CANDIED MEYER LEMON FRENCH 75

We are slowly puttering about our days: trips to the library, getting the garden prepped for planting, setting out plans for a big road trip, cooking simple meals, welcoming company into town over the weekends, reading books, fighting colds, and sipping wine with friends.

All of our little activities have somehow added up to make life feel busy and full, not to mention that Lulu has a high fever again and is teething up a storm. Basically, what I’m saying is, please forgive me if my writing is a bit muddled and sleepy-sounding. It is a direct reflection of my thought process these days.

We spend hours each day at parks and have lunch picnics in the backyard, and at night we fall asleep listening to the spring rain on our windows. The garden weeds are going wild and I am itching to grab the trowel and my gloves and work in the dirt. Kyle has been busy building two new raised beds, one of which will host a cold frame that he built. I’ll post a tutorial for the raised beds soon! The girls are fully appreciating extra time in the garden. They’re favorite task is watering things: weeds, the patio, rocks, each other. We are fully embracing the transition from winter to spring; it is one of my favorite times of the year.

garden PIN

As spring settles in, and I prepare to welcome asparagus, garlic scapes, and rhubarb back into the kitchen, I am also preparing to kiss my favorite winter citrus fruits goodbye. There’s still a bit of time to find them at the grocery store and as long as they are there I will be picking them up and putting them into our cart… or rather handing them to Lulu so she can bite through the peels before spitting it out and throwing them into the back of the cart.

A little while back I shared a recipe for Candied Meyer Lemons and Blood Oranges and I thought I’d share a quick cocktail recipe I worked up using the lemons! I opted to use vodka from a local distillery for this spin on a French 75, but you could use gin if you prefer. I love the slight tangerine flavor that Meyer lemons give this drink, but if you can’t find them you could use regular lemons in their place. This cocktail is really simple and was a big hit with our friends.

CANDIED MEYER LEMON FRENCH 75 PINPIN