Pucker Up!

OH, the JOY of having a lemon tree!!!

Actually, my neighbors have a beautiful lemon tree that so graciously falls over our common wall on the side yard! My neighbors give me carte blanche with these beauties and I am only too happy to indulge! I look forward to this perk every year and am grateful for the pickin's! I use them with grilling and cooking, lemon bread, and of course - lemonade!! Sometimes, my neighbors will also leave a gift on top of the wall by the tree...maybe a few oranges from their tree on the other side of their yard, or maybe it's a few lemons that fell on their side that they know I'd only be too happy to take off their hands!

Yesterday I was busy trying to get back on my feet from an ornery touch of bronchitis. The doorbell rang and lo and behold, a dear woman who's two children were students of mine was standing at my door - 5 gallon-bucket in hand - loaded with iris bulbs! (uh, for those of you in-the-know... an iris is really not a bulb, it's a rhizome...but I digress)

Her husband is Mr. Iris Man and has hundreds of them growing in their charming yard! This wonderful woman works at school with me and every so often I'll ask about Tony and his irises and she'll bring me up-to-date on his ventures. Well, here she was - sharing these gorgeous flowers with me!!! I only wish I had been up and at the door when she came by (I was planted in bed). So today I was digging in my gardens and making new homes for these beauties! I can not wait to see their splendor when bloom time comes!! What a wonderful, kind, generous, unexpected surprise!

So today, I decided to make an indulgent 'thank you' for my neighbor and friend for their kindness and generousity.

Homemade lemon curd!

Now, before you go wrinkling up your nose, let me explain. The 'lemon curd' that one finds in a jar in the store is SOOOO NOT what lemon curd is all about! That stuff is NA-STY! And if you have some in your fridge, get rid of it!! Here's the recipe I use for the real deal... tart, tangy, sweet and creamy! The best way that I can describe it is like this... Do you like Lemon Meringue Pie?? Well.... this is like the lemon filling...only a touch more creamier! Trust me.... you'll be spooning this out of the jar! It's wonderful on scones, toast, biscuits, english muffins, etc.. or.. like I said... straight! So indulge yourself!

Lemon Curd

3 large egg yolks

zest of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

6 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces

Combine yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan.

Whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon - making sure to stir sides and bottom of pan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat back of wooden spoon - 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove saucepan from heat. Add the butter, one piece at a time, sitrring with the wooden spoon until consistency is smooth.

Transfer mixture to a medium bowl (or into individual jars for giving - I used canning jars). Lay a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface fof the curd to avoid a skin from forming; wrap tightly. Let cool; refrigerate until firm and chilled, at least 1 hour. Store, refrigerated in an airtight container, up to 2 days (although, if there is any left over after 2 days, I have found it lasts for almost a week). Makes 1 1/2 cups.

I doubled this recipe today and it works beautifully.

May an unexpected gift find its way to you this week - and may joy be your companion!