Food Glorious Food: When life gives you lemons...

My online shopping delivery has sadly become one of the highlights of my week and I must say I have been delighted with the contents in my bags.

Sometimes it has been a bit of a “lucky dip” with a number of substitutes, but this has made me use something I would normally not have purchased, and I don’t think that has been such a bad thing.

Not only have I been sent very different products, I have also been sent the same product but of a different variety, if that makes sense.

For example: Lemons. I always buy the same ones, unwaxed and cheap as they come. However, this week my usual standard lemons weren’t available, and I was sent Natoora lemons instead, a variety of winter-ripening lemons originating from Calabria in southern Italy.

These were gloriously plump, heavy and huge! After tasting one and realising they had such a sweet flavour, I thought they were too good to be added to foods just as a seasoning. They should get a spotlight all of their own. So, bring on some family hydration entertainment!

Lemons contain a high amount of Vitamin C and eating just one can give you up to 51 per cent of your recommended daily intake.

Eaten regularly, they can also decrease the risk of heart disease and kidney stones. They are such a versatile fruit as they can be added to both sweet and savoury dishes and can be used in a number of ways.

With the beautiful weather of recent weeks, I decided these lemons would need to be made into lemonade... and not just any lemonade. It is easy to make and has no refined sugars, and you can add a number of additions to it to make it extra special.

Lemonade

Zest 2 lemons and squeeze the juice out of 5 lemons. Add zest and juice to a blender. Add 3 tbsp runny honey and 1 litre of water to the blender too. Add 1 large handful of ice and blend. I like to leave the ice quite slushy, so don’t blend for too long. Pour into a glass jug and add 4-5 ripped mint leaves and serve.

Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade - Follow the standard recipe and add 4 tbsp frozen forest fruits to the blender too.

My children don’t like to miss out, so I have been making mocktails for them too, dipping glass rims into water and sugar to create a rather grown-up looking glass for them.

Here’s a couple of mocktails you and your children may enjoy:

Mocktail Pina Colada

Add 200g frozen pineapple chunks, 1 x 400g tin of pineapple pieces in juice (with the juice), 1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk and 2 tbsp honey to a blender and whizz until smooth. Add slices of lime and frozen cherries (optional) and lots of ice to a jug and pour the mocktail in, ready to be served.

Mocktail Mojito

Take a tall glass and using the end of a chopstick or knife, mix and grind together ½ tsp brown sugar and 5 mint leaves. Add a little lime juice to help you mash them together. Add the rest of the juice from a lime, plus a whole sprig of extra mint and then top up the glass with the lemonade recipe (or use a sugar-free version). Add lots of crushed ice and stir.

With the summer looming, make sure you stay hydrated and enjoy some al fresco dining.

We may not be away on holiday, but we can bring a little holiday to our homes.

So, grab some outdoor lighting, bunting, cushions, picnic blankets and find a safe spot.

There are plenty of games you could add to your evenings too, so sit back and have some fun with the family.

When life gives you

lemons!