Pucker up…   Lemons are good for you!  There are many uses for this delightfully yellow fruit.  The lemons in my back yard are just beginning to ripen—I can’t stand it; I’m so excited!

What are some of the benefits of this sunshine fruit? 

Lemons are packed with vitamin C; they’ve been said to enhance your beauty by rejuvenating skin from within and bringing a glow to your face—I’m not sure about that, but it’s worth a try! 

Some say that lemons help to flush toxins from the body, and lemons are purported to help with gallstones and kidney stones. They are also known for breaking fevers and curbing the common cold, improving the immune system and fighting infections.

Well, all I know for sure is that the lemons are in season here in the desert, and I couldn’t be more excited!  A little lemon in my water, tea, smoothies, even cookies!  (Yes, I said cookies!)  I have a fabo cookie recipe for you using some lemon zest (num). 

Check out cookie recipe below!

Lemon Zest Cookies!

3/4 cup butter
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 and 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp finely grated lemon zest  

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar. Add large egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Add lemon zest. Stir until soft dough forms.

Divide dough in half. Chill for a few hours. Preheat oven to 350. Roll dough and cut cookies or form a ball and press with the bottom of a cup dipped in sugar.   

Bake for 8-10 minutes.    

Lemon Tips:

Choose smooth-skinned lemons that feel heavy for their size.
 
Store lemons in the refrigerator. 

One medium lemon equals approximately one tablespoon of lemon zest and two tablespoons of lemon juice. 

Before juicing, use your palm to roll the lemon on the counter top a few times to help extract the juice.

If you will be using both the lemon zest and juice, remove the zest first before cutting and juicing the lemon.

When zesting a lemon, make sure to remove only the thin bright yellow part of the skin as the white pith underneath tastes bitter.

Lemon juice sprinkled over avocados, apples, etc. helps prevent discoloration.