Description:
When life gives you lemons, you'll find fresh ideas for making lemonade and much more in the attractive little book, Lemons: Growing, Gathering, Cooking, Crafting. Food and lifestyle writer Kate Chynoweth, recipe creator Elizabeth Woodson, and photographer Rita Maas demonstrate this sunny fruit's versatility by delving into its history and offering up an assortment of helpful hints and uses both in the kitchen and beyond. The first of the book's five chapters recounts the lore of the lemon, beginning with its original cultivation 2,000 years ago in India. Other chapters include information on different types of lemons, instructions for growing lemons in the garden and in containers, as well as suggestions for cooking and crafts. Tips are practical--such as how to pick out a lemon--and precise--why, for example, lemon juice should be added after a sauce has thickened, lest the acid interfere with starch molecule bonds. Although the recipes are not extensive, 22 for food (no main courses) and 16 for crafts, there's a little something for everyone, from sweet treats to candles to cold remedies. What stand out most are the clever presentation ideas for gifts: simple packaging techniques describe ways to dress up an economical lemon recipe into an elegant party favor or present. --Jennifer Wyatt
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