tips for lemons . . .

lovely lemons!

I mentioned in a previous blog posting that I wanted to run an irregular feature on kitchen tips; the sort of things I have learned over the past 20 years that don't always get mentioned in cookbooks - such as how you can get more juice from a lemon. 

Well there's a lot more where that came from, so when life gives you lemons, there are so many things you can use them for, and not just in the kitchen.

• Having squeezed the lemon of most of its juice, there is still a lot of use in it. I use leftover bits of lemon to deodorise and clean my microwave. Place the lemon halves in a bowl of warm water. Microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat as necessary and then leave to cool down before wiping the interior. As the water heats up, it creates a lemon-scented steam. Not only does this help to get rid of any strong cooking smells, but the lemon juice also helps to cut through any grease build-ups that may have developed.
• Use lemon juice in water as a mouthwash. Your mouth will feel fresher.
• If you have been chopping fresh garlic, lemon juice helps to remove the smell of garlic on your hands. You can also rub it on the chopping board to remove smells and sterilise it.
• Lemon makes a good cuticle remover and whitens nails too. Add the juice of half a lemon to about 200ml of warm water and soak your fingertips for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a cuticle stick, push back the cuticles, then rub some of the lemon peel over the nail itself.
• Rub on midge or mozzie bites; it helps to reduce the itching.