Tu-Na Helper picked the remaining lemons off the tree. We had all sizes.
Oh, you need a reference point.
The jumbo one was 11 1/2″ around and had 7/8 cup (7 oz.) of juice.
I could barely hold it!
The medium one was about 9″ in circumference and held 2/3 cup of juice.
This plate is 6.5″ in diameter.
The small one was the size that is most likely to be found in grocery stores, about 7 3/4″ around. Ok. Maybe it is a bit bigger than you’d find. It had 1/4 cup of juice which was just enough juice for some fresh lemon meringue pie, too.
Tu-Na Helper has been very busy with yard work such as trimming the trees and shrubs in our yard.
Before
Notice the beautiful Oleander shrub outside our front door. There’s one on the left side peaking out from behind the Pineapple Palm Tree.
After
Here’s how they looked when I went out to give him a cold drink. I about fell to my knees. It was a very sad moment for me.
But I still gave him some strawberry lemonade and I sat and sipped on some, too. I’m not sure who needed cooling off more: him or me!
It’s very easy and is a recipe I developed myself.
Strawberry Lemonade
8 cups of water, divided
1 1/2 – 1 3/4 cups sugar (Depends on how tart you like it)
1 pound of strawberries, washed and hulled
1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice with pulp
In a saucepan, stir 1 cup of the water and the sugar. Bring to a boil until the liquid becomes clear. Set aside to cool or chill overnight.
Puree the strawberries and some of the water in a blender or smoothie maker.
Combine the cooled sugar/water syrup, pureed strawberries, lemon juice, and the remaining water in a pitcher. Stir well. Chill.
Serve over ice to a thirsty man.
Although it’s been 100°+, the cacti in the neighborhood are still blooming. Here’s a couple more pics taken today to feast your eyes upon.
What I Learned Today:
- Fresh lemonade made with lemons picked right off the tree tastes the best.
- I shall miss the fresh lemons. But I have a grocery bag filled with our lemons that are making the trip north with us. There’s 13 in there so you know they are the big ones.
- I shall miss picking fresh oranges from our tree and juicing for breakfast.
- There’s probably no way that we’ll finish all the food in the fridge and freezer before we migrate north.
- Tu-Na Helper is trying his best to accomplish #4.
Question: Do you make fresh lemonade, mix up some frozen from a can, or measure some powder from a can? Before we started migrating south for the winter, I only used the frozen. Now I prefer the fresh.
Thanks for stopping by and do come again.
Karen
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Linking to:
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats 
Have a safe trip back north! See you in the fall!
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KAREN,
HOLY MOLY! First, the size of that big lemon!! Second, Tu-Na Helped did some MAJOR trimming (he needs a new term for it!). I hardly recognize the beautiful blooming bush on the corner – yousa he took all the blooms off. I know it will rebound though. And the palm tree too! Okay – I know you were upset so I’m dropping it now. The cacti – look at that gorgeous red or red/orange. That is one of my favorite colors – I could feast on the picture all day. You are slowly convincing me to winter in AZ just for these sites! ~smile~ Roseanne
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OMG – why did he scalp the bush like that? And that lemon – wow never have I seen one like that. Do you sometimes wish you lived there all year round for the fresh fruit and just because or do you feel that you would spend all your time indoors in the A/C? I sometimes wonder what I would do – one of my aunts lived in the Phoenix area almost her entire life having moved there in her early 30’s and lived to be almost 90 – one of my many nephews and his girl live there and seem to love it but admit they don’t go out that much in the afternoon other than to work and back but I guess from October to April they love it. As far as the lemonade goes I really do not drink it often – hubby is hooked on Crystal lIght lemonade from a package – when I drink lemonade I normally go through the drive through at the Chicken Filet and get a frozen lemonade heaven knows how many calories are in that thing and what is in it but it sure does taste good on a hot day – yes I got one today. Safe trip home – thinking of you and your bag of lemons!
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I don’t make fresh lemonade or any other kind. =) I used to, but I got out of the habit. Mostly, I drink orange juice. Your Oleander reminded me of the year I was so excited that my yellow rose was doing well (it struggles!) and so happy with all the new growth and then I came out and my son had trimmed it to almost nothing! Sigh. I feel your pain. Good thing you are leaving for the northlands soon. It will grow back nicely by the time you return. =)
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Karen,
Wow! It was so nice of you to post a picture of the Lemon pie…….now I want one! The size of that lemon is almost unbelievable.
Have a safe trip to ND. It will be a big change in scenery but give you a chance to work on your “other” quilt projects.
I always enjoy reading your posts. Thanks for keeping me entertained and wishing I was in your sunny area. Maybe we can figure it out next year.
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I have never seen a lemon that size before! I don’t drink lemonade. It’s too sour for me. But I love lemon meringue pie. And yours looked yummy. Thanks for all the great pictures of the cacti. They certainly aren’t something I see around here in Minnesota.
Safe travels to you and Tu-Na Helper.
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Your cacti are beautiful! I used to make lemonade when I was younger, I always order strawberry lemonade when we eat out thanks for sharing your recipe I will definitely give it a try!
Safe travels back north to you and Tu-Na helper.
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Well, I’ll have to join the others in saying that wowza, that first lemon is huge! We don’t make lemonade much around here, but would prefer the real to the packaged, any day. I hope your bush grows back even better after it’s trim. Safe travels on your trek back home!
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Our lemons don’t go into lemonade, but baking, dressings, and freeze the rind for puddings later on. That shrub, reminds me of a haircut I had years ago, I asked for a TRIM, and came out with short spikes, Hugh said it was a “hedgehog cut”. Never mind, they might grow back better then before.
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I have never seen lemons that huge…wowzers! Your lemonade and cacti look beautiful. Have a safe journey and a very Happy Mother’s Day!
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