What Do I Do With All These LEMONS? *Part 2* Lemon Harvest Time!

Make lemon bars, a simple lemon curd, and your own lemon extract. Delicious! Come join me in the kitchen for these simple recipes! Try these easy recipes (with gluten-free, dairy-free options), and you'll be a lemon fan in no time! Most likely, you'll be heading straight out to buy your own Meyer Lemon tree to grow this fantastic fruit for yourself! **Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the recipes!** Hi, I'm Kim, and this is Olive City Oasis (formerly, Olive City Homestead), my 2.5 acre property in northern California, Zone 9B. Here on this channel, I like to emphasize how easy gardening is - even for brand-new beginners! I also have an ongoing obsession with growing edible and medicinal herbs, as well as interesting fruit and nut trees! I enjoy sharing my veggie and herb gardens, fruit orchard, perennial plants, garden-to-table recipes, and simple living garden ideas. As a nearly-senior, solo, frugal gardener, I like to keep things down-to-earth, casual, and encouraging. I also talk about self-care through gardening because I believe experiencing nature is extremely important to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. If any of this sounds interesting to you, you can subscribe by clicking this link! https://www.youtube.com/channel/Olive... You can also send me a private message here: [email protected] ***************** Here are three other videos I think you might enjoy! ~~Come See My FRUIT TREES! ~ Plant Your Own FRUIT ORCHARD!~~    • Come See My Fruit Trees! Plant Your Own Fr...   Does the thought of stepping outside to harvest delicious, healthy fruit from your own trees sound intriguing? Because YOU CAN DO IT! Why not start this year?!?! You'll be enjoying your favorite fruits sooner than you think. ~~Working in the HERB GARDEN -- The Wonders of BORAGE!~~    • Working in the HERB GARDEN - The Wonders o...   BORAGE is amazing! It's a medicinal herb with numerous health benefits that's also great for the garden. Borage makes wonderful fertilizer and compost, gradually improving your soil and feeding your vegetables and flowers, and it also adds a delicious cucumber-like flavor to salads and smoothies. Plus, it self-sows like crazy and is super easy to grow! ~~Two Steps to a Great Home Orchard! Abundant & Manageable! Grow Lots of Fruit But Not TOO Much!~~    • Two Steps to a Great Home Orchard! Abundan...   Grow Lots of Fruit But Not Too Much! Two Simple Steps Ensure a Productive But Not Overwhelming Orchard! ********* Until Next Time, Happy Growing! Kim ~~LEMON EXTRACT~~ 1 C vodka Peel of 1 medium lemon (Be careful not to include the bitter white pith.) Ready to use after being stored in a cool, dark place for 1-2 months. Keeps for 3-4 months more. ~~LEMON BARS~~ Shortbread Crust - 1 C unsalted butter, melted (or dairy-free alternative) 1/2 C granulated white sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp salt 2 C + 2 Tbsp unbleached flour (or gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum) Curd Filling - 2 C granulated white sugar 6 Tbsp unbleached flour (or gluten-free) 6 med-lg. eggs 1 C fresh-squeezed lemon juice (about 6 lemons) Optional - powdered sugar Preheat oven to 325F/163C. Stir together melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add flour and combine. Dough will be thick and crumbly. Pour into UNgreased 9"x13" glass pan and press firmly to create a level, solid base. (Using parchment paper is an option as well.) Bake for approximately 22 minutes. When done, the crust should be lightly brown at the edges. Remove from oven and prick lightly all across the crust surface with a fork. While crust is in the oven, prepare the curd filling. Stir together the sugar and flour with a wooden spoon (to avoid metallic taste). Mix in eggs and lemon juice until eggs are fully incorporated. Pour filling over crust after you have pricked it. Bake for 22-26 minutes (probably the latter, but depends on your oven). The center of the filling will be set (not "jiggly") when done. Cool to room temp (1-2 hrs), and then cool in the frig for another 2 hrs. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve chilled. These keep in the frig for a week and freeze for 3-4 months. ~~LEMON CURD~~ 4 egg yolks (or 3 yolks and one whole egg to ensure thickness) 2/3 C granulated white sugar 1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest 1/3 C fresh lemon juice pinch of salt 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut in 6-8 pieces (or butter alternative) Mix first 5 ingredients together. Bring 1-2" of water to a boil in a double-boiler. (Or use a heat-proof glass bowl in a saucepan. Bowl should be just above the water.) Reduce heat to a medium simmer, and cook the mixture 10-13 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and add in butter pieces, stirring until melted completely. Curd will thicken even more as it cools. Pour into a glass bowl with a lid, and store in frig for 7-10 days. Serve with scones or biscuits, as a cake filling, in a trifle, on waffles, or on its own, like a pudding. VERY tangy sweet and much better than store-bought! *******