i have a recipe that calls for lemon zest, where can i find this ingredient?

Wow. the first post where i've been able to be of help. Lemon zest is from the rind of the lemon. There is a very small grater you use for it. You know a cheese grater? Well, for zest it is one even smaller. You only do the outside of the lemon rind. You do not grate too deep into the lemon rind. I am attaching a pic of one. They do not all look exactly like it but will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

on a lemon!

it's the yellow "skin"

you remove it with:

a very fine grater or micro plane
or
a vegetable peeler
or
a lemon zester.

(i use grater or peeler)

with any of them -- only want the yellow, not the white rind (bitter!)

and w/ peeler will get long strips you can leave long or chop into little pieces.

Lemon zest is the yellow part of the lemon peel. You can buy a grater with very fine holes (called a "zester") to grate off just the colored part. Be sure not to get any of the while part because it is bitter.

Orange zest can also be used in recipes. The zest adds a lot of flavor to recipes or drinks like lemonade or iced tea, too.

Hope this helps!

You can also buy this in the spice section of the grocery store McCormick sells it if you don't feel like doing it yourself just use a little more (its about $5.00 for a bottle)

Val

You can also scrape it off using a serrated knife.