Lemons

Lemon is by far my favorite fruit, and possibly my favorite food (between pizza and cinnamon). Not only does it taste great, but it's pretty healthy. Lemon contains more nutrients than people normally think. Lemons contain small amounts of protein, zinc, potassium, calcium, vitamin c, some B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients. But most importantly, it tastes incredible.

Here are my top 5 foods (and drink) involving lemon. Of course I should mention that if you could have the homemade version of these foods, they will be much better (health and taste wise!)

5- Lemon Cookies - There are many variations of this cookie, but my favorite is a zesty lemon cookie with granulated sugar on top, although powdered sugar works just fine. This is great for someone who doesn't love lemon as much as I do. You will still get the taste of lemon, but in cookie form it is much mellower. No matter what the recipe says, I personally always add extra lemon juice.

4- Lemonade- When are these kids on the side of the street going to get the art of making lemonade down? I remember as a kid squeezing lemons -- OK I'm just kidding, but a dollar for a small cup is a steep price. That's why I suggest making this classic drink yourself, with lemon juice or freshly squeezed lemons, and real sugar (no fake stuff, I just don't think it tastes as good). As always, I suggest adding more lemon juice than the recipe calls for.

3- Lemon Bars- I just had my first lemon bar this year, and my mind was blown. Disappointment and regret for missing out on these delicious little snacks, but ecstatic that I will be adding them into my repertoire. The powdered sugar complements the strange texture of these delicious treats. If you haven't had one of these, I certainly suggest trying one.

2- Lemon Ice- The best ice, or sorbet, is homemade. Unfortunately, to make the perfect homemade ice, you need an ice cream maker. If you have one, hopefully it is electric. I have had a manual one for the longest time, and using it is exhausting, especially if it isn't cold enough to begin with. That being said, it is completely worth it. I always like having toppings with my frozen desserts, but lemon ice doesn't leave many options. I would say that you need something fruity like gummy bears for a topping. One time I tried Reese's Pieces, and it just didn't work.

1- Lemon Meringue Pie- The best of the best. My favorite way to enjoy this delicious treat is with a graham cracker pie crust. While others are tasty, I strongly believe graham cracker is the best option. One thing I have noticed about lemon meringue pie is that there is a window of time when the pie's flavor and texture is at its peak. On the day it's made, the curd (pudding) hasn't thickened properly yet. Days 2-5 are prime time for eating it, but after that, the curd starts to turn soupy.