Drink Up and Cool Down with Lemonade

If a word could be classified as “delicious,” I would list “summer” as one of the tastiest words I know.  Summer is about taking a break from normal routines.  Kids are out of school.  People take off work for vacation.  Life slows down a bit in summer, giving you time to try new things.  

One of my favorite summer sights is the neighborhood kids’ lemonade stand with the cardboard box counter and hand-lettered sign.  My own sons have occasionally run a very lucrative stand in front of our house in Charing Cross.  While powder mix lemonade is the norm, my boys discovered their biggest profits when they offered a homemade Berry Lemonade.   

Lemonades made with strawberry, passion fruit or blood orange puree are my favorites.  All of my homemade lemonades are a combination of 3 components- lemon juice, vanilla bean simple syrup and a fruit puree.  The vanilla bean give simple syrup a unique quality and flavor you’ll appreciate in the final product.

For the vanilla bean simple syrup:

3 C Sugar

3 C Water

1 Vanilla Bean or 1 T Real Vanilla Flavoring

 Combine sugar, water and vanilla beans (or vanilla flavoring) in a saucepan and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.  Allow syrup to cool.  (Chef’s note: as indicated below, you’ll use 2 to 3 cups of simple syrup for this lemonade recipe based on your personal taste and whether you use fresh fruits)

Strawberry Lemonade

Yield: ½ gallon

3 cups Strawberry daiquiri/margarita mix

OR 3 cups of fresh or frozen strawberry pureed in your blender.

(Chef’s note: fresh strawberry puree is the best, but for ease of use a drink mix is fine and has the added benefit of being pre-sweetened.  If you use puree, increase your simple syrup amount by a ½ cup or to taste.)

2 ½ cups lemon juice

2 cups vanilla bean simple syrup (Chef’s Note: the amount of simple syrup you use depends on your taste.)

1 ½ cups water (or to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher using a whisk.  Your personal taste is what makes this lemonade just right.  Adjust the fruit puree, lemon juice, water or simple syrup to your liking.

Lemonade Variations: Blood Orange, Passion Fruit and Mango

Follow the recipe above, substituting a different fruit puree, such as blood orange, passion fruit or mango.  You can find blood orange puree in season at Whole Foods or Fresh Market in Annapolis.  I often use one made by an Italian company called Volcano.  Passion fruit and mango purees are frequently available at Giant, Shopper’s Food Warehouse and Safeway in the frozen food section.  Enjoy!