RECIPE: HOMEMADE LEMONADE RECIPE

Summer and lemonade go together like ram-a-lam-a-lam-a.... You know the song.  Here's a delicious tart and refreshing homemade lemonade recipe; so much better than that powdered stuff!

It's really simple. The ratio is four cups of water to one cup fresh squeezed lemon juice plus 1/2 cup of sugar or simple syrup. That's it! If it is really hot and I expect ice to melt as soon as the lemonade hits it, I reduce the water so it isn't diluted.

BASIC LEMONADE RECIPE 

To make enough for 4-5 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 10 lemons

1 cup sugar (more to taste if you like it really sweet and you can substitute simple syrup if you prefer- I always use my LEMON SIMPLE SYRUP)

7 to 8 cups cold water

DIRECTIONS

In a pitcher, add the sugar and the lemon juice and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add the water and chill. OR- mix the lemon juice and the water together, adding the simple syrup to taste. Chill. Serve over ice.

Serving Tips: On a hot day, I will use 1-2 cups less water because I know the lemonade will become diluted with the melting ice. Sometimes, I freeze lemonade into ice cubes or freeze large plastic containers of lemonade. I put the lemonade into a large plastic milk jug or other repurposed plastic jug or pitcher. Freeze solid. A few hours before the party, I remove them from the freezer and allow them to become slushy. Soooo good on a hot day!

RECIPE: BELFAST (IRISH WHISKEY) LEMONADE

There are a lot of green drinks and beer drinks out there for St. Patrick's Day... The cocktail I came up with features Irish whiskey so that's plenty Irish in my book. Plus this recipe got a big thumbs up from the guys and the girls alike making it perfect for spring and summer BBQ's, lake parties, and yes, even wedding celebrations. Since Bushmills, my favorite Irish whiskey, is made close to the Irish city of Belfast, I named it Belfast Lemonade. I used just a little Limoncello to smooth out the cocktail, but it is very good without it if you want to keep your cost down.

IRISH WHISKEY LEMONADE

Makes 1

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces fresh lemonade (fresh squeezed lemon juice plus simple syrup to taste)

1 1/2 ounces Bushmills Irish Whiskey

1/2 ounce Limoncello

DIRECTIONS:

Mix and serve in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lemon wheel.

For a crowd:

Serves 15+ guests depending on serving size

INGREDIENTS

1 gallon fresh lemonade

1 bottle (750ml) Bushmills Irish Whiskey

2 cups Limoncello or other lemon liqueur

DIRECTIONS:

Add more or less whiskey to your taste. Mix ingredients in a large dispenser. Add lots of ice to the dispenser but also provide clean ice along side the dispenser because the drink tastes best served over ice. If it is a hot day, make sure to freeze lemonade and use that in place of the ice so you don't water down or dilute the drink. Add mint or lemon wheels to the dispenser to add some color and style to the presentation.

RECIPE: RASPBERRY VANILLA LEMONADE

I love lemonade in the summer... but about 4th of July, I'm ready for something a little different. Here's a delicious spin on your everyday lemonade... by adding raspberries and vanilla bean, you take it to a whole new level. I would not waste this lemonade on the kids. Vanilla beans and raspberries are kinda expensive and they won't know the difference. Save this recipe for your office party, a wedding, girls night, or book club party. Add some raspberry vodka or Chambord liqueur and this lemonade could be on the menu in any top restaurant.

RASPBERRY VANILLA LEMONADE

Makes about two quarts but it depends on how strong you want the lemonade to be- you can stretch it to a gallon by adding more water. I like it strong because it is always diluted when you add ice. 

Change up your lemonade recipe for this delicious Raspberry Vanilla Lemonade... incredible! And with some hi-test mix-ins, you can craft a specialty cocktail everyone will love.

INGREDIENTS

2 pints fresh raspberries

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1 vanilla bean

2 quarts cold water*

* add the water to your taste. More if you like it weak, less water if you like it strong. I used about 1 quart water and then added a splash of chilled club soda at serving time to make it a bit fizzy.

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

Raspberry vodka

Chambord

Chilled club Soda

Lemon wheels

First, make the simply syrup. Put the sugar and water (equal parts) in a pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat. Split the vanilla bean down the middle, do not cut it all the way through. Use the tip of your knife to remove the tiny brown seeds inside the vanilla bean. Scrape those into the pan and put the entire pod into the pot and allow to cool completely. I usually put this into a canning jar and store it in the fridge. I leave the vanilla bean in the jar but remove it before using.

For the lemonade: Put one pint of raspberries and the Chambord (if using) into the bottom of the pitcher. Let the berries soak up the Chambord for a while. Use a wooden spoon and mash them to get as much juice as you can out of them. I actually whirred them up with my immersion blender to puree them but you can do it either way. Add the lemon juice and stir together. Add half of the vanilla simple syrup. Stir. Taste. Add the water to your taste. I used about 1 quart cold water and added more of the simple syrup to my taste. But I happen to like it a bit sweet and really strong. Add the remaining raspberries.

If you are adding alcohol, reduce the amount of water to 2 cup. Add 2 cups raspberry vodka. At this point, I sometimes like to put it into the freezer for a few hours and get it slushy. I add one or two bottles of chilled club soda at serving time. If it is a hot day and the temperature requires lots of ice, I always make the lemonade strong without a lot of extra water because as the ice melts, it waters down the lemonade. Just something to think about.