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Margs Favorite Kitchen Gadgets.


It's Saturday and it's finally warmed up out here in the valley.  What better treat than to invite a friend over and sip on a glass of fresh lemonade as you sit outside on your patio enjoying the warm summer days. It's time for wide-open windows, and glowing fire pits in the evenings.

 I think we all remember our mothers hauling out the glass juicer and squeezing lemons.   I remember my mother squeezing lemon juice making a fresh nourishing drink especially after a long day of haymaking. I don't think that in this day and age many of us would take the time or energy to make large batches of lemonade. Let's be honest, it takes a while to squeeze a dozen lemons or limes. 

I have found a new gadget, called a citrus squeezer and it can be bought in almost any kitchen store.  I chose to purchase the stainless steel gadget...yes it's more expensive, but after handling the various styles, I realized the quality was hard to beat. This has become one of my favorites, as many recipes call for lemon juice and there's nothing better than freshly squeezed juice.

A single serving...for fresh lemonade.

2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup hot/boiling water
2  freshly squeezed lemon
1/2 cup ice 
1 1/2 cups water

Stir together hot water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
Stir in lemon juice and cold water and lots of ice.
You can adjust the sugar amounts, but I prefer it tart.

 
I've also learned to enjoy the citrus zester which allows you to garnish any dish.
It's a must in my kitchen, especially when adding garnish to any salad or meat plate.

Another favorite is this special gift, and I never knew how much I would use it.
I love it's vintage look, so it has found it's home on my kitchen window sill.
It's a twist of burlap twine ready to be used for any last minute gift wrapping ideas.

 You can quickly wrap up a dish towel or put a final touch to your glass of lemonade.
It has endless possibilities.
You can find this or a similar version at Crate and Barrel.

 Enjoy this day!
Minimal juicing and maximum enjoyment.
Remember when life throws you a lemon, make lemonade.

7 comments:

  1. I love the twine holder. Now that's a practical gift that would definitely get used. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I agree, Marsha - and I've always meant to buy one of those citrus zesters - it's going on my shopping list right now.

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  3. I love anything citrus so mine is used a lot. Zest goes into most things! I imagine the hole on the side of the zester is for peeling off a strip of the outer rind. Mine does not have that.

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  4. You have evoked fond (and distant!) memories of mother making lemonade when I was very young. And that reminded me of my brother's ginger beer plant exploding in the airing cupboard; my how we laughed that day!! Thanks for the recipe - I will instruct the girl to give it a go... not that she listens to me, of course.

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  5. I love homemade lemonade and also have fond memories of hauling it out to the hay field in a large pickle jar! Love your burlap string dispenser - that is something I would use a lot. Enjoy the warm weather!

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  6. I looked up the twine spool at Crate and Barrel, but alas, it is not nearly as nice as yours...I love the vintage look of yours, and would like to find one like it...

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  7. For another type of twine holder, drill a hole in one of your shelves. Cut a similar hole in a mayonnaise jar lid, or use a canning jar ring, and fasten to the top of the shelf, around the hole. Thread the twine through, and screw the jar over it to hold it in place. Very handy!

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