It seems like I am constantly refining lemonade recipes according to the season, but why not? I feel better about serving our kids homemade lemonade than the powdered version, and it reminds me of the way my Grandmother Mildred always made us a special drink when we ate lunch at her house. My mom worked close to Grandma’s house, so when I was home from college for the summer, we would convene at Grandma’s for a quick bite at noon—and always sun tea or lemonade to drink. Grandma grew up feeding farm workers with a BIG lunch to get them through the long workday, so the lunches at her house were similar: hot food that was simple and satisfying. With lunch (casseroles, potato salad, applesauce) came hot tea afterward and a pan full of homemade date-filled cookies, pecan sticky rolls, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter rice krispie bars, and a dessert list that could go on and on. She kept a toothbrush at her house for each of us (with our names written in permanent ink) so that we could freshen up and go on our way into our afternoon activities and my mom could go back to work.
Three cheers to good food memories, to warm hospitality, and to my dear Grandmother Millie!
Sour Cherry Lemonade
Serves 20 (in a 10-ounce rocks glass filled halfway with ice)
2 pounds fresh sour cherries, pitted (or 6 cups thawed frozen cherries)
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
8 cups club soda
3 cups lemon juice
Vodka (optional)
To make the syrup:
Simmer those lovely cherries with the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the cherries are broken down and juicy with liquid-like thin maple syrup. This should take about 30 minutes.
Cool the mixture slightly and strain through a fine-mesh sieve. There will be approximately 2 cups of cherry syrup. Freeze the cherry solids to reserve for muffins or something fabulous.
To make the lemonade:
Combine lemon juice, sugar, and cherry syrup. Stir vigorously to combine.
Right before serving, slowly add 8 cups of club soda and then stir gently.
In a rocks glass, pour this combination over a generous amount of ice. Top with 2 tablespoons of vodka, per glass, if desired.
Need to scale the recipe down? Head to Sour Cherry Lemonade for Two.
(Credit to the original recipe from Martha Stewart Living, date unknown.)
Purchase the Lark Cocktails book for dozens more great recipes! #livinglark
