Let there be lemons!
Happy Imbolc, Candlemas, Feile Bhride! It is a Mid-Winter festival time in the Northern Hemisphere, and with this time comes so many wonderful recipes celebrating the first glimpses of the sun’s returning light.
In honor of this, a post about Lemons!
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| Open-faced Lemon Tart |
Lemons ripen first in the middle of Winter, give us a bright pop of color and flavor to wake us from the sleepy Yuletide days, and remind us that even though everything seems dormant, it is time for us to get back to work.
As a culinary powerhouse, a medicinal plant, and as a magical ingredient, lemons indeed work very hard.
Lemons are known to get rid of negative energy, unhex, break obsessions, and cut unwanted ties. This parallels nicely with how lemon (also known as bioflavonoid complex) and vitamin C supports the immune system and fights off a cold.
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| Like a choir of angels |
All parts of a lemon: the peel, the oil, and the juice, can be used for cleaning. The flowers and leaves can be added to sachets, baths, and other topical herbal purposes.
Adding lemon to almost any culinary dish can wake up its flavors in remarkable ways. Try adding a little lemon juice to the end of cooking ordinary chicken soup: its flavor profile will sparkle.
Lemon is known to detoxify the liver, and support digestion and the immune system. It is used to treat scurvy, some instances of high blood pressure, kidney stones, tinnitus, colds, flu, and nausea, to name just a few of its numerous medicinal uses.**
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| Citron and get to work! |
Lemon corresponds to the Moon, the element of Water, and is used to honor lunar deities. Specifically, Diana-- does anyone have any stories about the Roman goddess Diana, and lemons? If so, please post about it in the comments!
Soon I will be posting some of my favorite Lemon-focused recipes. You can find them under the Lemon tag anywhere on my blog:
Lemon Poppyseed Tea Cake
Open-faced Lemon Tart
Pan-roasted Artichokes with Lemon and Garlic
For now, please enjoy these easy-to-make brews:
Hot Lemon Tonic, two ways
These easy brews are perfect for Mid-Winter coziness, good health, and clarity, and a great way to explore and incorporate the lore and benefits of Lemon into your Midwinter days.
Lemon Tonic #1
- 2-3 thick slices of lemon
- 1 inch fresh ginger (for energy)
- 2 sprigs of fresh peppermint (for mental clarity and purification)
- 1 teaspoon raw honey (or more, to taste)
Lemon tonic #2
- 2-3 thick slices of lemon
- 2 inches fresh ginger (for energy)
- 1 cinnamon stick (for blessing and healing)
- 3-4 black peppercorns (for protection and unhexing)
- 1 teaspoon raw honey (or more, to taste)
Directions:
- Add all ingredients except honey to 10-12 oz purified water in a small saucepan.
- Simmer over medium heat (do not boil) for 7-12 minutes. Stir gently, with intent.
- Remove from heat, strain well, and sweeten with honey.
- Enjoy!
**As a note, herbal medicine may be ancient, but today, it is an ever-changing science, so always consult with your doctor, research what the experts say, and use good judgment and critical thinking before using or consuming any ingredient you may be unfamiliar with. If something you buy contains a warning, heed it. If you aren’t sure what a plant is, take it to a nursery or upload a photo to an ID forum online to have an expert help you identify it. Some natural ingredients are harmless in one form or dosage and toxic in another, so please be aware. **Nature posts warning signs but few have the skills to read them.**
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