Summer doesn't officially begin for another month, but we all know it's here already. The days are getting warmer (if not hotter, like today in the Boston area) and it's Memorial Day weekend, which is the real start of summer for most people.
So how about some lemonade? Like Kat Kinsman, most of the people I knew growing up used packaged mixes when making lemonade, but she gives a good recipe for real lemonade over at AOL Food. The full recipe after the jump.
Lemonade
1 quart freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 – 2 ½ dozen lemons)
1 - 2 cups simple syrup
1 - 2 cups cold water
Stir the lemon juice and 1 cup each of the water and simple syrup
into a large pitcher. Sample, and continue to stir in additional
water and syrup to taste.
That's the recipe, but make sure you also go to the link above to read Kat's great tips and tricks and also some ideas for add-ins.

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5-27-2007 @11:03PM jeanneanne said... thanks for posting that with all the soda around one forgets the simple lemon!
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5-25-2007 @7:42PM Brad said... Is it just me or does that reecipe sounds insanely heavy on the actual lemon juice? 1 quart of lemon juice mixed with just a few cups of water??
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5-25-2007 @8:07PM Colin said... Yeah, for sure. Perhaps you meant 1-2 quarts of water?
A few slices of lemon cut very thinly on something like a mandolin makes a very nice addition, too.
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5-25-2007 @8:16PM Mike said... Yeah, that lemon juice amount is way off. It takes about 2 lemons to make a decently potent gallon of lemonade when used with water and white grape juice concentrate. I think that recipe should be tweaked a bit to prevent tearing up ones digestive system.
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5-25-2007 @8:17PM Bob Sassone said... Yeah, looking at that AOL recipe now it does seem off. Though it does say to keep pouring the lemon until it tastes right so maybe the rest of it can just be left over for another batch? Heh.
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5-25-2007 @11:31PM esmereldagrubb said... My personal recipe:
For every one cup of lemonade ( A BIG cup .....about 12-16 ounces. )
Use 2 lemons.....They have to be big and JUICY...if not use 3.
Sweeten with LOTS of Equal or SPlenda....Approx 6 packets ....depending on the lemons.
YUM!! I dont care if its artificial sweetener....it is SOOOOOO refreshing for a parched aspartame lover like myself!
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5-26-2007 @3:42PM Dave Mandeville said... Bob's recipe makes 2 quarts of lemonade of which 1 quart is fresh lemon juice... Noooooooo way.....
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5-26-2007 @4:52PM Bob Sassone said... Um, just so we're clear here, this is *not* my recipe.
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5-28-2007 @9:50PM Nasty said... There's nothing nastier than people who ruin perfectly good lemonade or ice tea with Mint. Sweet drinks mixed with mint? Am i entering a kissing contest that I need my mouth to smell toothpaste fresh after i drink (mint) ice tea or (mint) lemonade? I recently ordered 5 homemade lemonade drinks from a local resturant thinking they'd make lemonade for normal people on earth...boy was i surprised . I took 2 sips and it was filled with mint. I called up the place and said ..i thought lemonade was supposed to be sweet . They said , yes , it is sweet. Then i'm like , how in the hell could this crap be sweet and ur putting freakin mint in it ? Needless to say i've never ordered drinks from there again..and anytime i try a new place out that has "homemade lemonade" I ask if they put nasty mouthwash mint in it first .
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5-28-2007 @10:59PM pamela said... Yes - that sounds like way too much lemon juice
I just made a gallon of it over the weekend for show I was having and I only used 3 lemons - 3/4 cup sugar and the rest was water - must say it didn't turn out half bad
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6-20-2007 @5:30PM wynk said... I use Southern Living's recipe (it's on their website), with a little less water (to taste) because I like mine a little stronger than most recipes. Also works really well for limes. One thing I do is make it in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, and when I pour the simple syrup into the water/lemon juice, I close the lid and shake (not stir). It mixes it really well and adds a nice frothiness.
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5-30-2007 @2:45PM MJ said... My mom use to make hers on top of the stove and it was heavenly.Bring lemons slices, water and sugar to a boil. Take off heat and cool.Remove lemon slices and throw out. Add fresh lemons slices to tall glass of ice and enjoy.
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