The Best Lemonade
I can’t not do it…
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
Ok, thanks. Got it out of my system.
Lemons & Life
I originally stayed away from that annoyingly positive statement when first writing this post, but it was bothering me. Ha ha! I have been trained to see the good (and I’m grateful for that) but goodness. Sometimes life (or a YEAR) is just full of all the sour citrus. Sigh. So YES. We made a lot of lemonade (literally) this summer because I needed an actual bright spot in our day.
It’s bright and yellow, sweet and sour, it’s summer in a cup. I can think of a few other things that say “summer in a cup” but this one’s for the kids.
I can’t quite pinpoint what it is that makes making lemonade feel like a special occasion.
Is it the labor of love?
Is it the refreshing taste you don’t get with any other drink?
Is it because the taste makes it feel like a particular season (like summer) whereas hot chocolate makes it feel like winter?
Taste buds are a funny thing. I can make a pitcher of lemonade and everyone in my family has an opinion; no pulp, more sugar, more lemon, put an umbrella in it, etc.
(Quick tip below!)
TIP: I buy extra lemon and lime periodically (especially if I ever find it on sale!). Juice all of your citrus and pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, I keep the cubes in a plastic bag in the freezer and defrost when needed. Each cube is about 1 ounce.
So, whether it’s to brighten your day or celebrate the season, I hope you enjoy our favorite lemonade.
The Best Lemonade
Ingredients:
1 c lemon juice, about 6 “small” lemons
Simple syrup, 3/4 sugar/ 3/4 water, microwave
4 c water
How to make the Best Lemonade:
Juice the lemons and add to the pitcher.
Put 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 water in a microwave-safe container (I use a glass measuring cup, the handle doesn’t get hot). Microwave for 1 – 1.5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved. Don’t let it boil over, you need that sugar.
Add the sugar mixture to the lemon juice in the pitcher.
Add 4 cups of water to the pitcher and stir.
Serve over ice in your favorite cup!
NOTES
Now, for the variations:
For the (absolutely) no pulp version; strain it as you put it in the cup or do the whole batch and return it to the pitcher.
Too sweet? Serve with a wedge of lemon and squeeze it in just before drinking.
Too sour? Add more sugar. Be sure to dissolve in an equal amount of water. I would make a 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup water mixture. Add it to the lemonade and taste as you go.
And of course the fun, just add the umbrella. And put it in the fun cup. Life is too short to not.
