When the days are hot and the kids are bored making a pitcher of summertime lemonade is a fun activity!
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Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted August 2013 with better photos and additional information.
This is a conversation I just recently had with a couple of our grandchildren…
Me: “Pack some clothes and I’ll come get you.”
Using up the lemons
Among other activities, we made lemonade from the naked lemons in the fridge. You know, the collection of lemons that have been zested and sit looking pathetic in the fruit bin.
How to Make Summertime Lemonade
Or, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Literally, that’s what we did.
Using a juicer, squeeze enough lemons to measure 1 cup lemon juice.
How many lemons needed can range on the size of the lemon and the time of year. A medium lemon will give 2-3 tablespoons of juice, where a larger lemon can give 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons).
A good guide for measurements for lemon and lime juice is:
• 1 lemon yields: 3 tablespoons juice
• 1 lime yields: 2 tablespoons juice
There are 16 tablespoons in a cup, so 6-8 lemons will give you 1 cup of juice.
Tips for getting the most juice from a lemon
Here are a couple of tips for getting maximum juice from the lemon.
- Microwave the lemon for 10 seconds before cutting and juicing.
- Simply roll the lemon on your counter top with the palm of your hand for a few seconds. This will loosen up the pulp releasing more juice.
Make a simple sugar solution by stirring together the water and sugar.
Heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow the sugar solution to cool.
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Fresh Summertime Lemonade
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3-4 cups additional water
- fresh mint for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
- In a saucepan, stir together the water and sugar; heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Cool.
- In a serving pitcher, combine the sugar solution and the lemon juice. Add additional water to taste. (or to preferred pucker)
- Serve lemonade over ice and garnish with lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.
Being silly comes naturally on damp, dreary, mid-summer days. Exaggerated expressions do not actually reflect their enjoyment of the lemonade taste-testing.
You might also like these kid-friendly recipes…
Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Patriotic Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza
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In addition to making lemonade, Keri and Noah watched movies from a fort they built, climbed trees, give head-locks, played with our schnauzer, Raider and made more goofy faces. All of this to help alleviate a serious case of summertime boredom.
I love to buy lemonade from the stand of the little ones down the street, and this reminded me of how much that means to them. You upped lemons a notch by sharing this adorable blog post. So cute!
What a blessing to have grands that you can share good times with. I loved making tents with blankets around the dining room table and homemade lemonade. Your grands are not soon to forget all these wonderful memories you are creating with them.
GOD keep you all safe.
How nice to have a recipe for homemade lemonade. I've made a variety of types of lemonade – strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, but never plain old lemonade. Thanks so much for this recipe!
They look pretty content to me. I don't think I'd be bored at your house!
Got some of my grandchildren coming to stay next week, then the twins are staying on their own!! so I am printing off this recipe and we will make lemonade too…thank you for sharing!
The lemonade looks so good. They are cute and I enjoyed your photos so much. I see Raider was in on the fun, too!
What a sweet solution for boredom! I'll be right over!
~Adrienne~
Fun! That sounds like one great phone call:@)
Such a sweet post! =)
They look like they are having lots of fun! and the lemonade sounds so good!
Naked lemons! – how funny. Now I know what to call them in future.
Kids look like they had a lot of fun!
This post reminded me of me calling my Mom back when to say come and get us we're bored me and the kids when they were little. She say ok be there soon.. We run around packing up some clothes and wait patiently for her to come..I didn't have a car at the time.Nice sweet post. Blessings with love Janice
This lemonade look fresh and delicious!! and love your pictures!!
This made me smile because I was just looking at the naked lemons, left over from making a gremolata last weekend!
You are so blessed to have the children close enough to come over like that. I can tell that you appreciate and treasure these times and that is so very heartwarming.
Had planned to make lemonade today, but it looks like you had more fun!! They are so very cute!! This will be a precious memory for them!
I don't think anyone would be bored visiting you…especially not your grandchildren. You make life fun Lorraine!
I love that you have "naked lemons" in your refrigerator! =D
How could anyone say "no" to these cuties? Apparently, some MomMom time was just what they needed! So sweet!
awwww… they are so cute…and you are such a good grandmother to go and get them….don't we love our grandchildren? it's like a prize for surviving raising our children..LOL
Love, Mona
I love lemonade but must confess I've never made it from scratch. Now I have no excuse! Beautiful photos as always.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
This post is ONE of the many reasons I love reading your blog.
Memories made forever are priceless. We love our Grandchildren.
Lisa from Indiana