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The Best Ever Lemonade Recipe
I am ready for spring and summer to come. The first day of spring isn’t until March 20, but we’ve been having delicious spring and summer treats like this homemade lemonade for the past few weeks. To start off lent yesterday, my husband started his fast. He’s doing the master cleanse, which involves lemonade spiked with cayenne pepper. It’s really not my thing, especially since I couldn’t stand to go without food for more than a day. Food is my life, it’s what I love. But I keep passing by his big beautiful bowl of organic lemons. They have been tempting me. This morning, my son came to me, and said let’s make lemonade like Daddy. It didn’t take much persuading to go snatch a half dozen lemons for our very own sweet homemade lemonade.
My secret to making the very best lemonade is to dissolve the sugar in the water first over heat. Then I add just a touch of vanilla. The vanilla flavor is very subtle, and it just gives it that something extra. My son kept saying as I was making it, “Lets stir it so it gets more yellow.” So to help him out a little, mommy slipped in a little food coloring. Kids love the bright color, but you can leave it out if you like.
The Best Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup freshly squeezed organic lemon juice, 6 organic lemons
1 cup white sugar (I passed on raw because I didn’t want the hint of molasses flavor)
1 cup filtered water
6 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 – 3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
Method
1. Place 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil to dissolve sugar. Stir until it is dissolved, and remove from heat. Let cool.
2. Combine sugar water, lemon juice, water and vanilla extract in a 2 quart pitcher. Stir to combine. Serve over ice and enjoy!
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12 Comments
[...] batch homemade or store-bought [...]
Just Like Del's Frozen Lemonade | Family Kitchen commented on Jun 15 11 at 11:09 amJonnyVegas commented on Mar 10 11 at 11:19 pmI like adding a little lemon zest as well. Can’t wait to enjoy this on a nice, spring day.
georgiaharry123 commented on Mar 11 11 at 2:05 amCompanies do give out samples. They are looking to put their products in potential consumers’ hands. They wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work one of the place that always worked is “123 Get Samples” search online
mildred commented on Mar 12 11 at 11:11 ami tried this & it’s “great”
laura commented on Mar 12 11 at 3:12 pmi am so thirsty right now – lol. going to try with honey and adding lemon zest. saving to http://cookmarked.com. thanks for sharing!
Kankana commented on Mar 12 11 at 4:51 pmLovely.. what better than a lemonade on a sunny saturday :)
a frog in the cottage commented on Mar 14 11 at 9:55 amthat must be perfect for the summer !! cheers
Jen commented on Jun 02 11 at 1:04 pmhmm food coloring?? Not unless it’s 100% natural. White sugar?? Ewww nasty.
Mia commented on Jul 31 11 at 2:23 pmI also added soda water! Lovely for a sunday!
Tianna commented on Nov 28 11 at 2:31 amI was thinking of making some of this as part of a christmas hamper gift ….how long would this keep for?? Just so i know how soon beforehand i need to make it :)
Thanks!
JD commented on Dec 29 11 at 8:45 amWow, The proportions for this are way off from my recipe for lemonade.
I do a 1:2 ratio of lemon juice and water – and about 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of lemon juice.
These proportions seem like they would taste like sweetened water with a lemon wedge in it. I like when drink that comes just short of making your lips pucker after each sip.
Regarding proportions, to each their own – but i shake my finger at the optional food coloring.
We Ate That commented on Feb 03 12 at 2:52 amThis recipe looks great! Keep up the good work.
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