Lemon Extract Powder
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:40 am
I used to have lots of leftover lemon peels that I didn't know what to do with. Throwing them out always seemed like a waste, so I did some research about things you can do with lemon peels. You can deodorize trash cans with them, clean the kitchen with them, make candied lemon peels, etc. But my favorite thing to do with them is to make lemon extract powder - it's super easy, and requires minimal work ...
Every time you use a lemon, commit to zesting it first. You can use a microplane grater, but I prefer to just use a vegetable peeler - it takes about 30 seconds! Make sure that all you're getting is the zest (the grainy outside of the lemon), and not the pith (the white fibrous part of the lemon peel, which tastes bitter). Save your zest in a ziploc bag in the freezer.
Once you've got a sizeable quantity, you can either leave it to dry for a few days on a cookie sheet, or you can speed up the process by baking it on the lowest setting in the oven for a few hours. Once you've dehydrated the lemon zest, you can grind it up using a mortar and pestle (or a food processor, I suppose). Now you've got lemon extract powder!
You can use it to add a pop of flavor to soups, chicken, noodle dishes - whatever you want! You can also mix it with freshly cracked black pepper to make lemon pepper (did you know lemon pepper was so easy?! I didn't!) Or you can mix it with white granulated sugar to make lemon sugar (it infuses the sugar with lemony flavor, for a twist on your tea).
I also think it would make a really cool magical offering or spell ingredient, since lemons are associated with purification, clarity, love, friendship, and healing.
Every time you use a lemon, commit to zesting it first. You can use a microplane grater, but I prefer to just use a vegetable peeler - it takes about 30 seconds! Make sure that all you're getting is the zest (the grainy outside of the lemon), and not the pith (the white fibrous part of the lemon peel, which tastes bitter). Save your zest in a ziploc bag in the freezer.
Once you've got a sizeable quantity, you can either leave it to dry for a few days on a cookie sheet, or you can speed up the process by baking it on the lowest setting in the oven for a few hours. Once you've dehydrated the lemon zest, you can grind it up using a mortar and pestle (or a food processor, I suppose). Now you've got lemon extract powder!
You can use it to add a pop of flavor to soups, chicken, noodle dishes - whatever you want! You can also mix it with freshly cracked black pepper to make lemon pepper (did you know lemon pepper was so easy?! I didn't!) Or you can mix it with white granulated sugar to make lemon sugar (it infuses the sugar with lemony flavor, for a twist on your tea).
I also think it would make a really cool magical offering or spell ingredient, since lemons are associated with purification, clarity, love, friendship, and healing.
