Brisbane, QLD


Friday, May 20, 2011

LOTS OF LEMONS

My lemon tree has gone berserk and is producing so many lemons that the tree has almost collapsed under the weight of them. The branches are trailing on the ground and overhanging the garden bed. They are big juicy lemons too.

Now the dilemma is what to do with them all. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I keep loading up friends and neighbours with lemons. I have frozen some, juiced some and frozen it. I could  make yummy Lemon Meringue Pie and Lemon Tart but we are trying to keep our weight down, so I don't.




However, one of my dear friends, Ann, made bottles and bottles of Lemon Spread with our lemons and gave some to us. That's what I call returning a favour.

Ann's Lemon Spread

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32 comments:

  1. MadSnapperMay 20, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    never heard of lemon spread, is that like jelly to put on biscuits or toast? or like icing? beautiful tree. our grapefruit tree did this last year and the year before, we had people stopping and filling up bags and they just kept coming. bumper crops both years. i love lemon anything so i think i would like the spread

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  2. john bainMay 20, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    When my apple tree overloads I put a boxful out every day and invite people to help themselves. They soon go. Is lemon spread what we would call over here lemon curd? Delicious. What a colour.

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  3. biebkriebelsMay 20, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    Yes that is a problem, I had once tomatoes, they came out of my ears at one moment. (is a dutch expression).I answered your bike question on my blog.

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  4. SunnyMay 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Yummm! I'm all puckered up looking at your lemons!
    My Mom used to make a lemon curd, I think that's similar.
    Have a great weekend.
    ☼ Sunny

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  5. DesireeMay 21, 2011 at 12:26 AM

    What a coincidence! I picked 5 of our lemons earlier today...our tree is growing in a pot and so is not nearly as large or prolific as yours, but this year it has produced more lemons than ever before. Perhaps it's the 'year of the lemon!' ;)

    Yours look PERFECT! Each one unblemished and beautifully smooth-skinned! I loved lemon curd as a child, but haven't had any since then!

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  6. GeorgeMay 21, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    I'm not sure what you are feeding your lemon tree, but it certainly looks healthy (and beautiful). The lemons themselves look perfect. I would say that what to do with all those lemons is a nice problem to have.

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  7. Kay L. DaviesMay 21, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Oh, wow, your friend has the right idea. That stuff is delicious on toast! Like instant lemon pie — a piece of unbuttered toast with lemon spread. Yum!
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  8. DianeMay 21, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    Your lemon tree looks very healthy. Have you thought about making limoncello with your lemons?

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  9. WinsomeMay 21, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Another idea would be to make preserved lemons. Yours look like they would be perfect contenders for this - they would look beautiful in the bottles. These are useful in North African dishes - so not necessarily sweet. Mind you, the lemon spread looks delish!

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  10. jennyfrecklesMay 21, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! They look gorgeous, they're huge. Much nicer than the shrivelled little things we get in our supermarket.

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  11. GardenOfDaisiesMay 21, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    What a sweet friend!! I wish I lived near you! I would be happy to take them off your hands and make lemon pie and lemon tart etc and let it all go to my waist. When it comes to lemon desserts, I have no willpower!!
    Lemons are really wonderful for cleaning your home . Lemons can bleach out stains from linens and cutting boards, make your garbage disposal smell fresh, remove hard water deposits from shower doors, clean copper pans, etc... Or if you don't want to work up a sweat, you could just pile a bunch of them in a bowl and set it in the middle of a room for instant air freshener. :-)

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  12. DianneMay 21, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Luscious lemons - I know they're not good for the weight but yesterday I made Maggie Beer's Tarte-au-Citron - with lots of lemon zest to give it that lovely tart flavour - it was yummy but only used up 3 lemons!
    I have the same problem with cumquats - they are coming out my ears!
    Have a lovely week-end. xx

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  13. Betsy Banks AdamsMay 21, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    HI Diane, WOW--that tree is really producing the lemons. Wish I lived closer because I'd take some off of your hands. I love lemons in my iced tea and also in my water. AND ---I love lemonade---along with other things you mentioned made with lemons... (Makes me hungry!)
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  14. CarlettaMay 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    I read through the comments to see what lemon spread is and I sort of have an idea. It looks delicious.
    Hope you find someone to help take them off your hands. Your trees are producing quite a crop!

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  15. Colin (HB)May 21, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Diane and Bill
    Firstly you will be "flu" free for the part of winter that you will be here for.
    Secondly, you could be enterprising and set up a lemon stall in front of your home. Pocket money for the upcoming trip.
    Thirdly you could give them to John Paul College for their Domestic Science Cooking Classes.
    Seems that the world has become a "Lemon oyster" for you.
    Fourthly you could bring me a bag of them for me when we next have lunch???
    Cheers
    Colin (HB)
    "Lemon Mellow"

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  16. diane bMay 21, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Thanks for your suggestions. Bill is excited about making limoncello and the cleaning ideas are good too.
    Lemon spread, lemon butter, lemon cheese, lemon curd are all the same thing I think and it does taste yummy.
    Thanks Ann.

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  17. Jo-Anne's RamblingsMay 21, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    Is lemon spread like lemon butter I love lemon butter and lemon meringue pies lemon tarts but not so much.

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  18. Red Nomad OZMay 21, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    There's a good Maggie Beer recipe for pickling lemons as well. The peel is the only part used - and adds great flavour to many dishes!!

    Enjoy!!

    PS Lemon curd icecream is pretty good too, but that might blow your diet ...

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  19. GattinaMay 21, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    you are lucky ! when I think I have to buy lemmons just for salad ! We had the same here with apples !

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  20. DianeMay 21, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    What a lovely load of lemons!! I'm thinking get out the gin and tonic!!! We call it lemon curd and its lovely!!!! xxxx

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  21. JimMay 21, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    Looks yummy.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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  22. ArtoholicMay 21, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    What Bounty! Maybe start up a Fish & Chip shop?

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  23. UnknownMay 21, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Lucky neighbours. A very healthy plant.

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  24. CherylMay 21, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Diane the tree is so healthy it is unbelievable. I have a Lots of Lemons in a pot which has been moved to the east side of the house and no longer gets enough sunshine. Could take a lemon from your bush...no pun intended.
    Lemon butter is my all time favourite spread. Yum! Yum!

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  25. The Southern Mint JulepMay 21, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Diane,make your wonderful lemon sweets-- just use Splendor instead of sugar. It will taste good, and you can enjoy yourself.

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  26. eileeninmdMay 22, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    Diane, your lemon tree is amazing. I have not heard of lemon spread before, is it sweet?

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  27. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiMay 22, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    Is there a food bank or a church group that gives out food to the poor? They might like some fresh lemons. How about local restuarants?
    My sister lives in Arizona and many there have citrus trees in their yards. When they overflow they leave bags or boxes at the front curb with a sign that says "Free" and people come by and pick them up.
    My sisiter-in-law lives in SouthernI Italy where lemon trees are plentiful and she cuts up leamns and puts them in water to drink all day. She also squeezes thenm over salads and makes lots of limoncello :)

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  28. SusanMay 22, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Wow - what a haul!! I can add nothing to the list of suggestions - all your blogfriends have come up with beauties. That limoncello especially sounds good ;-)
    I can remember reading somewhere that rubbing lemon juice on my skin to try and fade freckles or those age marks... nah, doesn't work LOL!!

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  29. Marsha YoungMay 22, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    WOW!!!

    Now that's what I call some beautiful lemons.

    Sure wish you lived next door.

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  30. Margaret DMay 22, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Good to have a lemon tree doing so well. Not always the case and I love lemon spread.
    Your portraits are great.

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  31. Joan ElizabethMay 22, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Drool. Lemon delicious, lemon meringue pie, lemon drink ... I wish I lived near you.

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  32. Sallie (FullTime-Life)May 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    The post and comments are making me really hungry! Is the lemon spread the same as lemon curd? Lemon curd is delicious -- as I'm sure the spread is. Lovely post.
    I get watching the diet (we are trying hard to do that as well), but maybe just one lemon pie? With friends over?

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