How to Make Strawberry Lemonade

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound fresh strawberries , stems removed
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or honey
• 4 1/2-5 cups water, divided
• 1 1/2 cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice (approximately 7 to 8 lemons)

DIRECTIONS

• Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries. Strain them through a fine mesh sieve, if desired, to remove seeds. 
• In a small saucepan, over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 cups water. 
• Bring to a boil, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher. Add simple syrup and pureed strawberries and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold.
• When ready to serve strawberry lemonade, add 2 1/2 cups of cold water and stir. Taste, and add more water if it's too sweet.
• Serve with ice.

NOTES

• If you don't want to stand around the stove to make the simple syrup you could always just heat up the water using a teapot.  Once it is hot enough and "whistling"; take it off the stove and combine the hot water with the sugar.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Set aside to cool off completely.
• If you use honey instead of sugar it will give it a slightly different taste.  It is honey after all.