INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
2 cups drinking water
6 – 7 lemons*
6 cups cold drinking water
1 cup drinking water
Reserved lemon rinds
Optional: Fresh mint sprigs
METHOD:
Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup drinking water in small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Squeeze juice from lemons into a bowl, reserving lemon rinds. Strain lemon juice into a large pitcher. Stir in cooled sugar-water mixture and 6 cups cold drinking water and chill.
Bring 1cup drinking water to the boil. Place lemon rinds in a bowl and add boiling water. Let stand until water is cold. Discard rinds. Add water to pitcher and stir well.
Refrigerate until well chilled.
*If using Meyer lemons, slightly reduce the amount of simple syrup. Meyer lemons are sweeter than Eureka lemons.
VARIATION: For a refreshing lemon-mint flavor, add small bunch of mint to the lemon rinds, then pour over boiling water. After mixture has cooled, strain and add to lemon juice mixture. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
YIELD: 2-1/2 quarts
