The Many Uses of the Humble Lemon

Lemons are often overlooked other than an accompaniment for G & T or lemonade.....well not in this household!

Here are just a few uses and recipes using the Lemon:

RECIPE

**Lemon Cheesecake**

First you make the pastry;

• 4oz Plain Flour
• Pinch Salt
• 2.5oz Butter
• 1.5oz Castor Sugar
• 2 Small Egg Yolks
• Grated Rind of Half Lemon

Put flour and salt in a bowl and hollow in the centre.

Stir in softened butter, sugar, yolks and lemon rind.

Using a palette knife, mix to a firm paste.

Wrap in cling film and leave for 30 mins in a cool place.

HEAT OVEN - Gas 6 - 400F

Line 7" tin with pastry, prick well and bake for 20 mins until golden brown.

Now for the filling;

• 1.5oz Butter
• 1.5oz Castor Sugar
• 2 Small Eggs
• 7oz Curd Cheese
• Grated Rind of Half Lemon
• 2oz Seedless Raisins
• Icing Sugar

Cream butter and sugar together.

Beat in egg yolks, sieved cheese and flavourings.

Whisk egg whites to a soft peak and fold into mixture.

Spread into prepared pastry case and bake for 30 - 35 mins Gas 4 - 350F until firm.

Leave in tin to cool and dust with icing sugar.

!!QUICK TIP!!

If you have limescale on your taps, cut a lemon in half and tie each half to a tap overnight - by the morning the limescale should be gone!

RECIPE

**Lemon & Orange Sorbet**

• 2 Teaspoons Gelatin
• Half pint water
• 6oz Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon each Lemon and Orange Rind (Grated)
• Juice of 1 Lemon and 1 Orange, made up to half pint with carton orange/lemon if needed
• 2 Egg Whites

Soak gelatin in a little of the water and boil the rest with sugar for 10 mins to make a syrup.

Stir gelatin mix into syrup and leave to cool.

Add rinds and juices.

Beat egg whites stiff but not dry and fold into mixture.

Freeze to a mush, beat once, then freeze allowing 3 hours total freezing time.

This will not go completely hard.

Serve straight from the freezer.

!!QUICK TIP!!

When handing raw fish or garlic have half lemon near, when you have finished just rub the lemon over yours hands then wash as usual. This gets rid of nasty odours!

Recipe

**Lemon Chicken**

• 8 Chicken pieces -Drumsticks and Thighs are good
• Tablespoon Soy sauce
• Juice and Rind of 2 Lemons
• 2 Tablespoons Runny Honey or Golden Syrup
• Salt and Pepper

Put the chicken into ovenproof dish so that they have space between the pieces.

Mix well rest of ingredients together

Brush the chicken all over with mixture and put rest if any left in the dish.

Marinade for at least 30 mins and cook on Bar-b-Que or oven cook for an hour or until cooked through (check with skewer).

!!QUICK TIP!!

If you are a smoker rub lemon juice on to the nicotine and it will disappear!

These are just a few things that a lemon will do and I still haven't found a great recipe for lemonade, so if you have one please let me know!

Thank you.