Don't settle for frozen lemonade from a can. You can easily make your own home-made lemonade, or try a different flavour for a change.
Second only maybe to iced tea, lemonade is the cold drink of choice during the hot days of summer. There is just nothing more refreshing than sitting in the shade with a tall glass of lemonade over ice.
Though lemonade is most often served in the traditional way (just lemon juice, water and sugar) you can add some variety to your lemonade menu with different flavours.
Classic Lemonade
First we should start with the basic recipe for home-made lemonade.
- 8 lemons
- 8 cups water
- 1 ½ cup sugar
If you don't want to juice your own lemons, use about 1 ½ cups of prepared lemon juice. Otherwise, juice your fresh lemons and stir juice into a pitcher of water. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Serve over ice. Will make about 8 glasses of lemonade.
Mint Lemonade
Though the mint can give your lemonade an unusual greenish hue, the cool taste of mint is a lovely addition to the tangy lemon juice.
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 7 cups water
- 1 can frozen lemonade concentrate
Chop mint up finely, and add to 2 cups of the water in a saucepan. Heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Strain out the mint leaves, then let the liquid cool down. In a pitcher, mix the mint liquid with the lemonade concentrate and remaining water. Stir until mixed. Chill through in the fridge, and serve over ice and with a sprig of fresh mint. Serves 6-8.
Pink Cranberry Lemonade
The old frozen pink lemonade was pretty weak, but adding cranberry juice to your own lemonade will pack a flavour punch.
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 cup lemon juice
Mix sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan, and heat until just simmering. When the sugar is dissolved, take the pan from the heat and let cool. In a large pitcher, mix sugar water, cranberry juice, lemon juice and the remaining 3 cups of water. Stir and chill through for at least an hour before serving. Serves 6.
Sparkling Lemonade
I think every drink could use a little bubbly sparkle sometimes.
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups lemon juice
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 litre bottle of club soda or sparkling water
Combine everything (except soda water) in a pitcher and stir until mixed and dissolved. Chill through in the fridge, and add the club soda just before serving. Serves about 10.
