Lemonade
Fresh limes and lemons are one thing that we seem to find everywhere around here. They are cheap, they don't easily spoil, and they're so necessary for a variety of fruity tropical cocktails that anyplace that wants to consider itself a tourist destination must assure itself a steady supply.
Finding myself with a large supply, and a powerful thirst as well, I thought why not make REAL lemonade. From real lemons, nonetheless. It is as easy as squeezing the juice, adding some sugar and water, and stirring it up. Finding this to be a curiously addicting way to rehydrate oneself, I used the same recipie with limes and found it equally delicious.
Why didn't I know about this already? It's not like lemons and limes are hard to come by in the Midwest? Was I so brainwashed by marketing to assume that Kool Aid was better? Did I watch so many commercials as a child that I came to believe that Country Time DOES "taste just like that good ol' fashioned lemonade? Trust me, it doesn't. Nor does ReaLemon juice or the frozen stuff.
So next time you see a pretty pile of limes 3 for 99 cents at the Piggly Wiggly, why not buy, oh, say a dozen? Make up a pitcher and serve to your friends or family. They'll think you quite the gourmet, and nobody needs to know how easy it is.
2 lemon OR 4 limes per quart of water, cut in half and squeeze out juice. Save a couple slices for garnish if you want to get fancy. Be sure to include some pulp in the pitcher...it makes it even better.
1/2 Cup sugar per quart...more or less to taste
Pour over ice and serve.