Knitionary

The easiest way to preserve that lovely lemon flavor.

Scrub and dry 3 large lemons.  Zest just the bright yellow part.  Add 2 cups sugar and rub through fingers to infuse the zest and lemon oil throughout the sugar.  Sprinkle sugar on baking sheet to dry overnight.  Next morning break up crumbles, I had to give it a quick whirl in the food processor.  Store in clean jars.  We had it on yogurt this morning, nice, and I see lemon cookies in my future.

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In last weeks Wall Street Journal they had an article about seasonal fast food and the Shamrock Shake tops the list.  I know, sit a bit and just think about what I said, seasonal fast food.  People make pilgrimages to McDonald's for this spring treat that's only available in March!  I don't know, but it just struck me as funny to call a Shamrock Shake a seasonal food.   Crazy me for thinking a spring-time seasonal food be more like asparagus or early dill!  I was laughing as I read it because at the time I was drinking my own version of the Shamrock Shake.  I don't know if it's mint or pistachio that makes their shake green, but spinach is what makes my shake green!

I'm sure you all have your own version and mine is probably very similar to yours: non fat plain yogurt, seasonal fruit, 1/2 banana, juice of 1/2 lemon, crushed ice and a big handful or two of fresh spinach.  I made it this morning which is a good enough breakfast for me but I hear my husband in the kitchen making some eggs to supplement.

Now for my ultimate recycling story:  When we recovered our sofas last year I asked the upholsterer if it wasn't too much of a bother I would like the old fabric back.  A month later along with my new sofas I got a HUGE bag of fabric!


The fabric was in surprisingly good shape considering the sofas were over 20 years old.  So what's a girl to do?  Make napkins of course.   They are all different sizes, from 16x16" to 24x24" and I managed to make 23!  They are my every day napkins and will never get ironed, just folded up and put in the drawer.  For my entire married life I have never used paper napkins (except the paper cocktail napkins if I'm having a big party), I've always preferred cloth and don't think it's a bother to throw them in the wash when I'm doing a load.  In almost every load I do, there seem to be a few napkins tossed in.  They last for years and years and I don't mind if they are a little stained or in slightly shabby shape, they are for family and for everyday use after all.  About every 5 years or so I toss them out and buy or make another 2 dozen.  Both my kids also use cloth in their own homes.  They grew up that way and like their mom, don't like paper!