My perfect drink for summer? For most that might be a difficult decision. Pina Coladas by the pool, a cold mixed drink on a warm summer night, WATER! But for me this is hands down the essence of summer. FROZEN STRAWBERRY LEMONADE. The color, the smell, the refreshing taste of the sweet and tart bite. A summer treat that is great for a family reunion or BBQ, or just hanging out with your kids to cool off in those hot Arizona summer months. And it is so easy to whip up a large pitcher without going to the store to by any special ingredients.
The key to this drink’s perfection is simple syrup. Have you ever made lemonade and gotten tired of the constant stirring and mixing to make sure everything is perfectly combined? By creating a simple syrup you will never have to stir it again (after the initial stir of course). I like to make a large batch of simple syrup and stick it in the freezer so it is ready whenever I need it.
Here are the directions for this gorgeous libation.
SIMPLE SYRUP-
Combine equal parts of white sugar and water in a sauce pan. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is thick and bubbling. Let it cool completely. (by big batch I used at least 3 cups of sugar and 3 cups of water).
FROZEN STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
-1 cup frozen lemon juice (juice your lemons ahead of time and place in a zip lock bag in your freezer for future recipes)
-1 cup frozen strawberries
-1 cup simple syrup
-3-4 cups cold water
Place the frozen lemon juice, frozen strawberries, and some water is a blender and blend until thick and creamy. (I like to add the water as it is mixing so that I make sure not to add too much water at one time.
Add your simple syrup to the lemonade mix and blend until combined.
Pour into a pitcher and add the remaining water.
Taste it to make sure it is sweet enough for your liking. If you like it a little sweeter you can add more of the syrup.
Delicious!
