Wednesday's Helping: Lemon

This fruit is nothing to get sour about

There’s nothing like a cold glass of lemonade as a refreshing beverage; however, lemons and their juice have many other uses in the kitchen and throughout the house. Their flavors can be described as tart, a cross between limes and tangerines. These oval-shaped fruits, that have yellow skin when ripe, are scientifically known as Citrus limon. Also, the inside flesh is segmented. Historians believe that the plant originated in India and China. Arabs brought the fruit to Spain in the 11th Century. The Crusaders found lemons in Palestine and later spread the fruit to many other European countries. The lemon was thought to be on board when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas during the 15th Century. Lemons are in season from May through August in our region. Cooks may use the juice of lemons for seasoning, pickling, and flavoring dishes. Lemon juice also has astringent qualities, which means that it may be used for cleaning around the house. Lemons are a good source of vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system. Select lemons that are fully yellow and feel heavy for their size. Avoid ones with bruising, soft areas, or blotches. Fresh lemons are available all year long in supermarkets due to modern production and distribution techniques.