Indiana. I know this will cheer her up. If I win I will send it to another relative in the Midwest who needs cheering. :)
My favorite fruit…you know, I haven’t met a fruit I didn’t like, but I think I would have to say that the fruit I love to eat the most in any form is apple. It does not send me into foodgasm like a ripe peach, but there is something so wholesome and good about apples and they are just so magical when baked.
to melissa's comment
This is really unique I love reading your blog. Earlier this week I decided to start a blog of my own. Of course, your in my blogroll and I will probably send readers your way every so often (if anyone actually reads it.) Thanks for the opportunity.
Happy Gardening
to Grant's comment