It happened again: another child completed another year of school. Last Friday we celebrated my son completing preschool and this Friday, my daughter completed first grade.
A brave smile was on my face when I shared in my daughter’s excitement as we piled into the van after the school bell rang. I am a sappy nostalgic person that is full of pride but knows with that final first grade bell, we are closer to her to being a ‘grown-up’.
Now that those feelings are out there, let’s all celebrate health and togetherness with some semi-homemade strawberry lemonade. I spied a pretty bottle of preservative free, no HFCS lemonade and decided to pair it with the quart of organic strawberries I had also just purchased.
Please note that one of our adult guests discovered that this recipe is further enhanced with gin. You know who you are my friend.
Strawberry Lemonade
1.75 liters lemonade (I used Mayer Brothers)
16 oz. organic strawberries, rinsed, hulled and chopped roughly.
1 lemon, sliced (optional)
Directions
1. Prepare the strawberries and place into a pot with 1/2 cup of the lemonade. Bring to a boil for 1 minute and mash (I use a potato masher) the strawberries. Set aside to cool.
2. Pour the strawberries and the liquid from the pot into the blender and puree. Pour the puree through a mesh screen to trap & remove the seeds.
3. Pour the juice into a large pitcher, add ice and remaining lemonade. Add sliced lemon to the pitcher. If you want to jump on the craze and make frozen strawberry lemonade, simply add ice cubes to the blender in step 2 and skip the removing seeds part.
*Has your summertime officially started yet?
Jennifer says
Thanks for writing Andrea! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Andrea says
This is so good and so simple! Made this today with some fresh picked organic strawbs!
Thanks for the recipe!
Marly says
What a great way to celebrate summer – with lemonade! Looks so refreshing.
Larae says
What a delicious treat to start the summer! I think you may have started a new tradition with this one! YUMMY!!!
MaryBeth says
Well I guess Summer has made it…This looks so cool and refreshing, I could go for some now.
Diane {Created by Diane} says
Love your pretty lemonade. FUN FUN FUN>>>>summer has just begun!!!
cooking al[a] mel says
Yum! I love a good strawberry lemonade. So refreshing in this hot weather.
patsy says
what a lovely way to celebrate the end of a school year!
Cookin' Canuck says
The end of the school year is always difficult for me, too. I have a hard time accepting that my kids are getting older.
This lemonade sounds like a wonderful way to cool off during the summer!
sippiytysup says
Lucky kids. I hope they enjoy the summer. GREG
Jennifer says
Thank You Samantha (love your name by the way) and enjoy your summer!
Samantha says
I absolutely adore the way drinks look in mason jars. It gives anything such a rustic feel. Love the photos in this post, too! Strawberry lemonade is definitely a summer must!