As someone who's been married to a Greek for 17 years, I've grown accustomed to using a great deal of lemons in cooking. I've been very firmly instructed that lemons are a must for any kind of meat, poultry, fish, and of course, the famous Avgolemono soup. Friends often give me bags of lemons, and when I tell them I only need a few, they say, "Don't worry - you'll use these up in no time!" (they are usually right!)
I have discovered that in addition to cooking, this versatile little sour yellow fruit has a lot more potential:
Freshen Bad Breath: Gargle with lemon juice and water to kill odor-causing bacteria, or suck on the lemon wedge served with your water.
Soften Skin: Combine lemon zest with sugar and soak the mixture with olive oil (OPA!)for 30 minutes for a homemade body scrub.
Add Sunny Highlights: (Especially useful for men!) Want to lighten your tresses a notch or two? Mix lemon juice with your favorite conditioner and apply to damp locks before heading out to catch some rays.
Fix a streaky tan: To lighten a botched self-tanning job, rub a halved lemon over the area.
Whiten yellow nails: Soak fingers in lemon juice for 5 minutes. To prevent stains in the future, apply a clear protective base coat before nail polish.
Zap Zits: Try lemon juice on blackheads at night to clar up skin.
In addition, the acid in lemons has antiseptic properties and a fresh scent, making it a natural solution for household chores. Save money by using this citrus fruit to replace costly cleaning products:
Kill microwave Smells: Fill a heat resistant bowl with water and half a lemon and zap for 5 minutes
Bust Dust Particles: Mix 10 drops lemon oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice & a few drops olive oil (OPA!)in a spray bottle. Spray onto surfaces, and wipe with a cotton flannel cloth.
Attack a stain: Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to a load of white laundry, then let dry in the sun.
Clean the bathroom: Put lemon juice on a sponge and wipe shoewr doors to remove soap scum.
Sparkle & Shine: This natural bleach & disinfectant cleans brass & copper. Sprinkle salt over half a lemon,rub it over the metal and wash clean!
So.....the next time someone offers you a bag of lemons - TAKE IT & enjoy!
