Candied lemon peel

IMG_0894, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

To make your own:
Peel the rind off of 2 lemons....these are Meyer
Drop the peels in boiling water for 1 minute, lift from water and rinse or soak in cold water
Repeat this process 2 times always with fresh water
Prepare a simple syrup of 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar
Add the boiled lemon peel to the syrup and simmer for 5 minutes until soft. then
Dry on parchment paper for 1 hour

candied lemon peel

IMG_0895, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

drying and ready to add to the streusel topping

Oranges & lemons

oranges & lemons, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

When I was a young girl my Christmas stocking was filled with candy, nuts and oranges.....sometimes apples. These were always readily available at holiday time and affordable as well as edible. My children laugh at me when I try to continue this tradition of stocking stuffers. Today it is usually cozy socks that fill the stocking. But as I look around for available Christmas decorations the fruit is perfect. These oranges are Cara Cara oranges....they are very pink inside and a little sweeter than most oranges and they are the first harvest from my little container tree. Gifts from the garden. The Meyer lemons are from my little tree that has been giving me fruit for many years. The tree stands about 3 feet tall.
So I think of my mother and old traditions using oranges and lemons from my garden to create a yummy salad:

Orange fennel salad

orange fennel salad, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

and Voila! Orange fennel salad:
1 fennel bulb, sliced very thin..use the top for garnish
4 oranges, peeled and also sliced thin, (I used Cara Cara oranges)
spinich or arugula
blue cheese
walnuts, toasted
dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
juice from 2 lemons ( I used my Meyer lemons)
salt
pepper
Mix the sliced oranges and fennel bulb in a bowl and toss with dressing
Lay a bed of the greens on each plate and then add the orange mixture
Sprinkle blue cheese and toasted walnuts on top
Garnish with the feathery tips from the top of the fennel

Post script: tablesetting: 10 lords a leeping (W-S Christmas linens), hand folded Christmas tree made from a retail catalogue.

Lemon detail quilt

lemon quilt, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This is a small (4" by 5") art quilt. It looks a lot like my previous entry. Two years ago I took my 1st art quilt class with Jane Lafazio at the Oceanside Museum of Art. In the very beginning of the class Jane recommended that we have a sketchbook to jot down our images. Although I love my quilting I really did consider dropping out of the class if I was going to be forced to sketch. I knew I just couldn't do it. Six months later I decided I would learn how to do a little sketching. Again Jane was my teacher. I have been keeping a sketchbook journal ever since. Three days ago I took 2 Meyer lemons, sliced one in half and sat down with my Moleskein watercolor sketchbook and drew a simple sketch. Tonight I finished a little quilt on canvas, painted with acrylic paints and then hand embroidered, beaded and embellished with vintage buttons this little quilt. It makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it too.

Meyer lemon with shadows

Meyer lemon with shadows
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl

It was a warm sunny day here...lots of sunshine to ripen these lemons. Just in time because I need the fruit for lemon curd.  The next morning lemon curd with strawberries, yogurt and a puff pastry friend.