Article by Arleen M. Kaptur
Hot, dry summer afternoons, enjoyed on an old-fashioned porch swing with an icy, cold glass, dripping with quenching, cool refreshment – Poolside enjoying the hot sun reflected on the water surface that changes it into thousands of dancing jewels – the water cool but the drink in your hand so delightful – you touch the glass gently to your sweating brow – you sip slowly to savor the sensation of ice cold smoothness going down your throat to bring relief to your body while you continue to lazily float on the water – Coming home from work, an unusually rough day, having fought the traffic on the freeway or the stuffiness of that commuter train filled to capacity with human bodies, and your thirst growing with each stop the train makes – That liquid refreshment that can quench any thirst and refresh the entire person is none other than old-fashioned lemonade. It is a childhood memory, a quick-fix on a hot day, or a leisurely way to spend a summer afternoon or evening with the breeze from a fan blowing or a gentle wisp of fresh air that comes intermittently as the sweltering day comes to an end. Lemonade – it doesn’t get any better – Homemade – Combine 2 cups lemon juice, 4 tsp. grated lemon rind, 1-1/2 cups white sugar. Keep in a covered glass container in the refrigerator. To serve: Use 1/4 cup of the above syrup for each glass. Fill the glass with ice cubes and water. Add a lemon slice on the side of the glass for that added ‘tart” taste. **********************Lemonade Plus – 1 12-oz. can frozen lemonade, 1 12-oz. can frozen orange juice, 1 48-oz. can pineapple juice, unsweetened, 6 cups water, 7-up or gingerale Mix all ingredients except 7-up/gingerale together in a large container. A 5-qt. ice cream pail works great. Freeze overnight. Take out of freezer 20 mins. before serving. Fill the glass 1/2 full of mixture. Add the 7-up/Gingerale, stir and serve. Place a lemon slice or mint leave for garnish. ********************** For special guests – 1 can frozen pink lemonade, ice cubes, 1/ 2 cup white rum or tequila Fill a blender 2/3 full with ice cubes. Add the 6-oz. can frozen pink lemonade, and the rum or tequila. Blend for 2 mins. Pour into glasses and garnish with a twist of lemon rind on top. *********************Country Lemonade – 2 lemons, thinly sliced, 1/2 cup sugar, 4 cups boiling water, ice cubes In a heatproof pitcher, place the sliced lemons and the sugar. Pour in the boiling water and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate until chilled. To serve – pour mixture over ice cubes and serve. *********************STRAWBERRY LEMONADE 3 cups water, 1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup sugar, 2-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, red food coloring, crushed ice, sliced strawberries/lemon slices for garnish Put 1 cup of the water, the lemon juice, sugar, and all the berries in a blender. Blend until the mixture is pureed and the sugar is completely dissolved. In a pitcher, combine the strawberry/lemonade mixture with the remaining 2 cups of water and a few drops of the red food coloring; mix well. Add crushed ice, and garnish with the sliced strawberries and lemon slices. Instant Refreshment! **************************Fast and Easy 4 cups water, 1 cup lemon juice, 2/3 cup sugar, ice cubes In a pitcher, combine water, lemon juice and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Serve over ice cubes in chilled glasses. ********************Really in a pinch – frozen pink or regular lemonade kept in the freezer for those “emergency” situations – too hot, too tired, too drained – with just enough strength to pull that white strip from around that little can and place in a pitcher and add water. Oh! the pain of waiting for it to dissolve but when it does – relief at last! However you serve it – there’s just one very important thing to remember about lemonade – ENJOY!
