Life Gives Lemons; I Make More Than Lemonade

Life gave me lemons and I'm making a whole lot more than just lemonade. Lemons are so versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. I'm getting started by giving you a few facts -- well it's Thursday so -- I'm giving you 13 facts, but who's counting? The good folks at Thursday Thirteen have lots of reading material with hundreds of participants.

1. Meyer lemons were discovered in 1908 by Frank Meyer.
2. They are believed to be a mix between lemons and either oranges or mandarins.
3. If you gently roll a lemon on your counter, it will give you more juice.
4. Lemons are an excellent source of ascorbic acid which prevents scurvy.
5. Use lemon juice as a flavoring to reduce the need for salt.
   
6. Lemon trees can produce fruit year round.
7. A healthy, adult tree can produce 500-600 pounds of lemons each year.
8. Lemon groves were planted in California when the 49ers were willing to pay large sums of money for lemons to prevent scurvy while working in the gold mines.
9. The high levels of Vitamin C found in lemons and other citrus fruits have been shown to prevent cancers, especially colon, stomach, mouth and larynx by neutralizing free radicals.
10. Lemons are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, copper, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, iron and magnesium.
11. Lemons can help in losing weight and should be used minimally if attempting to gain weight.
12. According to research presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the inability to identify the smell of lemons is one of the predictors of Alzheimer's disease.
13. According to that research a "ten smell odor identification system" which includes the lemon has been found to be a better predictor of the disease than the brain and memory imaging tests used as the standard.

Now here's a fun video to help wish you a Happy Thursday!
Some of the cute faces she makes remind me of Shirley Temple.