Make Lemonade

Be sure to buy firm, heavy, deep yellow lemons with fine-textured skin. Avoid coarse skin and light weight.

Make sure the fruit is fully yellow; if it's greenish, it's not quite ripe, and if it has brown patches, it's overripe.

Store lemons at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for up to a week. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a month.

My husband loves lemonade! This is his favorite recipe and the only one he will use.

Ingredients:

9 lemons-juiced
2 cups of sugar
1 gallon of water
5-10 mint leaves for garnishing and taste!

Makes 1 gallon of refreshing lemonade

This is the original pink lemonade. It gets its color from grenadine, a sweet, deep-red syrup made from pomegranates. Some grenadines contain alcohol and some don't, so be sure to check the label.

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 10 big lemons, including pulp but not seeds)
1/4 to 1/3 cup grenadine
Mint sprigs (optional)

In a pitcher, mix the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Mix in the lemon juice and grenadine to taste. To serve, pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup of base into a glass and fill with water. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired. Makes base for 12 servings.

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups water
3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 16 lemons)
1 pint fresh strawberries, stems and caps removed
Ice

In a pitcher or container, whisk together the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and stir. Puree the strawberries and strain to remove the seeds. Add the strawberry puree to the lemon mixture and stir. To serve, pour into ten ounce glasses filled with ice. Makes seven servings.

Here are some simple suggestions on how to build your own lemonade stand. You can build it from scratch, use items around your home to construct one, or buy one already made!

Get the whole family involved for some great bonding time.

Growing up we always used whatever we had on hand. A picnic table with big unbrella works great!

Have the kids make a bright colored sign using poster board and markers.

This is a great set of step by step instructions on how to make a simple lemonade using a card board box--www.mrmcgroovys.com

Want to get a little more creative?--www.lowes.com

Don't have time for any of these options...buy one already made!--www.indoorplayhouse.com

Or search here for some great already made stands!--www.ebay.com

www.sunkist/takeastand.com--encourages children to set up their own lemonade stand and donate the profits to support their favorite charity! What a great idea.

www.alexslemonade.org--A great site that helps support children with cancer. A wonderful site to check out with your kids!