5 Vibrant Recipes Lemon Lovers Will Love

Sure, you've heard that old saying many, many, MANY times before. But there's a good reason why lip-puckering lemons are the epitome of making the best out of a sour situation. In the video up top and the recipes below, Nicole McLaughlin, aka NicoleMcmom, shares five of her favorite ways to use fresh lemons for a whole lot more than lemonade. Well, there's a lemonade recipe, too, but it's the most lemony lemonade ever. Check it out.

1. Easy Lemon Squares

Store-bought crescent dough makes these wildly popular Lemon Cream Cheese Bars extra easy to assemble and bake. Lemons and cream cheese make up the simple filling, and a sweet, buttery topping gives the baked bars extra oomph.

2. Whole Lemon Lemonade

Use this technique from Whole Lime Margarita to make the most lemony lemonade you've ever tasted. You can add a little vodka for the grownups, too.

3. Preserved Lemons

Preserved lemons add a briny, lemony bite to all kinds of savory preparations. Give them a try, using this recipe for Potato Salad with Quick Preserved Lemon and Arugula.

4. Lemon Curd

Smooth and silky Perfect Lemon Curd adds bright flavor to cakes, cupcakes, tarts, parfaits, and more. Serve these Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd and watch them disappear fast!

5. Lemon Spaghetti

Fresh lemon juice brightens up this quick and easy recipe for Last-Minute Lemon Spaghetti and Shrimp. You could use shrimp (as shown) or serve the pasta as a base for roasted chicken or grilled fish.

Related

• Pucker Up for Our Best Sweet/Tart Lemon Desserts
• Get More Recipes Made With Fresh Lemons
• 5 Simple Kitchen Hacks Using Fresh Lemons

You can connect with Nicole as NicoleMcmom on Allrecipes and on Instagram @nicolemcmom.

More tips, tricks, and ideas from Nicole:

• 3 Easy Marinades Everyone Should Know How to Make
• Learn the Secret Trick to This Ultra Decadent Lasagna
• How to Make 3 Different Dinners From 1 Rotisserie Chicken
• 5 Unexpected Ways to Make Zucchini
• 6 Easy Summer Desserts That Won't Heat up Your Kitchen
• How to Make the Two Most Popular Pasta Salads on Allrecipes