For the last six years, the highlight of my January has been the day the box of Meyer lemons arrives on my doorstep from the Lemon Ladies Orchard in Emerald Hills, California. My whole apartment fills with their fragrance the moment I unseal the box and I spend the next week or so making marmalade, syrups, curds, preserved lemons, and dehydrated rounds.
Last April, while I was on the first leg of my book tour, I spent a little time visiting Lemon Ladies and getting to know the owner, Karen Morss (she even put me up one night, which was incredibly kind of her).
In the morning, Karen took me on a tour of the orchard, which is tucked into her backyard. She introduced me the 40 trees that make up the orchard (each named after a different woman who had inspired her) and told me about the joys and challenges of growing fruit.
Karen uses organic fertilizer, ladybugs, and love to raise her lemons and it shows in her gorgeous fruit. I am forever in awe of the fact that such glorious fruit just grows on trees in California (I realize it sounds ridiculous, but in the depths of Pennsylvania winter, such things don’t seem entirely possible).
For this week’s giveaway, Karen has offered up a gift box of her lemons to one lucky winner. This prize has a $30 value and contains 3 1/2 pounds of juicy, fragrant Meyer lemons. Use the widget below to enter!
I have always wanted to preserve Meyer lemons but don’t often get the chance here in the philly area!!
Love the peek into her orchard! I would make a lemon poppy cake and if there’s any left over, some meyer lemon syrup.
Your candies meter lemon recipe is great layered between vanilla cake and butercream layers. I was surprised you have people discard the simple syrup. I can that, too, and it goes in everything. Flavor icing, add to an early grey tea, over ice cream, I’m cake, layered into strawberry shortcake. mix into cocktails. The color cheers me up.
I’d love to try Meyer lemon curd or the strawberry Meyer lemon marmalade everyone talks about.
Meyer lemon jam (thanks to this site!), preserved lemons, sorbet garnished with fresh mint — yum! I already missed them around here, so this is perfect. Thank you for the opportunity and thanks also for the connection to the Lemon Ladies.
I’d really like to try my hand at making limoncello!
Lemon curd, for sure. Maybe limoncello?
I’ll either make the honey lemon marmalade or try them out for salt preserving (after eating one in hand!).
I’m sure I’ll ad mine to drinks – I drink lots of lemon water. Then probably a lemon merinque. Who knows from there?! I can’t wait to see.
Marmalade and Lemonade for sure.
I love lemons with coconut butter. It makes a tasty treat.
Karen’s lemons are amazing! Lemon curd all the way. Yummmmm
Yum. I made Strawberry Meyer Lemon Marmalade. It was sooooo summer!
Lemon curd or marmalade!
I love Meyer lemons!! I’d sit and smell them for a couple of days, and then I’d make lemon curd. Love it that the trees are named after special women!
Fresh squeezed juice from 2 Meyer lemons ? plus 2 t Splenda & 2 shots tequila over 1 c crushed ice. Awesome sauce!
I forgot to put that I would make lemon preserves and marmalade with them! ??
I will use the for the FOJ challenge or make more strawberry Meyer lemon marmalade ??
Such great lemons! I would make some lemon bars, curd, or maybe some lemon cookies. Possibly another batch of marmalade.
Curd and Limoncello. I think this would make me a happy happy girl.
Wow. I can almost smell them. What an awesome give away. It would be so much fun
If I win, those Meyer Lemons will be used to make a big batch of preserved lemons and maybe some limoncello!
Lemon cookies!
Oh hell yes! Lemon curd, because I’ve never made it. Though I have Maida Heatter’s recipe for Lemon Ginger White Pepper cake that is *amazing*. I also started making my own citrus/honey/ginger cough syrup.
I would love this!
Would love to make lemon curd and preserved lemons!
I would make some marmalade and also a cake!
Marmalade, candy and limoncello, no doubt@
That is a box of beautiful lemons if I ever saw one. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a jar of preserved lemons in my fridge. Thanks, Karen for all the love in those lemons.
I used some for marmalade. Think it’s time for lemon curd!
I’m with all the lemon curd people. That sounds like an amazing way to use this fruit!
Meyer Lemons are special, and every ounce gets used. From bread to cake to beverages, sun dried zest and candied rinds, even the leaves can be used to cook with. So maybe throw a bunch in with the bag I win? 🙂
Lemon curd – used in a cake!
I would make batches of lemon curd if I win!
mmm…meyer lemon curd…that’s what will happen if i win these
Love The Lemon Ladies.
I just realized I didn’t order my box yet this year. It would be great if I won one!
Lemoncello for sure.
oops, meant Limoncello!
If I win, I will make more lemon curd for the freezer, and for gifts! Yippee!
This would make this Montana girl’s winter a little brighter!
Mmmm! Lemon curd and preserved lemons for me, please. 🙂
Love meyer lemons so much! I have a little tree which lives in a pot (I’m in New England), and every year it blooms and my house smells heavenly, but the fruits never make it. So I’d love to win these! Limoncello and lemon curd would be my first thoughts.
Thank you for putting on this giveaway. I’ve always wanted to try their citrus, but just can’t afford at this time. I hope I win! It will give me something bright to look forward to in dark and cold Vermont!
I will make preserved lemons!
Lemon curd or marmalade. Hope I win!
Lemon curd, or maybe salted lemons for the February mastery challenge. I’ve never worked with Meyer lemons before, and would really like to.
Oh, Lemon curd and limoncello would be my priorities! (lemon bars the second :-)!
limoncello!
Thanks for the chance ?
Some lemon curd, lemon honey and dehydrated lemons would be on my list. Maybe a little lemoncello too.
If I win I will make beverages, candies peel, preserves…oh what a treasure trove! Just thinking about the aroma makes my mouth water 🙂
I would love to make some delicious lemon curd filled cupcakes with these!