Do you hesitate to make your own lemonade because you just can’t quite master that fresh squeezed lemonade taste?
My coworker and I were discussing our mutual love of lemonade, especially the fresh squeezed lemonade available at the local fairs and festivals.
She confided that she had pretty much given up trying to make homemade lemonade but had found an acceptable substitute at the grocery store.
Having learned from my aunt (of the birthday Snickerdoodles) how to make homemade lemonade, I knew something she didn’t; not only is it possible to make delicious lemonade at home, but it is also easy and much less expensive than buying lemonade ready-made at the grocery store.
Making great tasting, homemade lemonade does not require squeezing lemons.
Instead of using fresh squeezed lemons, use a lemon juice that is one hundred percent lemon juice from concentrate.
A good quality, 100 percent lemon juice from concentrate, tastes remarkably like fresh squeezed lemons.
Typically I stick with a name brand lemon juice, but honestly, there probably isn’t a huge difference between name brand and store brand, especially for everyday use.
If you have the time and desire, using fresh squeezed lemons is definitely an option.
For me, having to regularly juice lemons would be a deterrent to making homemade lemonade.
Make a simple syrup to use as a sweetener in homemade lemonade.
If there is a secret to making excellent homemade lemonade, using a simple syrup is probably it.
One of the reasons my coworker doesn’t like to make her own lemonade is the undissolved sugar.
Using a simple syrup eliminates that problem.
How to make a simple syrup
Measure equal amounts of water and sugar into a saucepan.
Place the saucepan on the stove and turn the heat on to medium to low.
Stir the water and sugar mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Turn off the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool.
If you want to keep some simple syrup on hand, it can be refrigerated for up to four weeks in an airtight container.
What is the recipe for easy, delicious, homemade lemonade?
For one quart of lemonade, you need the following:
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 ¼ cups of water
Add the sugar and ½ cup of the water to a saucepan and make a simple syrup.
Add the remaining water and lemon juice to a pitcher. Once the simple syrup has cooled enough, pour it into the pitcher.
Stir, cool, serve and enjoy!
Adjust the amount of lemon and sugar to your taste.
For larger quantities of lemonade, multiply the ingredients as desired.
For a nice touch, slice a lemon and add it to the lemonade.
Would you like a cool little life tip for when you need to take lemonade or iced tea to a picnic or family outing?
This tip comes straight from my sister, and it’s a lifesaver when transporting drinks.
Purchase inexpensive gallon jugs of water from the grocery store.
Use the water to make lemonade or iced tea.
Transfer the finished product back into the gallon jugs and transport the drinks in the jugs.
No more spilled drinks on the way to your outing!
If lemonade is your summertime drink of choice, don’t hesitate to make your own.
Homemade lemonade is both easy and inexpensive to make.
Best of all, it tastes as good, or better, than any ready-made lemonade you buy in the store.
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