Lemons on the phone

Lemons! Our two trees are constantly producing, but spring is their bumper time. Of course, I give lots of them away but I get some fun out of finding fresh ideas on how to use them.  The easiest way to do this is with my phone.

It takes seconds to type Lemons recipes into Google.  Instantly I’m offered lots of choices.  Now to decide if I want to be baking, preserving, or creating meals or drinks with my lemons.   I know I need to find recipes that ask for more than ‘the juice of half a lemon’.

I decide to explore Drinks!  Fortunately, winter ills are behind us so we won’t be making Hot Toddies.  I ponder whether to recreate the lemon cordial of my youth, which I remember has citric, and tartaric acid in the recipe.  I loved those words ‘ citric and tartaric acid’ though I recall that rather than being as exotic as they sounded to me, they just looked like white powders.  Should I experiment with the more grown up and alcoholic Limoncello – major ingredient Vodka? Of course, I have enough lemons for gallons of both.

Details of each recipe are revealed by a simple click and are easily read on my phone.  If the recipe is one I want to keep to use again. I use the icon at the bottom of the page. This offers me a range of choices.  I can share it with others via a txt message or email. I can save it as a Reminder or in the Notes on my phone, or, if I want it on paper, I can print it.  My phone is linked via our wi-fi network to our printer so this is always an option, though I am trying not to end up with piles of printed recipes.  I’ve got enough recipe books already.

I find another helpful recipe search is to give Google the various ingredients I have on hand and see what sort of recipes it offers.  Tonight its lemons, pork chops and potatoes.  I find links to several yummy sounding dishes, most with photos though I’ve found that somehow my finished meals never look quite as good.

My phone has certainly broadened my cooking repertoire and given me a lot of fun with trying something new.  Now, off to buy the vodka.  I love that the recipe lists the ingredient as Vodka (cheap).  My lemons will transform it!

By Kaye Lally