Country Fair Lemonade

You don't need to wait for summer fairs and festivals to enjoy great fresh squeezed lemonade. On the first hot day of the year (which was Jan. 30 for us in North Carolina), nothing helps you pretend it really is summer like having a frosty glass of lemonade after a long walk.

Suggested Kitchen Gadget

Cocktail Shaker

Basic Ingredients
1 lemon (or lime)
1/2 cup sugar
water
ice

Instructions
Make simple syrup by heating 1 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar in a pan over medium heat just until the sugar is dissolved.

Cut the lemon in half and remove any visible seeds. In a cocktail shaker (or two kitchen cups, one larger than the other), squeeze half the lemon into the larger of the two cups. Add the squeezed lemon half, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of the simple syrup and some ice. (Adjust these quantities depending on how juicy your lemon is and how sweet you want your lemonade.) Place the mouth of the smaller cup inside the larger to form a seal and shake vigorously. Pour all contents into a serving glass.

Repeat for a second glass of lemonade.

If making limeade, add some grenadine (adjusting the amount of simple syrup if needed) to make cherry limeade!