Homemade lemonade

                                                                                                                                                                           Homemade lemonade

A few weeks ago when Z was over for diner we started reminiscing about the old flat we shared in Stockbridge. It was a lovely old place, once grand now just a bit shabby, no chic. We used to dance in the kitchen on a Friday nights and went through lots of cups of teas watching "Come dine with me" on lazy Sunday afternoons.

One summer a few of the posh kids up the street set up a lemonade stall. It was just about the cutest thing I had ever seen and just about the best 20p I have ever spent. It was something of a time gone by, before all the bad stuff you seem to read about in the newspapers every day. It was totally charming made even more charming by the fact one of them was playing his violin next to the stall, practicing his Bach. 

Having been reminded of the lemonade stall and with it being a sunny bank holiday, today seemed to be the perfect time to make my own.

I've done the recipe by ratios as I think this may be easier for people. I will always have lemons but not always 6 of them for example. Increase the proportions as you require. For example, if you have 3 lemons, times the rest of the ingredients by 3.

To make pink lemonade just mash up a few raspberries and throw these in at the beginning.

Homemade lemonade - 1 quantity, serves 2

1 large lemon or approx 100ml of fresh lemon juice

2 heaped desert spoons of granulated sugar
100ml hot water

200ml soda water

ice cubes and mint to serve

Pare the zest from the lemon in big strips.

Then strip the pith off the back of the zest to reduce the bitterness.

Squeeze the lemon juice into a pyrex jug, add the sugar and zest.

Add the hot water.

Have a taste, you may need more sugar.

Leave to cool, or overnight if you are awfully well prepared.

When you are ready to drink it, add 200ml of soda water.

Serve with ice, lemon zest strips and mint sprigs.

I'll be making a second batch for my royal wedding party this coming weekend. Can't wait. I'm off to order some bunting.

Enjoy.