Summer is here and it’s hotter than ever, so it’s time to break out the icy cold drinks that refresh, such as this sparkling strawberry lemonade. Do you know why lemonade is so refreshing when it is hot? Lemons are acidic, so they make your mouth water, making you feel more hydrated when you drink something with lemons in it. This lemonade has four simple ingredients: sliced lemons with the sweet peels left on, bakers sugar, which dissolves easier in water, juicy-sweet fresh summer strawberries, and sparkling water with bubbles that tickle the tongue.
Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade
- 4-5 Fresh Lemons
- 1 c. Bakers Sugar
- 4-5 Fresh Strawberries, sliced
- 2 Bottles (33.8 oz each) Sparkling Water (Perrier or similar)
Wash and dry the lemons. Thinly slice the lemons and place in an 84 oz. pitcher. Sprinkle the sugar over the lemons and using a wooden spoon, mash the lemons. Wash and slice the strawberries, removing the green tips first. Add the strawberries to the pitcher and mash the lemons and strawberries slightly. Set the pitcher aside for about three hours to “marinate” the lemons in the sugar. Before adding the sparkling water, scoop 3/4 of the lemons out of the pitcher, leaving the strawberries and some of the lemon slices in the pitcher. Add the sparkling water and stir gently once or twice to blend, making certain you mix the “goodies” at the bottom of the pitcher, but don’t stir too vigorously or you will flatten the sparkling water. Serve with ice. Cover the lemonade container with plastic wrap when not using and keep in the refrigerator to keep the effervescence.
Note: The reason I leave the skin on the lemons and add the whole lemon to the pitcher is because the lemon skin gives off a sweet lemon oil that adds a “floral” note to the lemonade. If you prefer a more sour lemonade, cut the lemons and juice them, adding the juice to the pitcher with the strawberries, and add about 3/4 cup of sugar, not 1 cup . For another refreshing summer drink, try my watermelon lime agua frescas.
