When your friend gives you fresh lemons from her tree, you make, well…lemonade.
A gift of lemons
(Isn’t it crazy how home-grown lemons get to be so huge and take on such funny shapes?)
Now we know that you have a million things to do, and you don’t have time to stand over the stove and cook simple syrup or anything. That’s why we’re going to help you make a super-easy lemonade that’s ready in no time – and the kids can do most of the work. This method came to us from Chef Joe of Friday Night Catering in Philadelphia, and it makes really good lemonade.
Quick and Easy Lemonade
Ingredients
- 5 medium lemons I used 3 extra-large
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 cups water
- Ice
Instructions
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Slice the lemons. Place half of the lemon slices in a large pitcher, layer with half the sugar, then add the remaining lemon slices on top, then sprinkle on the remaining sugar.
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Using a wooden spoon, gently press down on the lemons to release the juice, stirring the lemon slices and sugar so that the mixture is well combined. Allow the lemon/sugar mixture to sit for 15 minutes (but no longer)
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Following the 15 minutes, fill the pitcher with the water and stir. Remove all but two or three of the lemon slices. Add ice and serve.
This lemonade is ready in just a snap. And how easy is it to mash up lemons and sugar? The kids can do it! You don’t really even have to be involved!
Quick and easy lemonade – No boiling or simple syrup required!
The only critical thing to remember is not to let it soak too long with all of the lemon slices – this can make it bitter. Fifteen minutes is all it takes – really! Add the water and ice, and then your lemonade with strawberries, mint, basil, raspberries, blueberries, pineapple, or whatever suits your fancy. How easy was that? Now you’ve got all kinds of extra time on your hands to find out what to do with the rest of your lemons.
Hi! I'm Jeanne Fratello - a writer, reporter, and food enthusiast who is on a mission to write great stories about food and where your food comes from. 
Lucy has been begging to have a lemonade stand since the day after her first stand last summer (where she gave people money from the change jar along with each cup purchased…aka best lemonade stand ever). This will be fun to make together for her little business operation!
Aw – how cute! Thank you for stopping by, Amelia!