# When life gives you lemons...... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2014, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521 "2014-03-12T08:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/1 "2014-03-12T08:23:42Z")
I purchased a house not too long ago that has a lemon tree in the back yard. Last weekend I picked about half of the lemons and now have two large boxes of the fruit. Total weight comes to 62 pounds or about 23 kg. Now the question is what can be done with 62 pounds of lemons? Yes, I’ve made lemonade out of a few that I picked a couple weeks ago. Also, I’ve tried mixing lemon juice with tonic water (not bad, might be good with vodka added). Squeezing a lemon onto broiled fish used up one more. Any suggestions as to what can be done with the rest? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/2 "2014-03-12T08:36:54Z")
Preserve some in salt/brine - [How to Make Preserved Lemons](http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_preserved_lemons/) Preserve some others in sugar syrup (for use in sweet recipes, cocktails, etc) - method should be the same as [here](http://www.atomicshrimp.com/st/content/preserved_clementines) ---
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/3 "2014-03-12T09:22:48Z")
Make lemon marmalade. [Recipe](http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1898654/lemon-marmalade) Or mix in some oranges to make orange and lemon marmalade. [Lemon curd.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemon_curd_68499) ---
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/4 "2014-03-12T09:23:55Z")
[Lemon wine.](http://www.wine-making-guides.com/lemon_wine.html) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/5 "2014-03-12T09:36:32Z")
Oh you lucky bastard! A few years ago I lived in a house with the most prolific lemon tree: despite lemonade, marmalade and lemon curd, I wasn’t able to put even a _minor_ dent in the number of lemons we had available. So every morning, I’d pick a shopping bag FULL and take them to work to share with my co-workers. **Every morning for a fuggin YEAR**. **Lugging a 10kg bag via public transport**. Nearly wrecked my arm and shoulder muscles, but by golly they were appreciated! Sweetest, juiciest lemons ever was the general consensus. 😉 That bloody tree never stopped fruiting, but I miss it now. Last week I needed a couple of lemons for a dish I was making, and the freakin’ supermarket wanted $1.25 **EACH** for them. Bastids. :eek: (I’ve recently moved to a new abode, and the first thing planted was a dwarf lemon tree…it’s flowering like crazy now, so hopefully, in a few months, I’ll be drowning in lemons again!) Anyway, when life has given you so many lemons your face turns sour at the mere mention…give 'em away. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/6 "2014-03-12T11:50:39Z")
[Combustable lemons?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt6iTwVIiMM) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/7 "2014-03-12T12:35:47Z")
I’m glad I wasn’t the only person thinking of that. From what I’ve seen, the usual answer, already given, is take them to work. If you’re a good salesman, you can sell them. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/8 "2014-03-12T12:39:50Z")
Do you frequent a bar? Because bars buy lemons, by the boxful, most every week. Play your cards right and you could find yourself with a free lunch or round of drinks I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/9 "2014-03-12T12:53:31Z")
A buddy of mine makes limoncello. If you don’t mind some work, zest a few dozen lemons and mix the zest with high proof liquor (vodka or grain, if available). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/10 "2014-03-12T13:30:59Z")
I think there are organized programs in Southern California to collect fruit from backyard trees for food banks and soup kitchens. Perhaps something like that is in your area as well? ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/11 "2014-03-12T13:51:02Z")
[Ample Harvest](http://ampleharvest.org/) can help you find a food pantry that accepts extra stuff from this type of situation. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/12 "2014-03-12T13:56:53Z")
Fill a milk crate with them and put it in your car and let 'em get soft. Chuck them at drivers who cut you off or do other stupid shit. If you have a sunroof, just chuck one out at high speed every now and then, for shits and giggles. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/13 "2014-03-12T14:01:57Z")
Circa 1988, a guy was dissatisfied with a new car he purchased from a Philadelphia Mainline dealership. He parked the car across the road from the dealership and glued dozens (hundreds?) of lemons to the car. There were posters explaining about his “lemon”. The dealership tried suing, but the car was parked legally. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/14 "2014-03-12T14:05:27Z")
> [@X.L.Lent](#): > > Yes, I’ve made lemonade out of a few that I picked a couple weeks ago. What you need is someone whose life has handed them vodka. Then, between the two of you, you can have a hell of a party. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/15 "2014-03-12T17:01:41Z")
With some galvanized nails and copper wire, you can make batteries. Put enough in series you might be able to charge a cell phone. Or fire up an LED in case of a power failure. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/16 "2014-03-12T17:53:37Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/17 "2014-03-12T18:42:06Z")
Lemon curd. It’s just lovely stuff and useful for lots of things. My favorite cheesecake is lightly flavored with lemon and then covered with about 3/8" of lemon curd. It tastes like spring. make lots and then you can can it in jars and store it for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/18 "2014-03-12T18:53:30Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > What you need is someone whose life has handed them vodka. FTW. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/19 "2014-03-12T21:26:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A buddy of mine makes limoncello. If you don’t mind some work, zest a few dozen lemons and mix the zest with high proof liquor (vodka or grain, if available). Here’s an alternative way of making limoncello: > **[How to Make the Best Limoncello You've Ever Had](https://gizmodo.com/how-to-make-the-best-limoncello-youve-ever-had-1533528095)** > > Limoncello! That sweet, tart, and refreshingItalian after-dinner digestif can be a wonderful thing. But, typically, when you go for the store-bought stuff They cover just about every possible way to make it in the comments, so you can try several different ways. I haven’t tried this yet, but it’s on the to-do list. 🙂 \<– smiley lemon ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521/20 "2014-03-12T23:02:16Z")
Throw them at people who make banal aphorisms. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-life-gives-you-lemons/683521.md?page=2)