Lemons, Meyer

Thought to be a cross between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange, the sweetness of this winter citrus sets it apart from common lemons. Mild enough to add raw segments as a side to salads or desserts. Their rinds also have a more complex scent than regular lemons — a spicy bergamot fragrance that tastes and smells more like an herb or a spice—wonderful for zesting, and pickling/preserving. Try the juice of these in your favorite vinaigrette, add the pulp to a Mediterranean dish, sweet or savory.

Since lemons are loaded with healthy benefits, and particularly, Vitamin C food, adding them to your morning glass of water is a recommended way to start the day. One cup of fresh lemon juice provides 187 percent of your daily recommended serving of vitamin C! Lemon juice also offers up a healthy serving of potassium, magnesium and copper.