Loaded Lemonade Food

SPIKED LEMONADE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, 1 cup water and lemon zest. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in lemon juice and remaining water. Pour into a 2-qt. pitcher; refrigerate until chilled. , Stir in rum. For each serving, place 3/4 to 1 cup ice in a Collins or highball glass. Pour lemonade mixture into glass. Garnish with lemon slices as desired.

PERFECT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Remove wide strips of zest from 2 lemons with a vegetable peeler (do not remove the pith). Make 2 cups simple syrup (recipe below), adding the lemon zest before heating. Let cool, then pour into an ice-filled pitcher. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups each fresh lemon juice and water, and some lemon slices.
• Simple Syrup: To make 2 cups simple syrup, bring 1 1/2cups each sugar and water to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Let cool.

ALMOST-FAMOUS STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

Steps:

• Make the lemon syrup: Bring the lemon zest, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring, until the sugar dissolves; let cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, make the strawberry syrup: Toss the strawberries and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl and let sit at room temperature until the sugar dissolves, about 45 minutes. Strain the strawberry mixture; reserve the strawberry syrup and berries separately.
• Make the lemonade: Combine the lemon juice, lemon syrup, salt and 2 cups cold water in a pitcher. For each drink, put about 1 tablespoon of the strawberry syrup in a tall glass. Fill with ice, then top with the lemonade and some of the reserved strawberries.

LOADED LEMONADE

Steps:

• Add first four ingredients to a pitcher or large bowl; stir to combine; chill for 2 hours.
• Right before ready to serve, add Sprite; stir to combine.
• Serve in ice-filled glasses.

HOMEMADE LEMONADE

Steps:

• Remove the zest from 2 lemons in wide strips with a vegetable peeler, then juice enough lemons to make 2 cups. Refrigerate the juice.
• Combine the sugar, lemon zest and 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Remove the lemon zest from the syrup. Pour 3 cups cold water and the lemon juice into the pitcher and stir. Remove 1 cup of the lemonade to a bowl and add 3 cups water. Divide the watered-down lemonade mixture between 2 ice cube trays and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Refrigerate the pitcher of lemonade until ready to serve.
• Add some lemonade ice cubes to the pitcher along with a few lemon slices. Serve in cups with the remaining lemonade ice cubes.