We are grateful for the rough lemon tree that grows down the lane - for the simple and bright beauty of dangling lemons, the smell when you slice them, and most of all, lemonade. My favorite drink to serve at our family gatherings, but during lemon season, the coldest months of the year, I almost always have a fresh pitcher of homemade lemonade in the fridge---thanks to this extremely humble looking and uncared for tree.
The secret to great tasting lemonade is to start by making "simple syrup". This dissolves the sugar in hot water and keeps the sugar, and the sweetness, from sinking to the bottom of the pitcher.
ingredients...
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
8 cups water
directions...
Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Add 1 cup of iced water to cool the syrup before adding to the lemon juice.
In a pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 6 cups water.
You may need to adjust the amount of sugar to your taste; some lemons are sweeter than others. If you’d like to give it a real flavor booster, add a teaspoon of lemon extract.
Lemons can make me very happy, regardless of their sour reputation and so does this song by the Books…
I leave you with ‘The Lemon of Pink’
Mmmmmmmm yum! Its so hot here today - I could do with a glass! I love the center lemon on the tree from your first image - its so knobbly!
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me a little sad to see a fruit tree that works so hard at providing food go uncared for. This tree is not unloved though, thanks for the lovely pictures and recipe. I can't wait to try it!
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