I saw this recipe on television this morning, and it made me want to run to the store and buy a huge bag of lemons. The weather is still warm here in Southern California, although the temperatures cooled off enough today that I could actually leave my air conditioning off. Still, seeing this recipe prepared made me want to pack my family up and take a trip to the beach.
If you’re looking for a delicious lemonade with just a little hint of something “different,” give this recipe a try. It combines the flavors and ingredients of a traditional lemonade with an Italian “kick.”
For this recipe you’ll need:
2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 15 lemons)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 bunch basil, torn
2 cups sparkling water
To make this recipe:
Squeeze enough lemons to make 2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Pour into a tall pitcher.
In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and torn basil. Bring to a boil then reduce heat a bit and simmer for approximately 20 minutes, until the mixture has formed a simple syrup (slightly thickened). Remove the basil leaves. Add the simple syrup to the lemon juice, and then add two cups sparkling water. Mix with a wooden spoon and allow to cool in the refrigerator before serving.
Serve in a glass with lots of ice cubes and a lemon wedge if desired.