The other day, someone gave me a handful of Meyer lemons grown from their own backyard lemon tree. I had never tried Meyer lemons before, since there's only ever one kind of lemon available at Safeway or Trader Joe's, the only places I've been shopping these days.
I wanted to try something special with them, rather than just substitute them for regular lemons in something in which you'd never notice their presence. Searching Epicurious for "Meyer lemon" turned up a handful of recipes ranging from the complex (Crab fritters with herb salad and Meyer lemon aioli) to the even more complex (Moroccan chicken with preserved Meyer lemons and green olives, which actually comprises two recipes for one dish). Not for the faint-hearted or the short on time. I settled on Meyer lemon curd: 3 out of 4 fork rating; 89% who tried it would make it again; only 4 ingredients, all of which I had on hand; and most importantly, 20 minutes from start to finish.
I printed the recipe and left it on the kitchen counter to try over the weekend. Late one night as I was cleaning up after dinner, it caught my eye and reading through it one more time I was seized by the desire to try it right then and there. Twenty minutes! I could do that right now and eat it tomorrow, never mind the weekend. So between glimpses of women's snowboard cross and men's figure skating long program, I made my first Meyer lemon curd. It did take longer than 20 minutes with the t.v. watching, but it was definitely simple. And so delicious. Like lemon meringue with loads of butter.
The recipe suggested it could be used as a cake or tart filling, which I can imagine would be excellent, and which I may have to try because I have about two cups of it now. I have made a dent in it already, though, since I've been spreading it by the glopful on my toast. I don't think it will be much of a chore to finish it off.
Ahree -- sounds delicious! Lemon is one of my favorite flavors. You'll have to post if you do end up making a lemon tart.
Posted by: Margaret | February 22, 2006 at 04:13 PM
A good friend recently transplanted to Santa Monica promises me lemons grown in his backyard. I will try the lemon curd recipe when I get his goods. Show me the lemons!
Posted by: domo-kun | February 24, 2006 at 09:46 AM