Lemony Summer Time Recipes

I thought I would share some great summer time recipes that I have recently tried out here at home.  Summer is always a good time to add the tart and tangy lemon flavor to your menu and the following recipes were hits, although we were a little surprised that the lemon balm while smelling very LEMONY does not, in fact, taste lemony.

Lemon Ice Box Cake

1 lemon cake mix with pudding in the mix
2 cans condensed milk (anything with condensed milk HAS to be good!)
2/3 cup lemon juice
8 oz. Cool Whip

Mix cake as directed for a 2 layer cake.  Mix one can condensed milk with 1/2 of the lemon juice.  Spread mixture on top of the first layer.  Mix the remaining can of condensed milk with the rest of the lemon juice and the Cool Whip.  Smooth over top and sides of cake.  Refrigerate.

(I did think the cake itself could be a little more moist.  I may try this again and make a thin glaze with lemon juice and confectioners' sugar, poke holes in both layers with a fork and pour the glaze over all, before adding the frosting.)


Lemon Balm Pesto


2 cups of fresh lemon balm
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 or four cloves of garlic.

Place all in blender or processor and blend well.  Baste broiled or grilled fish or chicken with pesto or serve over pasta.  

(while this was good, it was definitely not lemony)



Lemon Balm Ice Cream


2 cups sugar
2 cups milk
2 cups half and half
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1-2 TBS finely chopped lemon balm

Mix all ingredients in a blender or with mixer.  Pour into a 9 x 13 pan and freeze.  Stir before serving.


Lemon Balm Tea


I cut about 4 cups of lemon balm, stems and leaves, rinsed them and added to a quart pot of boiling water.  I let it boil and then simmer for about 15 minutes and then strained into a 2 quart pitcher.  I added 1/2 cup of sugar (could do less) and the added water to fill.  Stir well and enjoy on ice.  Very refreshing, but still not lemony!!