Bittersweet

It's no secret I have a love affair with Meyer lemons. Friends and family aside, Kumquats and Meyer lemons are two things I truly miss about California - well, at this time of year, I would be a liar if I were not to include the weather, but that one was really just a given. Unfortunately, you're not going to find them around this part of the country, unless you hit Trader Joe's at just the right time, or you come to my house.

For our anniversary two years ago my mom got us some Meyer lemon trees so I would no longer have to do without. I have to admit I was a bit worried about the growing part because I am not much of a plant person. Let's just say their lives would be a lot richer if they could water themselves, or talk so they could nag me like my kids...anyway, for some reason the Meyer lemons love my abuse. After living through the Indoor Bloom of 07 when I thought my head was going to explode from all of the sweet pollen, and after holding my breath every time one of the children would brush against one of the branches and make those bittersweet beauties bob, I have ripe Meyer lemons.

Which brings me to the problem part. I have waited so long for these lemons I now don't know what to do with them. Oh sure, I could make some lemon bars, or a lemon meringue pie, but do those things really seem worthy of fresh lemon juice from homegrown Meyer lemons? Plus, there is the whole flop factor. You know how it is - those movies that you have heard so much about that you eagerly await the release and when you go to see it you quickly realize they showed every single funny part in the previews, oh, and you are only 20 minutes into the thing - a flop. What if these much anticipated lemons are 80% pith? You know it can happen.

Well, as you can see, things have improved from my last post because today I am worrying about lemons - it is always moment-to-moment around here and sometimes just a little bittersweet.