Frieda’s Meyer Lemon Lemonade

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meyer lemonade

When life gives you lemons, hopefully  they will be Meyer Lemons. This variety of the citrus fruit has a soft, thin golden-yellow rinds and is sweeter, milder and less-acidic than regular lemon with a light herbal notes.

Did you know that a Meyer Lemon actually a hybrid? Believed to be a cross between a lemon and orange, F.N. Meyer first imported this hearty citrus the USA from China in 1908.

I have been so inspired by this delicious fruit, that I plan on planting a few of Meyer Lemon Trees in my backyard this spring.

Even though it is winter, enjoy a healthy dose of Vitamin C, form a nice tall glass of Meyer Lemon Lemonade.


From
Freida’s Specialty Produce, Inc.

Ingredients:
For the Simple Syrup:
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
2/3 cup water
1 cup mint or basil leaves or 1/4 cup fresh ginger slices (optional)

1 cup freshly squeezed Frieda’s Meyer lemon juice
3 to 4 cups cold water
Slices of Frieda’s Meyer lemon or Pink lemon, for garnish

Directions:
Make a simple syrup: In small saucepan, bring sugar and 2/3 cup of water to boil and simmer until sugar is fully dissolved. For herb-infused syrup, add your choice of herb( i.e. mint, basil or even a spice such as ginger) before boiling. Strain herbs from syrup, if used, and allow to cool.

Combine syrup with Meyer lemon juice and cold water in large pitcher and stir until well mixed. Serve over ice with garnish lemons if desired.

Hello, January 2019!

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Grocery shopping is already a pretty time consuming task, but not knowing what to buy when you get there can be overwhelming and pricey during this time of year.

Just know that purchasing seasonal foods is a healthy and cost effective way to approach food shopping, because when you are buying season, the prices at the markets will at the lowest. Also note that supermarkets and grocery stores will also tend to stock up on these items in bulk because they are plentiful, making them less expensive for you—especially when they go on sale.

And remember, you can enjoy the taste of any fruit and vegetable the year-round. Whether is it fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juiced—-it all counts!

So at the beginning of each month, we will feature a fruit or vegetable that is season with a few recipes that may spark your interest and please your palate. We just want to help make shopping for seasonal foods a little easier in making your grocery list for the weekly trip to the store, a s well a helping out your wallet!

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables for January:

 

Apples
Beets
Belgian Endive
Brussels Sprouts
Buttercup Squash
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chicory		 Clementines
Dates
Delicata Squash
Grapefruit
Jerusalem Artichokes
Kale
Kiwifruit
Leeks
Lemons
Oranges		 Mandarin Oranges
Parsnips
Passion Fruit
Pears
Persimmons
Pineapples
Pomegranates
Potatoes
Red Currants
Rhubarb		 Satsumas
Spinach
Sweet Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Tangelos
Tangerines
Turnips
Winter Squash

 

Refreshing Summer Drinks

Basil is a nice addition to plenty of easy cocktails: add a torn leaf or two to your gin and tonic, or tap a little into the bottom of a mojito. But these drinks are a change of pace from the classic and the ordinary that feature the fresh green flavor of this herb, and are just right for summer sipping.

Honey-Basil Lemonade

Honey-Basil Lemonade Recipe

Photo Credit: Dave Katz, Serious Eats, 2011

 

This simple lemonade combines fresh basil with a touch of honey.

Makes 1 Quart, Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh juice from 10 to 12 lemons
1/2 cup honey
2 cups loosely packed basil leaves
Pinch salt
3 cups cold water
1 quart ice
Basil leaves for garnish

Directions:
Combine lemon juice, honey, basil leaves, and salt in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher. Discard solids. Add cold water and whisk to combine. Add ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses garnished with basil leaves.

Cucumber and Basil Slush Cocktail

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(Photo Credit : Kelly Carámbula, Serious Eats, 2012)

As temperatures and humidity rise, having some frozen drinks in your arsenal becomes more and more essential. This one offers double-cooling action with loads of ice and a soothing cucumber in the mix, plus fresh lime and basil. Vodka’s an easy partner that won’t dominate the flavor—try Karlsson’s Gold, which has a slightly floral side and rich texture—but if you prefer another spirit, feel free to experiment.

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients:
1 kirby cucumber, sliced
2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup basil leaves
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup water
3 1/2 cups ice
Garnish: cucumber slice

Directions:
Place all the ingredients in the blender. Using the ice crush setting, blend until all the ingredients are even and finely chopped, about 30 seconds.

Pour the slush into a glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice and a straw.