Fresh-Squeezed Homemade Lemonade

The Real Thing: How To Make Lemonade The Right Way

Give your lemonade a fizzy update with sparkling water. Also, try substituting frozen strawberries for the ice cubes, for an extra taste sensation. Dried hibiscus flowers make it pink lemonade.

6-8 servings: Dissolve the sugar in hot water before mixing the lemonade to ensure that the sugar is evenly distributed. For sugar-free lemonade sweeten with agave necter.

Lemonade Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• Optional: For pink lemonade add 1-2 T dried hibiscus flowers
• 6-8 lemons (enough for 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice) plus 2 lemons cut in half lengthwise and sliced 1/8 inch thick
• 6 cups cold water
• Optional: fresh mint leaves for garnishing

Directions, How to Make Lemonade:

1. Pour boiling water over sugar and hibiscus flowers if using, stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside
2. Optional: For sugar-free lemonade use warm water instead of hot and reduce the water by 2/3 of a cup. Use 1 to 1 1/2 cups of Agave nectar. Set aside
3. Juice lemons and strain out seeds and pulp
4. In a large pitcher combine sugar water (strain out hibiscus flowers if using), lemon juice, and water
5. Add ice and lemon slices
6. Garnish with mint leaves and serve