A sour economy is the perfect time to follow that old lemonade adage and make the most of life’s lemons — especially if you’re looking for something sweet, refreshing and inexpensive to serve this summer.
Start by using the frozen lemon juice sold in plastic squeeze bottles, which can be found with other frozen juices.
One bottle usually costs about $2. You get about a cup of good quality juice for considerably less than squeezing your own lemons.
For adults, a tropical lemonade wine cooler can quench a thirsty crowd for a little over $1 per serving. It’s a great way to stretch a bottle of inexpensive table wine.
For the kids, try red plum lemonade, which can be made for about 50 cents per serving. The plums give the drink a beautiful rosy blush and add their own tart flavor to the refreshing mix.
Tropical lemonade wine cooler
3/4cup sugar
3/4cup lemon juice
1/2ripe pineapple, thinly sliced
1ripe mango, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1orange (not peeled), thinly sliced
1750-milliliter bottle dry white wine
3cups cold water
In a large pitcher, mix the sugar and lemon juice until the sugar is dissolved. Add the fruit, wine and water, then stir well. While stirring, use the spoon to gently crush the fruit to release the juices. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve over ice.
Makes 12 servings (about 21/2 quarts). Per serving Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 115 calories; 1 calories from fat; 0 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrate; 0 g protein; 1 g fiber; 6 mg sodium.
Red plum lemonade
1pound small, ripe red plums, halved and pitted
3/4cup sugar
6cups water, divided
1cup lemon juice
In a blender, combine the plums, sugar and 2 cups of water. Puree until smooth. Pour through a fine strainer into a pitcher, pressing with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water. Serve over ice.
Makes 8 servings (about 2 quarts). Per serving: 79 calories; 1 calories from fat; 0 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 7 mg sodium.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
