AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

At my house growing up, there was nothing like fresh lemonade – poured over a big glass of ice cubes, we’d drink it as soon as it was made. With the weather being so hot these past few days, it made me think of Mom’s lemonade (and popsicles). Here’s a classic recipe, and a few others I found on line (realsimple.com) that look just as good. Enjoy!

Classic Lemonade
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6 lemons)
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved; let cool. In a pitcher, combine the syrup with the lemon juice and 2½ to 3 cups water. Serve over ice.

Thyme and Lime Lemonade
10 fresh thyme sprigs
plus sprigs for serving
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 cups Classic Lemonade
3/4 cup vodka (optional) For “Big people lemonade”!
In a pitcher, using a wooden spoon, mash the thyme with the lime juice. Add the lemonade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. Add the vodka, if using. Serve over ice and garnish with the thyme sprigs.

Frozen Blueberry Lemonade
1 ½ cup blueberries
1 cup lemonade
½ cup fresh mint leaves
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
In a blender, puree the blueberries, lemonade, mint, confectioners’ sugar, and 3 cups ice until smooth. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Strawberry Mint Lemonade
1 cup sugar, 8 sprigs mint
1 quart strawberries
1 ½ cup fresh lemon juice
splash of vodka (optional) And another one for “Big people lemonade”!
Combine the sugar, mint, and 1 cup water in a small pot. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool and discard the mint leaves. Combine the syrup with the strawberries, lemon juice, and 5 cups cold water in a large pitcher. Chill for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours. Serve over ice, garnished with additional mint. Add a splash of vodka, if desired.

If you have a favorite recipe, please send it to me and I’ll share with our readers.

Stay cool!