Have you ever stared at your food, wondering its history? Ok, probably not, but you should. With this article, I'm hoping to start a new series, explaining the history of some popular foods and drinks. Today, with a suggestion from one of my friends, I've decided to research the history of the lemon, a fruit that is not used as much as an apple or grapes. Anyway, here we go!

The Fruit with a Unique Taste: Lemons

The exact place where the lemon was founded is not known, but it is believed that the lemon was founded in Northern India. The lemon, or otherwise referred to as the "golden fruit," was traded for a variety of precious things. Today, lemons are used not only to make lemonade, but used to make pies, cakes, and even cookies!

When Life Gives Us Lemons, Make Lemonade . . .

Lemonade was at first discovered in Egypt, about 1,500 years ago. The drink, which then was a lemon and honey wine, was drunk mostly by peasants. Ever wondered where the name "lemonade" came from? The French, after naming their lemon drink "limonade," allowed the Russians and the Germans to use their name. Soon following, North American adapted lemonade as their lemon drink.

Sour Fruit, Yummy Desserts!

Although the lemon may be sour, it can make delicious desserts. Cakes, cookies, and pies are all commonly known around the United States and Canada (as well as other countries). However, there are other desserts and other foods that use lemons as a main ingredient. These include some cheesecakes, Mexican dishes, and breads.

Basic Cheesecake

A basic cheesecake depends on lemons to pull it all together, and makes it officially taste like a cheesecake. Here's the recipe to a basic cheesecake, that you can make a home (right after to make Dartanian's recipe of the week)!

Ingredients
24 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons lemon rind
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups crushed Graham Cracker

Directions

Mix Grahams, melted butter and sugar in a small bowl. Press mixture into a 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Mix cream cheese, sugar eggs and lemon rind until smooth. Pour into baked graham cracker crust and bake in at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until slightly jiggley in the middle when shook.

Cool before serving.

I hope that this article helped you understand lemons a bit more.

Until next issue,
Bluebag