Cheap lemons

Filey

Aldi are selling a net with 4 lemons and 2 limes for 49p. If like me you often have a recipe which needs EITHER the zest OR the juice, and hate wasting anything, I have come up with this idea which also means I can buy lots of lemons/limes at this good price.

Apologies if someone has already suggested this.

Grate off the zest from all your lemons. Spread it out on a tray and freeze it. Scrape it into a very small container and put it back in the freezer. I use the tiny containers that some vitamins or medications come in.

Squeeze out the juice from all the fruit and freeze it in an ice cube tray. If you have more juice than trays tip the cubes into a container.

I'm sure there must be some use for the squeezed out peel but I can't think of any at the moment. Perhaps dry them out and use them in the fire - they should burn well. Is this getting ridiculous I ask myself?

Phudge

That's a fantastic idea to freeze the zest - I never knew you could do that! Thanks very much, I'll be off to Aldi soon....

Bitsy_Beans

You could soak the left over skin in a cup of hot water and drink. Would probably flavour the water enough and if drunk in the morning is supposed to help your digestive system (although don't quote me on this!)

stevenhp1987

I bought one pack to make a lemon and lime liquer... was lovely... tasted very lemony

Bought 4 packs to make around 2L of the stuff

Recipe I used if anyone is interested:

juice from the 4 lemons and 2 limes, plus the zest add 150g sugar, leave to stand overnight (stiring everynow and then if during day)

After that, sieve to remove the zest, keeping the juice with the sugar...

Add 150ml vodka to the juice and walla, a nice liquer. Around 16-18%... can be watered down I guess, but then you have to let it sit for around 20 days after bottling it up.

1 pack made 450ml for me last time... so 4 packs will be just under 2L

Leave for at least a couple of days before serving.

Shake the bottle before serving (otherwise vodka goes to bottom and juice to top - or other way around, either way)

Edit: It's similar (basically same) as limincello!

julietiff

Rub your elbows with half a lemon, makes them soft

Shereen

I'd put the squeezed out halves inside a chicken carcass before roasting it. Or I'd add them to a tray of chicken pieces that I was going to roast.