I don’t know about you, but with summer fast approaching I’m on the search for delicious, easy and refreshing drink recipes. I’ve had Pinterest boards for years now with the most amazing looking drinks, and yet each year, summer passes by all too quickly and I haven’t tried a single one!
This year I’m going to switch it up and start actually trying all those yummy looking drink recipes I’ve pinned. So fortunately for you, I’ll be playing guinea pig and doing the testing for you 🙂 Well, in all honesty, handy hubby will be helping me out on that end 😉
I will be posting both the successes that you want to add to your “go-to” list for summer drinks and also the major flops that our testing will save you the time and money from making 🙂 So make sure to subscribe to tidymo.com so you are the first to hear when a must-have recipe has passed the handy hubby test!
The perfect homemade lemonade
Let’s start with a homemade lemonade recipe!
Lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink for hot days, family BBQ’s, baby and bridal showers, picnics, block parties or even when your kids come running inside begging to do a lemonade stand. This recipe is simple, easy, delicious and QUICK!
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What you need:
- Drink pitcher– These pitchers are amazing because not only are they big, but they are perfect for storing your drinks in the fridge and keeping it tasting/smelling fresh 🙂
- Large Saucepan
- Large spoon
- Metal re-usable straws- these are my favorite! Not only do they save an enormous amount of plastic waste, but they come in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, and thicknesses. Perfect for your drink on the go or sipping on drinks at home! The best are these thicker diameter straws that fit into a kid’s spillproof cup and make it easy to drink smoothies. I don’t know about you, but my kids love having these amazing Brazilian acai smoothies for breakfast every day and these are the first re-usable straw I’ve found that is smoothie friendly!
- 2 cups of Lemon juice
- 2 Lemons
- 1.5 Cups of sugar
- 2 Cups of water
Directions:
Step 1 – Make the simple syrup
In a large saucepan, combine the 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water. Over medium-low heat, stir the mixture occasionally until all the sugar has dissolved.
Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from heat and set aside while you follow the next steps.
Step 2 – Mix water and lemon juice
In a LARGE drink pitcher, combine the 2 cups of lemon juice with the 1 Gallon of cold water.
Depending on how big your pitcher is/how big of a batch you are making; it might be helpful to mix the lemonade in a large cooking pot and then once you are done split into various pitchers. That way you end up with a consistent batch of lemonade.
You can freshly squeeze actual lemons….however I don’t have the time for that nor the desire to clean up my kitchen from squirted lemon juice. Especially if kids are helping:)
I love to use this pre-squeezed lemon juice! I get two big bottles from Amazon or from Costco. Or you can find smaller bottles in the fresh fruit section of just about any grocery store. You get the same amazing taste like freshly squeezed lemons, without the mess or time!
Step 3 – Combine simple syrup and lemon mixture
Take the simple syrup mixture you set aside from before and add it to your lemon water mixture. Mix it up.
Step 4 – Add mint leaves
This is completely optional. In all honesty, I don’t always follow this step because not always do I have fresh mint 😉 But, I love adding some fresh mint before I chill to add more flavor. Plus the green makes it pretty 😉
Step 5 – Chill
Place the mixture into your drink pitcher and chill in the fridge.
Along with this homemade lemonade, my fridge always has a pitcher of this refreshing recipe for Brazilian matte (ice tea), ready for those warm days out on the deck 🙂 These are my two favorite drinks to keep ready during the summer because they are easy and delicious!
Enjoy separate, or mix these two together to create the most delicious Arnold Palmer!
XO,
Morgan
