Dans Papers - May 25, 2007 - Freshly Squeezed

There are few things more refreshing than a cold glass of lemonade on a long, hot summer day. Homemade lemonade is a great way to cool down and there are also many great ways to make it. As summer heats up, stay cool and, at the same time, satisfy your sweet tooth with these unique lemonade recipes.

Ingredients:
8 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
6 cups cold water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 cups club soda, chilled

Directions:
Puree strawberries in blender. Combine pureed strawberries, water, lemon juice and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add club soda. Garnish with strawberries or mint leaves. Chill before serving.

Ingredients:
12 green apples, peeled and cored
Juice from 8 lemons
1/4 cup sugar
4 cups cold water

Directions:
Use a juicer to extract the juice from the apples. Combine apple and lemon juice, sugar and water. Stir well and chill before serving.

Ingredients:
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
Juice and zest from 6 lemons
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup blackberries

Directions:
Heat 2 cups of water with sugar for 5 minutes or until sugar starts to thicken. Add the rest of the water, juice and zest. Let cool to room temperature. Put the blueberries and blackberries in a blender and puree. Stir berries into the lemonade and let sit for 2 hours at room temperature. Strain lemonade and chill before serving.

Ingredients:
5 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup lavender leaves, chopped
Juice from 8 lemons

Directions:
Bring 2 1/2 cups water and sugar to a boil until sugar dissolves. Add lavender and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Strain out the lavender. Add lavender infusion to 2 1/2 cups water and lemon juice. Stir and add more sugar as needed for taste. Chill before serving.

Ingredients:
4 cups water
1 cup honey
8 sprigs fresh mint
Juice from 8 lemons
1 cup sugar

Directions:
Combine water and honey in saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat. Add mint and let cool. Strain into pitcher. Add lemon juice. Add sugar. Chill before serving.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
5 cups water
Juice from 5 lemons
10 ounces frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed

Directions:
Mix sugar and 1/2 cup water in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, until sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Mix cooled sugar syrup, lemon juice and 3 1/2 cups water in pitcher. Strain raspberries and stir into mixture. Chill before serving.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
6 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
10 slices fresh ginger

Directions:
Heat water, sugar and ginger together until boiled. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Let cool to room temperature. Strain and chill before serving.

Ingredients:
10 cups watermelon
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
1 cup sugar
6 cups water

Directions:
Remove watermelon seeds. Place watermelon and water in blender and blend until smooth. Strain liquid into a pitcher, along with sugar and lemon juice. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill before serving.