Lemon Grass is a plant that looks like grass, smells minty and tastes similar to lemons. However, lemons are not a good substitute for lemon grass.

Keep fresh lemon grass in a jar of water, it will stay fresher than in a fridge. Lemon grass's stem and leaves are used. For soup, my mother would fold the whole lemon grass a few times and tie it leaves around the fold. Then she would drop it in a pot of water.

Lemon grass tea - my mother's recipe. Slice up lemon grass across the stem. Sun dry or oven dry. Toast it in a pan until light brown. Steep a teaspoon in hot water. It is ready. Or if you like it cold, add sugar and ice.

If you live in Southern California or other warm climate, you can plant the lemon grass outdoors. Get a few stems from an oriental grocery store, put them in a glass of water. You need just an inch of water only. Let them grow roots before sticking them in the ground outside. Cats love them.