Yes, the sun is shining in Kansas today. Making me think about warming days and cooling drinks.

So I’m compelled to share a recipe for fresh-squeezed lemonade. This recipe involves some moderate preparation, but, in my opinion, the effort you put into it pays off big when you sit down to enjoy this simply delicious lemonade.

Keep a pitcher of it on hand during the warm months to enhance your everyday nirvana!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon fine grated lemon rind (optional)

1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 8 lemons). To get the most juice out of your lemons, keep them at room temperature before squeezing. Also, wash and rinse the lemons thoroughly in warm water (then pat dry) before squeezing, because you’ll need to reserve half of the rinds to go into the lemonade.

5-6 cups of water

Preparation

Mix the sugar, grated lemon rind (optional), and lemon juice in your serving pitcher. Add half of the squeezed out lemon rinds you just juiced and let them macerate in the sugar. This will draw out the oil from the rinds, plus extra juice. This equals extra flavor! Let this mixture sit for 30-60 minutes. Then. . .

Boil 2 cups of your water. Once the water’s boiling, pour it into the pitcher with the lemon/sugar mixture and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Add 3 more cups of your water and stir thoroughly. Taste. Add another cup of water if you need to dilute it any further.

Chill completely, then serve over ice. I also like to add a slice of lemon to my glass when I drink it.

To turn your drink into a cocktail, simply add a shot of chilled vodka to your glass before pouring the lemonade.