Making Lemonade from Lemons

I have so many lemons this season I am not sure what to do. It's sad that they are hard to give away. Whole Foods sells them for almost a buck each! I even tried calling food banks and they said no. So much for good deeds. Someone, anyone need lemons? It made me start thinking that I wasn't thinking outside of the yellow box enough. It doesn't have to be lemon squares or lemon in my water. Here are some uses I am giving a try this month. Please send me any lemon recipes or your favorite citrus tip.

Keep rice from sticking To keep your rice from sticking together, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the boiling water when cooking. When the rice is done, let it cool for a few minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

Refresh cutting boards To get rid of smells and help sanitize the cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

Keep guacamole green Sprinkle a liberal amount of fresh lemon juice over it and it will stay fresh and green. The flavor of the lemon juice is a natural complement to the avocados in the guacamole. Works for fruit salad too. Just squeeze some lemon juice onto the apple slices, and they'll stay snowy white.

Clean your microwave Just mix 3 tablespoons lemon juice into 1 1/2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High for 5-10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls and ceiling of the oven. Then just wipe away the softened food with a dishrag.

Deodorize your garbage disposal If your garbage disposal is beginning to make your sink smell yucky, here's an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon peels and toss them down the drain.

Whiten clothes Diluted or straight, lemon juice is a safe and effective fabric whitener when added to your wash water. Clothes come out smelling lemon-fresh.

Clean and whiten nails Pamper your fingernails without the help of a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

Cleanse your face Clean and exfoliate your face by washing it with lemon juice. You can also dab lemon juice on blackheads to draw them out.

Freshen your breath Make an impromptu mouthwash using lemon juice straight from a bottle. Rinse with the juice and then swallow it for longer-lasting fresh breath. The citric acid in the juice alters the pH level in your mouth, killing the bacteria that cause bad breath. Rinse well though, long-term exposure to the acid in the lemon can harm tooth enamel.

Soften dry, scaly elbows Your elbows will look and feel better: Mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste. Then rub the paste into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment. You can rub a half lemon directly onto your elbows before a shower too.

Relieve rough hands and sore feet Rinse them in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, then massage with olive oil.