First rule of thumb for lemonade...PLEASE skip the frozen concentrates and the powdered drink mixes! Not only do they taste artificial, they contain artificial ingredients that are not healthy for you. Homemade is BEST, and it's easier than you think to make...
Fresh Homemade Lemonade
Here is a basic recipe to start with...
- 1 & 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from organic lemons, if available)
- 1 cup simple syrup (*see below)
- 6 cups very cold water
- Ice
- Sliced lemons for garnish
For the *Simple Syrup
Combine 1 cup cold water and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium/high heat. Turn the heat down to low, and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. This should take 3-4 minutes. Let this mixture cool completely before adding it to your lemonade mixture.
Feel free to double, triple or quadruple this recipe - simple syrup will keep in your refrigerator in a covered container so its ready to go next time you want to make some homemade lemonade!
Now let's JAZZ it up a bit!
- Add 1 cup of fresh, crushed fruit to your lemonade...any type of organic berry will work or get adventurous with passion fruit, peaches, watermelon or mango!
- Add some fresh herbs to your simple syrup...once your sugar has dissolved and you remove your saucepan from the heat, tear some fresh organic basil, rosemary or mint into pieces and add it to the simple syrup. Allow the herbs to sit in the syrup during the cooling time. Strain the herbs out before adding the syrup to the lemonade mixture. You may wish to add some fresh herbs to the lemonade at this point, just to give guests a clue of what is in your lemonade to surprise them!
- Give it some FIZZ! Use shilled, sparkling mineral water or seltzer water instead of just regular water to give your lemonade some "lift".
- Brew up some iced tea and mix it with your lemonade for a famous "Arnold Palmer". One batch of the lemonade mixed with 6 cups of iced tea should do the trick!
- Shake it up! Combine 1 & 1/2 cups of your lemonade with 1 quart of vanilla ice cream in a blender - blend and serve in chilled glasses with a lemon wedge to garnish.
- Lemonade cocktail time? Simply mix 1 cup of lemonade with 1oz chilled vodka or white rum. To make the cocktail extra special, rub the rims of the glasses with fresh lemon and dip them into some sugar! Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.
- Love citrus? Make your "ade" with a combination of citrus fruits by adding some lime or orange or a combo of all three!
As always, I encourage you to have fun with this recipe and please share your creations in our comments below!
