Old Fashioned Lemon Balm Lemonade Food

OLD FASHIONED LEMON BALM AND LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE SYRUP

Steps:

• Place the sugar, lemon halves and water into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Add the lemon verbena and lemon balm leaves and boil for 2 minutes; leave to cool. Add the citric or tartaric acid if using at this stage. Allow to cool and then cover and allow to infuse for 24 to 48 hours, depending on what strength you require. (I have left this for 3 days sometimes too, for a real lemon zing.).
• Sieve through a fine mesh or colander, discarding the lemon halves and the herb leaves - then pour into clean and sterile bottle/s; seal tightly and store in a cool dark place for several months or in the fridge for several weeks.
• To use: 1 part syrup to 4 parts water or sparkling water, to taste - add more for a stronger lemon flavour or less for a more delicate flavour. Add ice, a slice of lemon and some lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves as a garnish.

OLD-FASHIONED LEMON BALM LEMONADE

Steps:

• Scrub the lemons well. Peel the rind thinly, avoiding the white pithe, and set aside the lemons.
• Place the lemon rind, lemon balm leaves, and the sugar into a small heat-proof pitcher. Pour the boiling water into the pitcher and stir well, crushing the lemon balm leaves to release their flavor. Leave mixture to infuse for about 15 minutes.
• Now, cut the lemons in half and squeeze out the juice. Strain juice into a large glass pitcher, add a few fresh sprigs of lemon balm, and add the cooled, strained syrup. Top up with water or half-water half-ice, and chill until needed.

OLD-FASHIONED LEMON BALM LEMONADE

Steps:

• 1. Peel the lemons and place rinds in a heatproof jug. Add the sugar. Pour on enough boiling water to dissolve the sugar.2. Add half the lemon balm leaves and leave to infuse until cold.3. When cool, squeeze the juice from the lemons and add to the syrup. Pour in the cold water to taste, adjusting the sugar or lemon juice. Chill for about two hours.4. Just before serving, remove the lemon balm and lemon peel. Add some fresh sprigs and ice cubes.

OLD-FASHIONED LEMONADE

Steps:

• To make the sugar syrup, in a medium saucepan combine the zest, sugar and water.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Remove from the heat, cover and let steep for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the syrup to a 2-quart pitcher.
• Let cool.
• Add the lemon juice, chopped lemon rinds and cold water.
• Stir well to combine.
• Chill until very cold.
• Serve over ice.

LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE

Steps:

• Bring sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and add lemon verbena. Cover, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, and let cool thoroughly.
• Combine lemon juice and lemon verbena syrup in a pitcher. Fill glasses with lemon verbena ice, and divide lemonade among glasses (or cover and refrigerater for up to 3 days).
• LEMON VERBENA ICE CUBES:.
• Fill 2 ice trays halfway with water, and freeze. Top each cube with a lemon verbena leaf and cover with water, and freeze for up to a week.