Homemade Lemonade - More Bottled Sunshine!

I know what you're thinking! Its raining, its 12 degrees and its the 1st September and she is still going on about bottled sunshine. I agree with you, I am slightly mad. But I'm just not ready to say goodbye to summer yet and nearly everywhere I have turned in the last week keeps pointing out that it is indeed nearing the end. This saddens me. I love summer and its such a fleeting season. And then I found Purely Food, Claire had a recipe for homemade Lemonade and I knew I needed to try it!

Homemade Lemonade

6 lemons

150g caster sugar

1 litre water

Sparkling water, to serve

Peel the skin off the lemons and place in a large pan, taking care not to take any of the bitter white pith (I'm not very good at this bit!). Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pan with the zest and add the water and sugar. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil. Boil rapidly fro 10 mins, take off the heat and allow to cool (also not very good at this bit either!)

Once cool, strain the juice through a fine sieve and pour into bottles. Seal and store. Best stored in the fridge, best consumed within 24 hours. When ready to serve, half fill glasses with the lemonade and top up with sparkling water.

Makes approx 1 litre

Purely Food

Next time I'm going to add limes as well as lemons, only because I'm a proper lime fiend!