Recipes and tips from Limoneira

I have always loved lemon. The taste of it reminds me of growing up with my Nana.  The smell of lemon makes me think of clean.  We were recently sent a box of juicy lemons from Limoneira.  I did not realize how many recipes you could make with lemon, so today I get to share a few with you from Limoneira.  Enjoy!  

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Brown Sugar Lemon Mascarpone Muffins Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 3/4 tsp. salt 8 oz. cold mascarpone cheese 3/4 cup milk 1/3 cup greek yogurt 1 tsp. vanilla extract 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with liners. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine. Mix in lemon zest. Add mascarpone cheese and mix in with a fork, stirring until crumbly, evenly dispersed and covered in flour. In a small bowl, whisk together milk, yogurt, egg, vanilla extract and butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring until just combined and wet. Use a ¼ cup measure or ice cream scoop to fill the muffin liners 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until tops are set and golden. Remove and let cool before serving. Grilled Chicken Lemon Salad Ingredients: Chicken 3/4 cup olive oil 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper 1 tbsp. minced fresh thyme leaves 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast halves 3/4 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice Salad 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup raw sugar snap peas, trimmed 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned 1 lemon, thinly sliced 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice   Directions Chicken: Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper and thyme. Pour over chicken breasts in nonreactive bowl (such as stainless steel – NOT aluminum). Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight. Heat a charcoal grill and cook chicken for 10 minutes on each side, until just cooked through. Refrigerate and chill. Slice breasts diagonally into 3/8 inch thick slices. Salad: Toss chicken plus its juices, lemon juice, olive oil, sugar snap peas, red and yellow bell peppers, lemon slices, salt and pepper in a bowl. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature. Keeping with the Lemon theme... Here are a few back to school snack tips:   Citrus & Apple – Apples are a great snack. To prevent them from browning once sliced, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the slices. Citrus Snack Bars & Bites -  Store bought snack bars can be high in sugar, and low in fiber and other wholesome ingredients. Make your own snacks on the weekends for the week ahead. No-Bake Cashew Lemon Cookie Bites Ingredients: 1 cup soaked cashews 1 cup pitted dates ½ cup rolled oats 2 tablespoons lemon juice a pinch of sea salt Pulse together until you create a batter. Roll into bites, and store in the fridge or freezer. Chocolate Dipped Oranges – We all love a little treat after lunch, and chocolate-dipped orange slices are not only full of great antioxidants, but are easy to make in advance and keep stored in the fridge or freezer over the weekend. Citrus Water – Lemon (or orange) water is a great way to make hydrating just a bit tastier. Keeping a jug of citrus water on hand in the fridge provides a yummy (and healthy) alternative to juices and sodas all week long.   We normally try to keep lemons on hand all the time here. Especially for water (or sweet tea!)  I don't ever really think about cooking with them, but now I need to try and change it up.  Do you cook using lemons at your house?