O Football Tree, O Football Tree

I have THE best lemon tree.  It produces footballs.  Juicy, tasty footballs.  And when it is hung with a full crop of fruit, fragrant blooms pop all over it again for the next crop of lemons.

My parents stayed with us all last month.  The lemon tree might have been the main draw -- seriously.  My mother grew up in Arizona, eating fresh lemons with salt as a warm-weather snack.  Salt -- not sugar.  My mom can't get enough of them.  Can't say enough about them either.  "This is the craziest lemon tree!"  "I want a lemon tree like yours."  Lemons, lemons, lemons.  I can't even pucker up to try this treat.

I'm content to drown my food in lemon juice - salad, vegetables, fish, spaghetti, sandwiches.  My siblings are the same way.  Lemon on everything.  I think it's genetic.  If it weren't for my dad's genes mixed in there as well, we'd all be eating salt-lemons like my mom.  And there's lemonade too, of course. 

Thank goodness for modern toothpaste.

I might have to learn how to propagate this crazy tree and adopt out its offspring as family gifts.  I should name the mama tree first -- and put together a lemony recipe collection.  Any favorites?  Elijah had big success with a lemon-glazed pound cake a couple of weeks ago.

Comments

[April]

Recipe for that pound cake? Sounds amazing.

[Mary]

my mouth is watering! I have tried a fantastic recipe by Delia Smith, a Deep Lemon tart, very, very good, also a Cranks one for Lemon and Lime Poppyseed trickle cake, I don't think I've ever made it and not had someone ask me for the recipe.

[Jenn]

Yum! Homebased moms perfect lemon cupcakes are TO. DIe. FOR. I love the frosting!

[iris]

Oh man, an olive oil lemon cake, with lemon curd. Yes. Lots and lots of lemon curd. Lots of eggs, too, hahaha.

[heather from arizona]

a while back we ate at Joe's Farm grill and my meal was served with lemon slices that big. I remember thinking that I had never seen a lemon that big. I ADORE lemons, used to eat them straight as a kid. Both of my girls like them too!

[LeeAnn]

I had no idea that lemon got that big! I'd be zesting that lemon, then letting the zest strips dry so I could add them to my tea in the winter time. Delicious!

[Rebecca]

My mother is over the moon when it comes to lemons as well... and a little snobby I might add, lemon flavor will just not do and she is never bashful about throwing in the "but it wasn't real lemon, though". Our favorite is lemon curd... on english muffins, pound cake, over strawberries, by the spoonful. It is rich and delicious... I will have to find the recipe and send it over

[Laura K]

For every chocoholic, there's a lemonphile!

[Laura Jean]

Lemon bars are THE best! Yum!

[Ruth S]

Love lemony desserts - I could eat them til the cows come home. That big old juicy fruit looks like a beauty! Makes my mouth water!
I love to make roast chicken with garlic and lots of lemons. Someting different as hubby doesn't like lemon dessert. What?! Freak! ;)

[Heather]

Wow, that is impressive! Our lemon tree is still young, but when it produced its first wee little lemon, my husband picked it. He insists it it supposed to grow smaller than-an-egg sized lemons, LOL.

[tinajo]

Wowsers - that´s one heck of a lemon! I´m envious! :-)

[MaryBetg]

We don't have lemons like in these Midwestern parts. In my next part of life, I want lemon and Avocado trees. I could possibly be more than content if you threw in a heated swimming pool into the mix.

[Seanna Lea]

My husband calls me a lemon demon, because when we go out everyone hands me their lemons and I eat them all. Lemons in chocolate or yogurt or curd. I love it all. Do you have a full size tree or a dwarf? I'm tempted to try growing a dwarf tree in a pot indoors.

[Kellie]

I am a lemon and salt girl too, just like your mum! And those lemons look like the perfect eating kind, mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

[Maggie Reno]

YUM.... Lemon and Salt?! Mango with Lime Juice and Salt is good though, so maybe someday when I'm very brave I will try it. The Salt does bring out the sweet. It reminds me of the Argentine version of eating Avocados - in halves, drizzled with honey. Sometimes you just have to try it. I too would love the lemon-glazed pound cake recipe! Sounds Delicious.

[Kelly]

Did anyone say lemon bars yet? My grandmother would do the same thing - eating the lemons off a tree with a little bit of salt. We once had a lemon tree that someone had grafted a tangerine branch onto so the tree grew lemons and some very tart tangerines.

[Ellie Coleman]

Heather! I've been cooking with lemons NON-STOP! Here are some favorite recipes:

Sausage, chard, and lemon lasagna: http://www.marthastewart.com/336370/sausage-chard-and-lemon-lasagna

Roasted shrimp and orzo salad (with lemon): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-shrimp-and-orzo-recipe/index.html

And I really want to make these lemon cakes (precious): http://asubtlerevelry.com/lemonade-cake

Love you!

[Melissa P]

Lemon meringue pie tops my list. But anything lemony does the trick. I've even done the lemon with salt thing.

[Stephanie R]

Those lemons are pretty awesome! My Mom's lemon tree produces large lemons, but not as big as yours! :)

[fee]

Hmmmm, loving the idea of salt on a lemon.

Tonights tea was a lamb chop on top of broccoli that was mashed with chilli flakes, sea salt and juice of a lemon. Delicious...and all boys ate it - result!
Sharing the love
fee x

[Jennifer]

So jealous! I've been thinking about getting a dwarf lemon tree for a very long time. As for recipes, Martha Stewart's raspberry lemonade is amazing.

[Tara Miller]

One word: limoncello

[Sherrill Spencer]

How about a peach lemonade? Here's a link to my recipe. You have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for the recipe.

http://willowsquietcorner.blogspot.com/2010/08/building-my-patio-part-1.html

[Heather Bailey]

You guys are awesome. Loving the lemon recipe ideas. (And the links, Ellie! I didn't realize you read my blog - I'm honored.)

MB@YarnU, it sounds like you need to move to Arizona or California -- avocados, lemons & swimming. Take a look at Fallbrook, CA. My parents ALMOST bought a home there -- avocado heaven. Dreamy.

[Bree]

does your Mum add tequila to that mix at all?

a salad of rocket, slivers of raw artichoke, lots of lemon and olive oil dressing, fresh cracked pepper and parmesan cheese over the top - a great starter to any meal!

[Helen]

Wow they are huge, lemon juice in custard is beautiful. I also love lemon in a lot of deserts. Nothing like a yellow lemon to brighten many meals too.

[Embroidery Mimi]

I have a friend in Florida who has a lemon tree she says is a "Ponderosa Lemon" tree. We made a gallon of lemonade from one lemon. It was wonderful. Wish I had a couple of those lemons now!

[amber]

i'm addicted to lemons; i'm sure i should join a support group. have you tried lemon-poppyseed cupcakes w/o the poppyseeds & then a light blueberry sauce or powdered sugar on top? one of my favorites! i'm gonna have to go research growing my own lemons now...so jealous.

[Chanelle]

Here are my favorites (and I LOVE lemon too!):

http://thetallgrlcooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/lemon-sour-cream-pie.html

http://thetallgrlcooks.blogspot.com/2011/01/luscious-lemon-cake_03.html

Now I have to try out the other suggestions in the comments. Yum!

[calbrecan]

Wow! I remember seeing your gigantic lemons last year. This year is just as rewarding it seems. I wish lemons grew like that here in the Texas Hill Country.

[Tabitha]

Oh my goodness! I LOVE lemons. My dream would be for a wonderful lemon tree that could survive in Maine.

[Lori]

I made "Crispy Roasted Chicken with Preserved Lemons" from the cookbook "Peace Meals" by The Junior League of Houston for our Easter dinner today. Delicious. Worth the trouble of preserving the lemons (plus they are so pretty in their glass jar). I used about 36 lemons (most for juice, 12 for preserving), which left me with enough for quite a few more recipes, too. I think I will put some in some parchment packets to season fish or veggies next. . .

[Tiffany]

Be still my heart. I would love to have a lemon tree like this! Amazing. Lemons were my pregnancy craving last year this time, I couldn't get enough. Barefoot Contessa has a Lemony Pasta with arugula and cherry tomatoes that is to die for. Also made her lemon merengue torte for Easter yesterday and the filling was the best I've ever tasted. I wish we lived somewhere I could grow lemons! So jealous.

[Lana]

My brother ate so many lemons that it started taking of the enamel off his teeth, so be careful. We also had lemon that size and it was called a Ponderosa Lemon Tree.

[ishtar]

I´m a lemon addict too!!
Have you tried it with POCORN!!!!!???AMAZING!!

[dame]

This is impressive. Absolutely love it!

[Kaye Prince]

Here's a link to my most favourite lemon bar recipe (it even has shortbread crust): http://www.lafujimama.com/2009/06/lemon-shortbread-bars/ Really, so so so good!!!

[Amy]

Thanks for your comment on my cupcake post. I'm just now trying to learn to bake and it's good to know that some people don't like that icing. I'm gaining in confidence to try a bunch more recipes. If only I could get a lemon tree to grow in Georgia clay.

[Lence]

Ooh i love lemons. My parents have a gorgeous lemon tree in there backyard and I can not wait till it starts fruiting......Oh and I eat lemons with salt too :))

[tammy]

Lemons are extremely good for you so good job.
BTW, I saw you in Utah at Material Girls but couldn't say Hi because I had my kids and the line was slow because you are sweet and spent time with each person which I think is great. I would have waited had I been alone. It was so fun to see you. You are gorgeous. I love your fabric and your patterns as does everyone else.
Thanks for what you do. It brightens my life.

[Alycia Crowley]

I grew up with a lemon tree in my backyard :) That is one beautiful lemon!

[maria f.]

Mamacita... should be her name.

She's obviously a BIG Mama. But the "cita" shows your love for her :)

[john bauer]

I used to visit my sister in CA and they had a Meyer lemon tree on there lanai. What a huge lemon and juicy. Luckily she sent me back to WI with a few of them. They really last for a long time but not in my house. I have an old lemon pie recipie that they were just great in. Love your blog. Keep 'em coming.