How to Make Lemonade

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

Lemonade Lemonade

Rate: (264 Ratings)

Lemonade, that classic summer quencher, can easily be made from scratch. The best version combines a simple sugar syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice. This recipe serves two. Here are a few easy steps to creating a refreshing pitcher of lemonade.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Groceries
  • Citrus Reamer
  • Juicers
  • Saucepans
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 c. water
  • 1 large lemon
  • 16 to 20 oz. cold water
  • ice
  • garnishes (optional): mint sprig, lemon slice, maraschino cherry

Step1
Make sugar syrup: Combine 1 c. sugar and 1 c. water in a saucepan and heat to boiling. Remove from heat, stir to dissolve sugar completely, and allow to cool. (You'll only use a couple of tablespoons per serving, but this is a good item to make ahead and store in the refrigerator, covered. It keeps for weeks.)
Step2
For each serving, combine the juice of half a lemon, 2 tbsp. of the sugar syrup and 8 to 10 oz. cold water in a tall glass.
Step3
Add ice and any of the garnishes (or all of them, if you're feeling festive). Serve immediately.

Tips & Warnings

  • One lemon, depending on its size, will yield about 1/4 to 1/3 c. juice.
  • For a quick microwave version, combine 2 tbsp. sugar and 2 tbsp. water in a tall, microwave-safe glass. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir to dissolve completely, cool a bit, then add fresh lemon juice, cold water and ice, if desired.
  • Be extremely careful when handling hot sugar syrup. It can cause a nasty burn. A child can make the lemonade once the syrup is cooled, but an adult should do this first step.

Comments

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on 7/3/2008 What a wonderful recipe. In Jamaica, as a boy, I remember my father would make it using the juice from sugar cane. We would sit on the verandah and listen to his stories of when he was a boy and sip on some sugar-cane-based lemonade. Your article brought back those memories. Thank you. I'll definitely try it this summer when I visit my family. Yum!

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on 7/3/2008 Try some good ol' Jack Daniels and put it in the freezer for an adult lemonade slush! Yum, yum.

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on 7/2/2008 I can still remember when I tasted "homemade" lemonade for the first time. I was amazed! If all your used to is the frozen stuff in the can, please try this, you'll love it. Nice article.....

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on 7/2/2008 Nothing like lemonade on a hot summer day. Try mixing with a half a glass of iced tea too--an Arnold Palmer! So refreshing!

lacurcio said

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on 7/2/2008 mmm sounds refreshing!

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eHow Article:  How to Make Lemonade

eHow Food & Drink Editor

eHow Food & Drink Editor

Category: Food & Drink

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