A step-by-step guide to making refreshing homemade lemonade:
Ingredients:
- 4-6 large lemons (enough to yield about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cold water (divided)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Simple Syrup:
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves. This will create a simple syrup that's sweet and easy to mix into the lemonade.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the simple syrup cool to room temperature.
2. Extract Lemon Juice:
- Roll the lemons on a countertop to make them juicier, then cut them in half.
- Use a citrus juicer or your hands to extract the juice from the lemons. You'll need about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
3. Mix Lemonade:
- In a pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice and the cooled simple syrup. Stir well to mix the flavors.
4. Add Cold Water:
- Add 3 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir again. Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness by adding more cold water or simple syrup, according to your preference.
5. Chill and Serve:
- Place the pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour. This allows the flavors to meld and the lemonade to become nicely cold.
6. Serve with Ice:
- Fill glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour the chilled lemonade over the ice cubes, leaving some space at the top of the glass.
7. Garnish:
- Optionally, you can add lemon slices and fresh mint leaves to the glasses for a decorative touch and added flavor.
8. Enjoy:
- Stir the lemonade gently and enjoy your homemade refreshing lemonade!
Tips:
- You can adjust the sugar level to your taste. If you prefer your lemonade less sweet, start with less sugar and add more if needed.
- To make flavored lemonade, you can add a splash of fruit juice (such as raspberry or strawberry) or a few slices of your favorite fruits (like berries, oranges, or cucumbers) to the pitcher.
- For sparkling lemonade, substitute some of the cold water with sparkling water or soda water.
Enjoy your homemade lemonade on a hot day or whenever you're in need of a cool and tangy drink!