Mom's best (almost) natural lemonade recipe

Mom's best (almost) natural home made lemonade

Keeping cool in the Little Karoo

Here in the Little Karoo the temperature on long summer days often reaches into the mid-'40s centigrade. Honestly, it's unbearable at times, and we are always trying new and ingenious ways to keep cool. I have patio misters, a roof sprayer, and an outside bath. Wearing wet clothes also works like a bomb.

Keeping hydrated is essential, and an ice-cold glass of this cold homemade lemonade is a lifesaver. It's really easy to make too.

When sourcing lemons, try to support local farmers, or if you have your own lemon tree, that's first prize.

Although this recipe has sugar, the lemonade is so concentrated that a little goes a far way. This family recipe never fails, and even a kitchen dummy (like me) can make it!

Recipe

Ingredients

Lemons 10 - 12

Cream of Tartar 15 ml

Citric Acid 15 ml

Cups of sugar 12

Epsom Salts 15 ml

Boiling Water 1,5 litres

Method

• Grate the peel of one lemon

• Squish juice from the lemons

• Add juice and peel in a plastic or glass bowl

• Add sugar, citric acid, Epsom salts, cream of tartar

• Add boiling water and stir until everything is dissolved.

• Pour into sterilized glass bottles and seal.

As always, we support green living and upcycle pretty glass bottles with screw caps, especially for this lemonade.

Serving suggestions

Mix with cold sparkling or soda water, and ice - lots of it! Experiment with added goodies for extra pizazz such as

• Mint

• Angostura bitters

• Sliced cucumber

• Sliced lemon

• Aloe juice

A bottle of this lemonade is a great homemade gift, and so is our homemade apricot jam. Give them both a try and let us know how you get on.