This is the time of year when candy canes come out of the woodwork. As a kid, we considered them an essential decoration for our Christmas tree, but no one really liked eating them. Peppermint candy canes are yummy, but maybe kind of boring. Here, however, is a fun and delicious way of using some of those candy canes that we seem to collect every December:
We learned this trick at the preschool my kids used to go to. My kids absolutely love when we do candy cane lemons, and it's become a holiday tradition. It's kind of magical too how you can take a solid candy cane and it suddenly becomes a straw. Not only that, but lemon juice becomes palatable. Here's the trick:
Start with one large lemon and one candy cane for each person.
First, take the lemon and roll it around, pressing firmly, until it's soft. This is something the kids can work on, but then a grown-up can check to make sure the lemon has become soft. The pressing helps to release all the little jewels of lemon juice inside.
When the lemon is soft, use the tip of a knife to cut an "X" in the side. This is where the peppermint straw will be inserted- but first, prep the candy cane:
The candy cane simply needs both ends cut off so that there is just a straight section left, with porous ends. When ready, insert this into the lemon and suck away. The acids from the juice will hollow out the candy cane, and the candy will sweeten the juice. Together, a perfect and entertaining holiday treat!
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| Odin, who does not like to let his hands get messy, holds his lemon in a cup. They also could be wrapped in a napkin to prevent dripping. |
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Candy Cane Lemons
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51 comments
Write commentsYum! I know what I'll have for a treat next time the grandkids are over here!
ReplyThat looks delicious and fun. I didn't like getting sticky as a kid but I made an exception for candy canes.
ReplyWhat a cute idea! I'd love to do it but have an allergy to sugar, do you know of a place I could get sugar-free candycanes?
ReplySuch a cool idea! I've never heard of this before, but now I want to try it!
ReplyI was raised on the Texas/Mexico border and they sold lemons with peppermint sticks in them at the convenience store across the street from the Jr High. They sold them with the giant sweet Mexican lemons.. Definitely brings back pleasant memories.. Yum.. Its truly a delightful snack, especially on a hot sunny day in the summer.
ReplyMaybe online? I'm sure some major grocery stores carry them too. I know they're out there.Good luck!
ReplyCandy canes in summer, that's funny ;)
ReplyWhat a neat idea! My kids are I will have to give it a try.
ReplyThanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday
I've never heard of this idea. I might surprise my grown children with it. No matter how old they get, it's always nice to be able to introduce a new element to our get togethers. Thanks for sharing! Visiting from Be Not Weary today and glad I did.
ReplyI like that idea, Lori.
ReplyHaha! I loved doing this as a kid, but I'd forgotten about it. I will have to try it out with my kids now! :-)
ReplyI have heard of this before!! I have to try it sometime soon!!
ReplyShelley
www.piggyinpolkadots.blogspot.com
Visiting from Pintastic Monday!
Never heard of this, but I've got to try it. It sounds pretty tasty. : ) and looks fun for the kids.
ReplyNever have I heard of such a thing! Totally trying this out and I bet my husband will want to try it too!
ReplyThis is such a neat idea. I need to do this for my grand kiddies. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyWe may have met by chance...but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/honduras-missions-making-bread-in-a-mud-oven
GREAT idea! Totally pinning this. Thanks for linking it to Healthy 2day Wednesday.
ReplyI so have to try this! How neat! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyThis is a cute idea. I may try it on Christmas.
ReplyI am thinking about this for me, not the granddaughter LOL. I love lemons and mint, together is yummy.
ReplyI remember doing this as a kid! It takes a long time to get the peppermint stick hollow and the juice flowing.
ReplyWe have a long car trip planned to visit family on the holidays--I think I might give each kid a lemon and peppermint stick to work on in the car (with plenty of wipes for cleanup!). That'll keep em quiet ;o)
Maybe it doesn't take so long if you cut off the ends first? My kids never seem to mind, anyway! Sounds like a fun thing for the car :)
ReplyWhat a great idea. It looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
ReplyHave a great week.
Debi, Joye and Myrna (The Busy Bee's)
I have never heard of that before, I have GOT to try that. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyWhat a great idea! I would love if you would link up to Fall Into the Holidays, open through Thursday.
Replyhttp://redcrowgreencrow.wordpress.com/tag/fall-into-the-holidays/
Katie @ Horrific Knits
Very fun, will try it out with my boys for sure.
ReplyThanks, I will check it out!
ReplyWhat a fun cute idea! Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I am excited to see what you have to share this week!
ReplyWe have done this with oranges before! YUM Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :)
ReplyI hope to see you again this week!
Stop by this week to see if you were the winner of the Sugar and Spice Prize pack! We had a super great variety of recipes and entries this week!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
What a cool trick! My mom is bringing me a bag of lemons at Christmas, I can't wait to try this.
ReplyOoh, it sounds interesting with oranges!
ReplyWhat a fun and creative idea! Never even thought about using lemons and candycanes like that. :)
ReplyWhat a clever idea! I love that you've managed to teach your kids a little about chemistry at the same time ;)
ReplyThanks so much for sharing it on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday! I've pinned it on my WNWNW board, and please check back on Wednesday to see if you've been featured!
I love this! Thank you for sharing with us at Healthy 2Day Wednesdays! On my blog, I also have a link up called Kids in the Kitchen - on Tuesdays. Would you please stop over tomorrow, Dec. 11, and add this to our link up! So precious! Thank you! Carrie @ younglivingoillady
ReplyThis looks like so much fun. I love, love, love lemons! You are being featured today over on the blog.
Replyhttp://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/12/pintastic-monday-20.html#.UMYk36zxxgg
Thank you for the feature! That's lovely :)
ReplyThanks Carrie, I'll check it out!
ReplyMy sister and I used to do this with oranges and peppermint sticks when we were kids. Thanks for sharing your idea with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
ReplyWhat a wonderful idea! And what a deliciously fun way to get your vitamin C!!
ReplyA super idea and thanks so much for sharing it with us:-)
ReplyI'll be featuring this fantastic idea later today at OneCreativeMommy.com. Please stop by and grab a featured button if you’d like. I can’t wait to see what you link up this week!
ReplyThanks so much for the feature Heidi!
ReplySo fun! Thanks for the idea! Pinning!
ReplyWow, they look fun. My kids got given whole bags of candy canes for Christmas, which did not thrill me, since we are not big on sugar, but this looks like a fun way to use a few of them, thanks :)
ReplyThere are candy canes that are a bit higher quality, that are beautifully and naturally colored with beet juice instead of red #40. That's what we'll go for next time. These, like yours, were given to our kids, but we've recently decided not to eat artificial colors anymore. Of course, the natural ones are still totally sugar ;)
ReplyThis sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing on the Winter on the HomeAcre Hop!
ReplyI ill have to remember this for December! Thanks for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesday!!
ReplyI've never heard of this idea, but I love it! I'll bet it tastes great, too. The kids look like they are really enjoying it!
ReplyThanks for linking this up to The Creative HomeAcre blog hop! : )
I have never heard of doing this!! And to be honest I would never think of something like this! We will have to give it a try :) I'd also love if you'd stop by and link up at my link party Feed Me Friday
ReplyI have always done this with oranges! Thank you! My hubby thinks I weird who I push a candy cane into an orange.
ReplyHow fun. Our lemons are just now ripening so I'll have to give this a try this winter!
ReplyI forgot about this treat! Thanks for sharing it on Tuesday Greens!
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