Flavored Lemonades

 One of my favorite summer drinks is lemonade. Lemonade is great because you can flavor it so many ways. Today I made four of my favorite flavors and my niece, Sylvia, was here to help! She tasted each flavor and commented on each one as she sipped. I had no idea she was such a connoisseur of lemonade - or "lemalade" as she calls it. I asked which one was her favorite flavor but she just couldn't decide so you can make some for yourself and decide which one you like best!

Lemonade Base

1 quart + 1 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
drizzle of honey (optional)


Lavender Lemonade

Lemonade base
1 tablespoon dried lavender buds

Mix 1 cup water, lavender buds, and sugar in a pot over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Strain the lavender buds out before transferring to a pitcher and adding the remaining quart of water and lemon juice.

Notes from Sylvia: "This one tastes juicy! It's very juicy. I like it very much."


Ginger Lemonade

Lemonade base
1-2 inch piece fresh ginger root, sliced

Mix 1 cup water, sliced ginger, and sugar in a pot over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly before transferring to a pitcher and adding the remaining quart of water and lemon juice.

Notes from Sylvia: "This one tastes like sour lemalade but it's sweet. I like it a lot!"


Mint Lemonade

Lemonade base
1 peppermint tea bag

Steep the mint tea bag in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes. Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir until dissolved before adding the remaining quart of water and lemon juice.

Notes from Sylvia: "This one smells like a candy cane! It tastes like a candy cane! It tastes like a candy cane and lemalade"


Watermelon Lemonade

1 quart cold water
1 1/2 cup watermelon
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
5-7 fresh mint leaves (optional)

Blend the watermelon sugar and mint leaves until smooth then add lemon juice and water.

Notes from Sylvia: "What's in this pink stuff? It's pink! I like it."