Lemonade

Simple Syrup:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Lemonade:

Squeeze 5-6 lemons, or enough to produce 1 cup of lemon juice. Add juice and simple syrup to a half gallon pitcher. Add 3-4 cups water and ice, and stir to combine.

Tips and Tricks:

• I buy my lemons by the case, when they are in season. That way they are at the peak of flavor and the lowest price all year. I juice the lemons and put one cup of juice in a freezer baggie. Then I store the baggies in my freezer. During the summer, when I always have a pitcher of lemonade and a pitcher of ice tea in my refrigerator, I will make several batches of simple syrup at the same time. I line up quart sized mason jars, and put a cup of sugar and a cup of water in each. Then I microwave them one at a time and leave them on my stovetop to cool down. They store in the refrigerator for a week or longer. When I want to make lemonade, I fill a pitcher with ice, add the frozen lemon juice, the simple syrup, and fill the rest of the way with cold water.
• The traditional way to make pink lemonade is by adding up to a cup of cranberry juice to your lemonade. The more you add, the darker the color will be. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of red food dye, and the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries.
• Hard lemonade is made by adding 2 oz of Vanilla Vodka to the recipe above.
• Try a sprig of rosemary and a dash of vodka or lemoncello
• A half cup of crushed raspberries will give you a delicious raspberry lemonade.
• Some people like to add grated lemon zest, a dash of lemon extract, a pinch of salt, or a tiny bit of vanilla extract to their lemonade.
• A few fresh basil leaves will make your lemonade go well with summery italian dishes.
• For a beautiful presentation add thin slices of lemon, mint leaves, or marishchino cherries to your pitcher.
• When you make ice tea or lemonade, fill an ice cube tray with the beverage. Then use those ice cubes when serving and you won't water down your drink.