There’s nothing better than a cold glass of lemonade to quench your thirst on a hot Summer day. Treat your family with the simple recipe below, you may never package the powdered stuff again!
2 cups sugar or Agave Nectar
2 cups water
2 cups lemon juice (I use fresh when I have it, and 100% juice from the store when I don’t)
Water to fill 1-gallon container
First, I make a simple syrup by heating 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water (this can be done on the stove or by heating the water in the microwave).
Stir together simple syrup and lemon juice. Add water to fill a 1-gallon.
Elevate it!
Pour ice, and lemonade in a glass, mix in slapped Basil, Mint, or Lavender.
The technique of slapping herbs:
I like to grow Christmas tree-shaped rosemary in the planters by my house during the holiday season. They look beautiful, are low maintenance, and if you happen to brush by them, their beautiful aroma fills the air. I personally can’t pass by without brushing my hand across the rosemary and then cupping my hands over my nose to smell the beautiful earthy scent. This comes from the essential oils in the plant being released by a touch.
Bartenders around the world use the same concept to release an herb’s essential oils without bruising them. They know bruised herbs can taste muddy and look gross. So, they slap them to release the most flavor and scent, while maintaining the beauty of the herb.
Put a thin, even layer in your hand, and give it a nice whack before adding it to your lemonade.
https://www.saveur.com/fresh-herbs-cocktails/
For a refreshing adult beverage: Put ice in a glass, add an ounce of vodka, fill the glass 2/3 of the way with lemonade, top off with sparkling water and a couple slapped basil leaves.