When was the last time you tasted the real thing–lemonade that is refreshing, without a chemical taste and with just the right balance of sweet and tart? From the lemonade stand, to icy glasses at the fair or festival, to lazy days in the hammock, lemonade is the classic drink of summer. It tickles your taste buds and your memories!
Sure, you can buy the instant mixes or the frozen concentrates and thank goodness, they make those mixes for there are times when you have to serve the crowds of scouts at day camp. Yes, the label says “lemonade,” and the kids guzzle it on hot days, but the drink just isn’t the same. The real one is made from just three simple ingredients—freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar and water—and it takes just a minute to stir together a pitcher. No chemicals. No dyes. Nothing artificial and certainly not a processed copy. You will be pleasantly surprised and it may taste a little different– a little old-fashioned and yet, trendy and new. The real, pure taste of lemons, sweetened to perfection. No wonder it is an all-time favorite.
Squeezing a lemon takes just a minute. Do not be tempted to substitute bottled juice. If you want the best, real lemonade, begin with fresh fruit and the flavor will be unsurpassed. You can adjust the sugar syrup to lemon juice proportions a little to suite your personal preference but keep it both tart and sweet. If you like lots of ice, add 1 cup of water to avoid watering down the flavor too much.
Do not let another summer day go by. Pick up juicy, fresh lemons and make the real thing today. You will be glad you did.
Old Fashioned Lemonade
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons water
2/3 cup lemon juice (5 to 6 lemons)
1 to 1-1/2 cups water*
Ice cubes
In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar and 6 tablespoons water. Cook, uncovered, over medium high heat, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow the sugar syrup to cool.
Stir together sugar syrup and lemon juice. Stir in 1 to 1-1/2 cups cold water. Fill two tall glasses with ice and fill with lemonade.
Makes 2 servings
Tips:
Cover and refrigerate the sugar syrup and lemon juice mixture for up to 3 or 4 days. Stir in remaining water just before serving.
For a minty flavor, add 2 or 3 sprigs of fresh mint to the hot sugar syrup and allow it to steep while the syrup cools. Remove mint leaves before stirring in lemon juice.
*Begin with 1 cup of water and add ice, then taste and add additional water if desired, adding a little at a time so it doesn’t diminish the flavor.
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