The Multitalented Lemon: 6 Reasons to be Glad You Have Lemons in the House

The lovely lemon – nature’s all-in-one cure for what ails you.

Lemons add a zing to every meal, a sparkle to every beverage, and they’ll freshen everything from your head to your toes – and even the kitchen sink.

If you live in the right climate, plant a lemon tree in your back yard and grow your own. If not, buy lemons fresh from the farmer’s market or by the bag when they’re on sale at your grocery. You can use lemons in almost every room in your house.

Here are six reasons to be glad you have lemons in the house.

1. The Lemonade Stand

Adding a half lemon slice to the side of a glass of anything – from ice water to a margarita – makes it look better, taste better, and turns an ordinary beverage into a proper refreshment.

Homemade lemonade is easy to make: Cut lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a pitcher. Toss in the rinds after squeezing. Add sugar, water, and ice. Close tightly and shake. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

To more efficiently dissolve the sugar, make syrup in a saucepan by mixing sugar and water and bringing to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool. Combine syrup with lemon juice, water, and ice, and stir.

Especially for the dieter, a squeeze of lemon juice in a glass of water will make each of those eight required daily glasses of H20 a little more special.

2. Lemons on the Menu

Lemons add a sparkle to any meal. Cut a lemon into eight chunks and stuff a chicken or turkey when roasting, for a refreshing burst of citrus flavor.

Squeeze a lemon onto fish, shrimp, or chicken before grilling or broiling. Add some lemon juice and grated lemon rind to pasta, along with melted butter and Parmesan cheese and you’ve got a quick, easy, and refreshing meal.

Try these recipes that add a dash of lemon to your meal.

Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe

• 8 ounces bow tie pasta
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and cooked
• 10-12 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups spinach leaves
• ½ cup pecans, toasted
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. In 4 salad bowls arrange spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, pasta, shrimp, and pecans. In a jar, combine garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Shake to combine. Drizzle dressing over each salad.

Lemon Muffins Recipe

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
• ¼ cup half and half
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Juice of 1 lemon

For glaze:

• 2/3 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds, and set aside. In another bowl, combine sugar, and melted butter. Add yogurt and half-and-half and stir until no longer lumpy. Add eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice to the butter mixture and stir. Add butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Gently fold to combine, being careful not to over-stir. Mixture may be lumpy. Spoon into lined muffin cups. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. For glaze, whisk together confectioner’s sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Drizzle glaze over slightly cooled muffins.

3. Decorating with Lemons

Lemons make a beautiful centerpiece for a brunch, party or everyday. Place lemons in a glass bowl and add a few fresh flowers or sprigs of mint. HGTV has instructions for an arrangement with lemons on its Web site.

4. Cleaning With Lemons

Cleaning with lemon juice is more natural and environmentally friendly than using chemicals.

After squeezing a lemon and before throwing the rind in the garbage, cut it in half and rub it over your sink, counters, and stove tops – anywhere you need a dash of freshness.

Cut some slivers from the lemon rind and throw them into the garbage disposal to deodorize your sink and keep your kitchen lemony fresh.

5. Lemons for Health

The juice of a lemon contains antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, and beau coup vitamin C.

In the Lemon Detox Diet, lemon juice in hot water is used to cleanse the body of toxins.

Lemon water and lemonade are a natural expectorant for chest congestion. Deliberate Life, a Web site on making things from scratch, recommends making a natural cough medicine by mixing 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 cup honey, and ¼ cup warm water, and taking 1-2 tablespoons as remedy for cough.

6. Lemons for Beauty

Rubbing a cut lemon on skin can diminish age spots, freckles, and dark patches. It also will help to exfoliate dead skin and freshen your complexion.

Keep some fresh lemon juice in a glass container in your bathroom. Dab some on your face in the morning, leave on for 10 minutes, and then rinse off, for a natural lemon juice astringent.

Troubled by rough, dry feet? Mix 1 cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and ¼ cup milk in a basin and fill with warm water. Soak your feet in the basin for 15 minutes, then rinse.

Use lemon juice on your hair for a natural conditioner that will make your hair shine. Mix the juice of one lemon with 1 cup warm water and apply to hair. Wait a few minutes and then rinse.

For a dandruff treatment, mix a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with warm olive oil and rub gently into your scalp. Leave on for 15 minutes and then shampoo and rinse.