I realize that when it comes to recipes, suggesting that one is needed for lemonade is questionable. What’s next, a detailed set of instructions for salted water, simple syrup or buttered noodles? (Oops!) But it turns out I have opinions on everything and there’s no better time than nthe dog days of summer to share what I consider to be the right and best formula for lemonade and it is – who could have seen this coming? – mine.
I’m so convinced this is what hangs on the wall above the kitchen counter, but don’t let the implied charm fool you. It’s there because we were in a fight, or at least in a moment of irritable hostility. You see, last fall I was out of town for a few days and my husband texted to say our daughter wanted to make lemonade, so they pulled a random recipe from the search results, but it was too bland and sugary and, yes, I consider that a personal affront. “You don’t need to pull random recipes from the AI! You could have just texted me! I think we’re in a fight.” And then I recorded it when I got home so it wouldn’t happen again.
Here’s the thing: the fewer ingredients, the more it depends on the accuracy of each quantity. And while I’m biased toward most juices, I make up for it with my love of lemonade. I definitely need it to be freshly squeezed. Bottled lemon juice never tastes right to me. [I blame pasteurization for the muted, tinny flavor.] I don’t like it very sweet. I don’t mess around with simple syrup. I don’t like very watery drinks, in fact I always hold back on them, mainly because I prefer to finish my drink with a little seltzer for fizz. Plus, you can always dilute lemonade if it’s too tart, and this one tends to be tart, but you can’t take it back from the bland edge if you’re out of lemons.
So I invite you to roll your eyes at me by offering you a recipe (!) of lemon juice, sugar and water (!) but I also hope that you will make it this weekend. DIY it however you like – I have some suggestions below – but don’t waste good lemons on a whim when you could have a perfect glass. Without it, it wouldn’t feel like summer.
