Well, we’ve all heard the phrase, “When life gives you lemons”, but lemons are good for more than just making lemonade. And while I’ve actually never taken the time to make lemonade the old-fashioned way, I sure do love a good lemon shakeup at the Annual County Fair. Here are a few suggestions on other uses for lemons around the house:
As a Freshener:
- Place some lemon peels in the fire of your fireplace for a refreshing smell throughout your house.
- A bowl of lemons in the any room of your house adds not only an inexpensive decoration, but a livening smell as well.
- To remove the odors coming from onions, garlic, fish and bleach that are on your hands and cutting boards, rub with a slice of lemon.
- Grind lemon peels into your garbage disposal to freshen it up.
As a Cleaner:
- Clean grease and oil from your hands by rubbing with a slice of lemon.
- Clean your oxidized copper with a paste of lemon juice and salt. Rub on the exposed areas. Rinse with water and dry.
- Soak your dull-looking glass in a mixture of lemon juice and water or rub sliced lemons onto the glass surface to renew the sparkle. Rinse with water and dry.
And if you decide to actually make lemonade, try this recipe from Sunkist®:
Sunkist® Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup freshly squeezed Sunkist® lemon juice
- 4 Cups water
- ¾ Cup sugar
- 1 Sunkist® lemon, cut into cartwheel slices
- Extra sugar to taste (optional)
- Ice cubes
Directions:
- Combine Sunkist® lemon juice and ¾ cup sugar in large pitcher and stir to dissolve sugar.
- Add water and blend well.
- Sweeten to taste by adding extra sugar if desired.
- Pour over ice into a tall glass and garnish with a lemon cartwheel slice
Makes 4 (12 oz.) glasses
Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups of pureed strawberries, raspberries or blueberries for a refreshing twist on this traditional recipe.
