I have piles of beautiful lemons. So I decided to make the lemon cheese (lemon curd).
This is how Mum’s recipe, scribbled down in 1981 read. It is certainly spotty and dog eared and up for interpretation.
- juice of 8 lemons
- sugar to taste
- 1 oz butter
- 1 tblsp cornflour
- 2 eggs, whipped
- Make in double boiler or on low heat. 7 minutes. stir carefully. Hmm
Today I am taking some of this lemon cheese and I shall make a lemon cake, so stand by. Hairy MacLairy was put in with Mama exactly 5 months ago. So we should be watching for signs of something stirring from now on. Nothing stirring so far. 
Mama as you know is a Suffolk and they are shaped like a skinny bell jar, straight, like an empty toilet roll, this belly bulge only happens when she is pregnant. But I think we still has a ways to go. Her udder is not dropping yet either. Ah well. I am sure she will wait for the rottonest weather. I have to stop staring at her. Willing her to look pregnant. It is like watching grass grow.
Hairy is getting fat from stealing all the good extra feed that we give pregnant ewes in their last month, plus getting too rough with Mama, so it is time for him to go into his own pen today. No-one will be pleased and there you are.
Last night we had a big lightening storm and rain. The thunder was so loud and so long that it was percussive and the little house on the prairie shuddered with each smashing rumble. Amazing that sound can shake a house. It was warm enough to have my bedroom window open so I could hear the beautiful rain. The lightening flashed for ages and even with closed eyes I could see it. I love thunder and lightening. All John’s rain barrels will be filled to overflowing. We will have to go around today and empty them because when they freeze, the barrels may split. However the cow’s heated water troughs have water spouts, so they will be full too. One less job for me today.
Now I am going to gather a few of those lemon skins and take them out to Daisy to have with her breakfast. She loves lemons. But I am careful not to give her too many at a time so as not to upset that lovely corn-free balance of stomach acids.
It is dawn and 46 degrees and that is our high. The weather site tells me that we will plummet back to freezing today, with the rain turning to snow. So all this water on the ground will freeze solid. That should be interesting! I shall keep the camera handy today.
Good morning.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
110 responses to “Daisy loves lemons, she won’t get the scurvy”
Oh lashings of lemon curd all round. 🙂
hear hear.. c
i’m not exactly sure what lemon curd is…. but i imagine it’s good!
it is very good and this is just the time of year to have some.. c
I, like Country Man’s Wife, do not know what lemon curd is, nor cornflour. Is this a pudding or…?
Lemon curd is a spread. I love it on toast! It is meant to be tart, but some people like it sweeter.. c
I’m so excited to make the lemon curd – and then fresh scones to serve with it!
Thats what i feel like today.. scones! c
My question is, how do you move Hairy MacLairy around? Does he walk with you peacefully? On a leash perhaps? Our goats do that and are no problem. The reason I ask is that the other night I looked out the window to see Roxie, our mischievous pig, about 250 lbs happily strolling across the lawn. We had just enlarged their electric wire fence, and somehow she had made the great escape. Anyway, 45 minutes later, after chasing her around we finally got her back in the pen. I just think there must be an easier way to move a pig around! Di
Every set of animals are trained to a call and the bang of the bucket. Every time i feed them i call out that word in the same tone and bang the bucket. So if anyone gets out, i get all the gates in order, then I just call and bang the bucket then run like crazy to where I want them to be with the animal in question galloping merrily after the bucket. So the essence of the thing is that I will lead an animal where I want it to go. And he is rewarded with food. i start this training the moment they arrive. And fancy your piggie getting out. I am so looking forward to having a pig. Do you use the sheep electric fence for them?. c
That’s so much for this advice Celi! We will start tomorrow! My John will have to think of the word he wants to use, as he is the one who usually feeds the pigs. You will absolutely love your pigs! They are very sweet, and just love attention! They will run madly toward you when you come out looking for pets and scratches and , yes, food too! The electric fences work great with the pigs! It only takes them a day or two to learn that they shock them, and then they are very respectful of the wires. I think the fence must have been grounded on some weeds, or small shrub that allowed for Roxane to make the great escape. Since then, they have been happily staying in their new space. Di
are you using the pigs to dig up this summers vege garden? c
Funny you should ask that, as we actually moved the fence because they found and dug up some of the most fertile land in the pasture!!! So now that it is all dug up, we only need to remove the remaining rocks (lots of them as we are in the mountains!) and then the bee garden is going in there!
perfect. And it is already fertilised (a little). We plan to put the pigs into whatever field we are resowing each year! They can do the prep work!! c
Lemon curd…now I’m craving some, with nice little shortbread cookies…
Careful on the ice in the morning!
mm, shortcake cookies! c
That lemon curd looks divine, C. Thanks for the sunshine on a grey day. 🙂
My MIL makes the most delicious lemon meringue pie with lemon curd, and lemon squares…oh my! Yours sounds delicous. I read with interest how you train your animals from birth to come by banging on the food bucket. We are getting two piggies in the spring, and one of our main worries was we heard if the pigs get out it is very difficult to get them back in! And also that they can eat everything in sight while they are escaped. Which is not a good thing when selling vegetables for a living only to have a pair of mischievous pigs eat up all your hard work! To be sure, we will be using electric fencing…Can’t wait to see Daisy’s lamb(s?) It could be twins, wouldn’t that be something!!
Interesting about the lemon meringue pie, i might look at my recipe and see if it could bear adapting.. Yes when we get the pigs Sheila who we will keep to breed and lead, will be trained to come when called. I have one in every flock or herd small though they are. It will not be hard to do with pigs I hope, they are pretty bright. They are escape artists though. I heard of a woman whose pig escaped and ate the washing right off her clothesline. John is building a proper pig sty under the trees. Mama the sheep had quads last time, so I am praying for twins! Quads were hard work.. c
Interesting about the lemon meringue pie: I learned to make it (in school, 60 years ago)with a very fiddly lemon filling, but lemon curd could be much better, and a blooming sight easier.
Escapologists: our pony was nicknamed Houdini, as he would roll and slither under a wire 10 inches from the ground when the hunt was about. We used to have to bolt him in on meet days, and even then he would scramble up the stable door to get out.
Strange weather for January in these parts! Snowstorm one day, thunder and lightning the next. I can see the grass again.
wild isn’t it and some of my grass is GREEN!! c
Hi C, Lovely post. Really enjoyed reading it. There is always something going on! Looooove lemon curd.
Regards Florence x
Morning Florence, lovely to see you .. take care.. c
How funny that she likes lemons, I can’t wait to see your lemon cake! Have a nice day 🙂
I am interested to see how it is in a cake too! c
In these days I hear these lemon cheese around here, from yoga trainers… They make their own (white)cheese with lemon… without using yeast… I noted but I haven’t tried yet. And here once again I come across this lemon cheese… But this is different of course, not to make a real cheese or did I miss something… I can’t believe lovely Daisy loves lemon! Oh my God! On the other hand, it is accepted that lemon is not acidic… even as it is said that lemon neutralizes the acid when we eat them or drink them… But I don’t know what to think, one of my doctors doesn’t accept this, but another one says it is true… not an acidic fruit… Anyway, Thank you dear Cecilia, have a nice day, with my love, nia
Well that is interesting what you said about lemons nia. and maybe you could find out more about real lemon cheese that the yoga people use, i would be interested to know! maybe we can make that too.. c
Dear Cecilia, I tried to translate this recipe but maybe I made some mistakes, but I am sure you can understand how it is done… Thank you, with my love, nia
Hmm, this does look like an interesting recipe. i shall investigate further,, thank you Nia! I love having something new! c
I love lemon curd and keep it in the fridge most of the time. I better make more today so I’ll be ready for your cake. I have two yorkies that will take the lemon slice right out of my iced tea glass.
Hi Beverly and welcome. That is fantastic those two stealing your lemon slice, cheeky little yorkies! c
I hope Mama does her thing between cold snaps:-)
I am with you on that one Bella, fingers crossed.. c
So, Daisy likes lemons, eh? Is she ever in the wrong climate! Wasn’t that thunderstorm something? It’s always so unexpected in the Winter and the first thunderclap is such a surprise. I agree about how loud the storms are out in the country. When I’m back in Michigan, the thunder seems 10 times louder than anything here in Chicago. Stay warm, Celi. The wind has picked up and temps are already dropping here. Gonna ba a cold one, again. 🙂
Oh dear, well it was a nice wee break, I loved being able to open the window last night! c