It’s Time We Made our Own Sunshine!

You can call it “cloud juice,” “wet stuff,” “precipitation,” or “window washer,” I prefer to think of all this rain as liquid sunshine. Hey, we have to make the best of what we’ve got, right? Liquid sunshine is also the name some have given to tea. A nice cup of tea on a day like today in New England, 50 degrees, damp and dreary on May 19^th, could foster the mood of sunshine for a moment or two. But how about picking up a bright bunch of lemons at the market today? Now, doesn’t that remind you of the sun!

Generally, lemons are available in stores all year round, with their peak season usually being winter to early spring. You’ll want to choose lemons that are bright yellow, big, plump and firm that have a fresh aroma. While it is recommended to store lemons in the refrigerator at home, displaying them on the counter as a centerpiece will not only brighten your day, it will also keep them top-of-mind so you won’t forget to use them. Of course, always wash your produce prior to use. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, in addition to many other added benefits, and are really easy to slice up and add to a glass of water or cup tea (hot or cold). 

Zesting lemons is pretty easy with a microplane or grater. Carefully, shave the bright, yellow peel without going too deeply into the white pith. Then use the lemon zest in your beverages, as a garnish, in a salad dressing, in your baking, and you can even freeze it for use at a later time. Adding citrus zest serves to add another level of flavor and freshness to recipes calling for lemon, lime or orange juices. I highly recommend it!