A Twist on Traditional Lemonade

“When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade.” Meaning when you have troubles and worries, move foreward and make the most of  your life. 

The Optimist: “Life handed him a lemon, as life sometimes will do. His friends looked on in pity, assuming he was through. They came upon him later, reclining in the shade. In calm contentment drinking a glass of lemonade.”

Usually in the hot, relaxing summertime we like to drink a cold tall glass of lemonade. Traditional American lemonade is made from lemon juice, water, and sugar.  In Asia it might be found made with rosewater. In India and Pakistan it may include salt, ginger, or even the highly expensive ingredient, saffron. Some countries even call Sprite and 7-Up by the name of lemonade.

How many of you Housewives and Househusbands remember having lemonade stands to raise some money for your piggy bank?  There’s nothing like a refreshing glass of lemonade to cool you down from the hot summer sun. As a kid, I even sold Kool-Aid, but that’s beside the point.  Frozen lemonade concentrate worked well too (a kid from the 80’s squeeze fresh lemons, yeah right).

Nowadays, in our Foodie Society, lemonade comes in all kinds of flavors.  Made with any type of fruit, herbs, and even cayenne pepper.  Most popular is probably the kid friendly pink lemonade. Pink lemonade is supposed to be made with strawberries or other red fruit juices but unfortunately sometimes seems to only have pink food dye. I like a good Arnold Palmer which is half lemonade and half iced tea. Arnold Palmer was a professional golfer who was famous in the 1950’s. It is said that in 1960 he ordered his favorite half lemonade half iced tea drink at the bar of a country club in Colorado. A woman overheard him and wanted one of those “Palmer drinks” too and so begins the Arnold Palmer. Have you ever had a Summer Shandy?  It’s beer mixed with lemonade and can even be found already bottled together.

I hope you enjoy my lemonade concoctions.  Don’t forget, you can add booze to just about any drink. I recommend a cup or 2 of Vodka or Tequila (it’s for a whole pitcher, it’s cool). Then subtract that amount from the water used in the recipe.

Blueberry Lavender Lemonade

Makes 1 Large Pitcher

3 C Plus 5 C Cold Water

1/3 C Dried Lavender Buds
1 C Sugar
6 Lemons
2 Pints Fresh Blueberries

Bring 3 cups of water, lavender, and sugar to a light boil for about 10 minutes to make a simple syrup.  Let it steep until it cools and then strain.

Squeeze the lemons using a citrus press or a reamer. Add the blueberries and the lavender simple syrup.  Blend in the blender until all the blueberries are pureed.  You can choose to strain this or leave it.  I like it better unstrained, but for guests, you will want to strain it so that the blueberry particles won’t be stuck in their teeth. Stir in the remaining water and serve.

Strawberry Green Tea Arnold Palmer

Makes 1 Large Pitcher
 
9 C Cold Unsweetened Iced Green Tea
3 Lemons
1 ½ C Sugar
1 Lb Strawberries


Make and chill the iced green tea using 3 tea bags and 9 cups of water. You can brew and chill it or just combine cold water and tea together and chill it for about 8 hours to cold brew. 

Squeeze the lemons using a citrus press or reamer.  Add ¾ of the strawberries (stems removed), the sugar and about 2 cups of tea in the blender and blend until the strawberries are pureed. Add the remaining tea and stir. 

Use the remaining strawberries as a garnish.  Slice a slit half way down the bottom and hang on the lip of the glass.