Summer Lemonade

Weather just hasn't been cooperative with my blog topics of late--we are still 'enjoying' the temperatures of winter in the Windy City! But...somewhere, someone is savoring summer, sun, sweat, and sipping something refreshing--so, this little post is for you--fresh squeezed, ice cold lemonade!

Yes, you could open a little drink packet, but why? Go for flavor! Savor fresh! Enjoy the sun! And if you are somewhere in the Midwest...at least taste summer and celebrate finishing finals!

The base recipe is from The Pioneer Woman's most recent cookbook 'A Year Of Holidays'. I made a few modifications for my own version as posted, but I still have a few other ingredients to try out: 

--jalapeno

--blueberries

--ginger

--lavender

--blackberries

See what you come up with or just enjoy a great American Classic!

Equipment:

3-qt saucepan

Large water dispenser or jug

Handheld juicer

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups sugar

6 cups water

16-18 lemons, juiced

8-10 limes, juiced

6 basil leaves, cut in thin strips ("juilienned")

3/4 cup raspberries

8 cups cold water

4-8 Tbls agave

ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Combine sugar and 6 cups of water over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved.

3. Set sugar syrup aside and cool.

4. Juice all your citrus. You need approx 4-5 cups of lemon-lime juice.  Make extra for level of tartness preferred.

5. Pour juice into a large drink dispenser or jug.

6. Add 75% of simple sugar syrup.  Save the remainder to adjust your preferred level of sweetness at the end.

7. Fill jug / dispenser with ice.

8. Add chopped basil.

9. Add 8 cups of water.

10. Adjust for tartness and sweetness. Add more juice, sugar syrup, agave syrup or water.

11. Garnish with real slices of lemon, lime, and berries.

Say Ahhhhhhh to 'No More Homework'.  Happy Summer Break!

Mocktails Intro

You don't need to be 21 to have a good drink nor do you need alcohol to have a good drink--you really just need a lot of ice and some killer recipe combinations.

Skip the empty calories, additional cost, and risk of getting kicked out of school for "underage drinking".

As a "close relative" can attest to...stiff penalties (and a sobriety class) ensue (even if only by happen stance) if you stumble into a friends room with any form of ethanol. 

Try one of these recipes first before doing something stupid--and make one for your friend so they don't do something stupid. 

Friends don't let friends be stupid.

Sunset Fire Lemonade

Equipment: 

Grip strength, to squeeze fruit and extract juice; or, 

Manual juicer, approx $5

Spoon, to stir

Drinking glass

Ingredients:

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup lime juice

2-3 thin slices of jalapeño 

1-2 fresh basil, chopped

1/3cup strawberry / orange juice

1/2 can regular or diet ginger ale

To add sweetness, choose your preference:

--Equal, Truvia, or Splenda

--Regular or raw sugar

--Simple syrup or agave syrup 

To skip the sweetness, use Seltzer water.

To skip the heat, omit the jalapeños. 

To skip trouble, skip the alcohol and do us all a favor...wait until you are celebrating your 21st in Vegas where 'what happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas'.