It’s the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night before retiring. A mug of warm filtered lemon water. From Drs Mercola and Weil to http://www.greenmedinfo.com there is universal agreement that drinking lemon water, and consuming citrus fruit in general, is one of the best moves you can make for your body. High levels of antioxidant and vitamin C help to detoxify your liver, and it’s the fastest way to alkalize your body and reduce inflammation. Here is a great article from Dr. Axe on the benefits of drinking lemon water https://draxe.com/benefits-of-lemon-water/

The other plus to having copious amounts of these colorful gems around is that they add a zing of freshness to so many dishes. A wide variety of appetizers, entrees and dessert dishes can benefit greatly from a fresh squeeze of this liquid gold. When my hero Martha Stewart was released from prison (ok, that is a really odd sentence!) she was asked in an interview what she missed most about her life…and she answered in the most matter of fact way, as if it should be completely obvious to anyone…….”cappuccino and lemons”!

So let’s take a quick look at their versatility;  How do I love thee lemons?……let me count the ways.

A squeeze of lemon on papaya and melon

on fresh fish, chicken and shellfish

poultry dishes

pasta dishes

desserts; cakes, cookies, puddings, ice cream, sorbet, gelato

baked goods

salads and salad dressings

grilled foods

salsas and condiments

bloody Mary’s and margaritas

in smoothies and fresh pressed juice

preserved and pickled

One last lemony tip…they are a beautiful and inexpensive way to add color and freshness to your spring and summer tablecapes. A simple bowl of citrus fruit can add a touch of class to almost any decorating scheme.

So get out there and squeeze the day!!