Homemade Lemonade…Refreshing, Easy & Inexpensive

I’ve never been a huge fan of homemade lemonade, usually finding it overly sweet or too tart. The few times I have made it, the proportions were off and it tasted just ok, and not really worth the effort. But, the other day I saw a recipe in Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine (the August 2014 edition,) and I thought I’d give it a try. The cost of this really depends on the price of lemons since that’s the main ingredient.

I paid 50 cents per lemon and used 6 lemons to make 1 cup of lemon juice. Depending on the size of your lemons, you may need more or less. If you’re making a big batch of lemonade, buying the lemons by the bag can save you money.

HOMEMADE LEMONADE – (From EveryDay with Rachael Ray magazine)

• In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water; shake until sugar dissolves.

• In a pitcher, combine sugar mixture, 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 5 cups water.

*I added fresh basil and a sliced lemon. You could also add strawberry slices or rosemary sprigs.

My husband and I both thought this recipe was perfectly flavored, not too sweet or tart; light and refreshing. My price, with the lemons costing 50 cents, was $3.20 for the pitcher.

Keep the bugs out with this fun presentation…

This looks cute and serves a purpose…keeping those pesky gnats and other flying insects from landing in your beverage. Simply replace the metal disk you normally use with mason jars with a cupcake liner and poke a straw through it. You can find mason jars at thrift stores for super cheap. Pick up a bag of straws and the cupcake liners at a dollar store for even more savings.

Tammy’s quick tip – 

To get the most juice from your lemons, make sure they are room temperature before you start squeezing.