*Recipe edited on 6/25/2013

I don’t know what the weather was like in y’all’s neck of the woods this past Saturday, but we had a beeeautiful day in the low 70’s here in Virginia. I’ve noticed over the last couple of days that the pastures are greening up. What a great reminder that spring is right around the corner, which brings me to the subject of today’s post. I have a delicious homemade lemonade recipe that I’m sharing with y’all. Truth is – I had this on my calendar for a June post, but I just couldn’t help myself. And, never mind the fact that I ~~forced~~ asked Megan to stop right smack-dab in the middle of painting her bedroom to do a photo shoot. Did I mention she’s awesome?!

Anyway, homemade lemonade is a lot of work to make, but the end result is so worth it. Thank goodness for modern gadgets that help make the task of squeezing lemons a little easier on the hands and arms. The fresh-squeezedness of this recipe is delicious. Oh, and don’t be fooled by the lime. And, whatever you do don’t skip the lime, because it’s just wouldn’t be the same. You gotta trust me on this.

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In the photos you can see the lemon zest in the bottom of the glasses. I think it adds a great lemon burst, but I don’t always take the time to zest the lemon. That’s totally up to you. Don’t feel guilty for leaving the zest out. Everyone will probably be so impressed that you’re squeezing your own lemonade that they won’t think twice about a zesty absence. If the zest in the glass really bothers you you can always strain it. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. As you can see this time I didn’t.

This homemade lemonade recipe has the perfect sweet-to-tang ratio for my family’s likings, You can use this as a base, or concentrate and just add more water if it’s too concentrated for you. I have a couple of friends who will add about 4 more cups of water. That’s whats great about this. You can do what you want. Whatever tickles your fancy.

What’s better than sitting on the porch drinking a chilled glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade on a warm sunny day? Maybe retiring to the sweet serenity of a freshly painted bedroom that night. Maybe.

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Serving Up Southern

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Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 6-7 large lemons)
Fresh juice of 1 lime (about 1/4 cup)
2 -3 teaspoons grated lemon zest optional
5 cups cold water

Instructions

Add sugar to boiling water that's been boiled in medium saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add lemon zest, and juices. Put into quart mason jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use.
When ready to serve, add 5 cups of cold water to concentrate and stir until sugar syrup is incorporated into the liquid. You can adjust the water depending on your taste. (If you like a stronger taste add less, if you like a weaker taste add more.)
Pour into a pitcher and chill. Serve over ice, and garnish each glass with a fresh lemon slice and a sprig of mint leaves, if desired.

Disclaimer: Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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