Lemon drop pie is a delectable dessert that casts a spell on anyone who tries it. Made with a buttery graham cracker crust and a tangy yet sweet lemon filling, this pie is a crowd-pleaser. The main idea here is that lemon drop pie is a delicious dessert that captures the hearts and taste buds of anyone who takes a bite. The combination of the buttery crust and the tangy-sweet filling creates a flavor profile that is irresistible. First, the graham cracker crust adds a nice crunch and richness to the pie. The buttery taste of the crust complements the tartness of the lemon filling, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
“I never wanted to forget where I'd been and what I'd learned along the way. I used Meyer lemons and good French butter. I zested and stirred and thought of my mom as I worked. And to every hot, bubbling pan of lemon pie filling, I added a single lemon drop. As I watched it melt into the sugar and lemon juice mixture, I reminded myself of the truth I now knew. That you don't need magic to change your life. You just need to follow your bliss as best you can. If you follow the light, no matter how dark the circumstances, things will come out right in the end. That's the true recipe for joy in this life. That's the true magic of lemon drop pie.”
― Rachel Linden, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie
Every Saturday I made two lemon meringue pies and served them to the first lucky handful of customers through the doors of our flagship Tampa location. She refers to her seventh grade list and is inspired to hit up some of those goals and also spend more time with her mom, who tragically died a few years ago.
The buttery taste of the crust complements the tartness of the lemon filling, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. A bite into the crust instantly transports you into a world of pure pleasure. The second component of the spell is the lemon filling.
The spell of lemon drop pie
Goodreads says, " An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn't choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees. Lolly Blanchard's life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother's tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family's struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner's famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she's lost. As Lolly's thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift--three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn't passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn't broken up with the only man she's ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present."
Lolly is bored of doing the same thing everyday in her life. There's no excitement; she's in a rut. She is thirty-two years old and helping run her family's diner. Not only does she work there, she also helps bake their famous lemon meringue pies. Her dad, who also runs the diner, is hesitant to make any sort of changes, so the diner is struggling a bit as the culinary world is evolving. One day Lolly comes across her seventh grade journal and she finds a list of life goals. She hasn't accomplished any of them. Where did she go off course? Since her mother's untimely death, she has stuck around to help her dad with the family's diner and help raise her younger sister. But what about what she wants? What about her dreams? Lolly's Aunt Gert is a mystical, yet highly educated woman who has lived an adventurous life. She presents Lolly with three enchanted lemon drops that will allow her to live one day in an alternate version of her life to sort of help her figure out what she truly wants. As you might have guessed, these three lemon drops change her life forever. The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden is such a heartfelt book that had me tearing up. It included wonderful life messages, beautiful moments, and the kind of situations that gut a reader. I adored it and it's one of my favorite books of the year.
Lolly is a wonderful character in The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie . How could I not like her? She is loyal, dedicated to her family, and a good friend. Told through flashbacks, we get to know what her life was like as a young girl when she meets her first and only love, Rory. She has never really gotten over him and their relationship did get quite serious as the years went by. Slowly, Linden fleshes out the character of Lolly and explains her complicated (yet romantic) relationship with Rory, who is an all-around great guy. Oh, did their relationship tug on my heartstrings! Which leads me to the lemon drops.
Lolly is faced with the exciting task of deciding where she wants the lemon drops to take her. She definitely has plans to fix things with Rory in one of her alternate lives, but what about the other two lemon drops? She refers to her seventh grade list and is inspired to hit up some of those goals and also spend more time with her mom, who tragically died a few years ago. Oh, my heart! Once again, Linden really cracked it open and I felt so much for Lolly's alternate lives. She travels to Hawaii and England and I loved every second of it all. Linden made it feel real. I didn't doubt it once, which is unusual for a book with magic in it, but I fell for it completely -- hook, line, and sinker. I mean who hasn't thought about an alternate life or a path you didn't take? What would it have been like to not lose a person you loved or to not get seriously sick or to take that job or move across the country? Instead of these questions plaguing us at night, Linden deep dives into them and explores these themes along with the difficult task of letting go.
What really struck me about The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie was Linden's beautiful writing. She doled out some great advice through Aunt Gert and her mother's musings. I adored it and it really spoke to me. When I first sat down with The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie , I didn't expect to be moved so completely by Linden's words. I paused and really marinated in them; it was truly a pleasure. Here are two of my favorite lines:
"Happiness is fleeting, fickle, often based on our circumstances." Aunt Ger waved a hand dismissively. "If you chase happiness, you will more often than not end up disappointed by the very nature of life. Life is hard, brutal at time, and often unfair. But following your bliss, that's entirely different. It means facing your present reality with honesty and courage, and, in the midst of it all, continuing to pursue each spark of joy, even if it is a tiny pinpoint in the darkness of your life. Do not give up. Continue to look for the light in your life---it is always present somewhere, some small things to be grateful for, something to celebrate, a away to give joy to others, a new way to grow. Move toward the light in life; seek it out no matter what. This is the essence of what it means to follow your bliss. You must be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy."
Aunt Gert sat in silence for a long moment, then cleared her throat. "Some things aren't meant to be mended," she said finally. "Sometimes it's in the breaking that the light can finally shine through."
I highly recommend Lolly's story for fans of books are moving, heartfelt, and employ magical realism. This would be the perfect book to accompany you this Labor Day Weekend and to close out summer. I, for one, will have my eye on Linden's future novels; I'm a fan!
So, have you read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie ? Are you a fan of Rachel Linden? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
“She always told me that lemons clarify things; they symbolize happiness and hope. But when she died, I stopped believing lemons were anything more than a chore, something sour to squeeze every morning for pie. How ironic that it's a lemon drop that's changing everything for me.”
― Rachel Linden, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie
It is made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, zest, eggs, and condensed milk. The combination of these ingredients creates a velvety smooth and creamy texture that melts in your mouth. The tanginess of the lemon adds a refreshing zing to the sweetness of the condensed milk. As you take a bite of the lemon drop pie, the flavors come together in perfect harmony. The buttery crust and the zesty lemon filling meld together, creating a symphony of flavors in your mouth. The tartness of the lemon is balanced by the sweetness of the filling, making each bite a delightful experience. In conclusion, lemon drop pie is a dessert that captivates anyone who tries it. The combination of the buttery graham cracker crust and the tangy-sweet lemon filling creates a flavor profile that lingers on your taste buds. With each bite, you are under the spell of this enchanting dessert..
Reviews for "Lemon Drop Pie: A Burst of Citrusy Goodness in Every Bite"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "The Spell of Lemon Drop Pie" based on all the positive reviews, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot felt predictable and lacking depth, and the characters were one-dimensional. I also found the writing style to be overly simplistic, almost as if it was written for a much younger audience. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. John - 1 star - "The Spell of Lemon Drop Pie" was honestly one of the worst books I've ever read. The storyline was confusing and disjointed, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The characters were cliché and unrelatable, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the whole book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who enjoys a good fantasy novel, I was excited to dive into "The Spell of Lemon Drop Pie". However, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. The world-building was weak, with minimal description and a lack of attention to detail. The magical elements felt glossed over and not fully explored, which left me wanting more. The overall plot felt rushed and poorly developed, and the ending felt abrupt and unresolved. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.