old fashioned lemonade base

here it is... my mum's lemonade recipe.  i love it. i got a dwarf lemon tree for christmas and can't wait till it fruits a plenty to be able to make my own. :)

ingredients
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 cups caster sugar
zest of half a lemon, finely chopped
juice of 5 lemons
bottle or jar to store

method

in a medium saucepan heat and stir water and sugar over a medium heat until sugar is dissolved.

simmer syrup for 5 minutes.

remove from heat, add lemon zest and leave to cool for 20 minutes.

add lemon juice to the syrup and pour into clean bottles or jars

store lemonade base in refrigerator for up to three days.

to serve

stir equal quantities of lemonade base and cold water or soda together. 

add ice and serve.  add a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.

find a comfy seat in the breeze of the afternoon, serve up and enjoy!

rhubarb and strawberry lemonade

checked out my dad's rhubarb plant on the weekend... it's massive!! not sure i can fit a rhubarb in my little garden!

i have such fond memories of stewed rhubarb from my nanna's garden when i was little. 

came across this recipe and thought it sounds like such a lovely fresh drink to try - something a little different to do with rhubarb!

source - 'gardening australia' august 2004

ingredients
1 bunch chopped rhubarb
3 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
2 strips lemon rind.
250g chopped strawberries
1/2 tspn vanilla extract
1 cup fresh lemon juice

method
in a large saucepan combine rhubarb, water, sugar and lemon rind.
bring to the boil and cook for 8 minutes.
add chopped strawberries and vanilla extract and cook for another 2 minutes.
press the mixture through a coarse sieve.
add lemon juice.
pour into bottles and refrigerate when cool.
serve over ice.

got my mum's old fashioned lemonade recipe to bring you soon. it still feels like summer here - very much the days for some yummy fresh drinks!