Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tbs. grated lemon peel (don't worry it gets strained out)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6 lemons)
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved (about 2 cups)
- 2 cups sparkling water or club soda, chilled
- mint sprigs, whole strawberries and/or lemon slices for serving (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon peel and lemon juice, stir, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely, then strain into a clean pitcher.
In a blender, puree the pint of strawberries and add to the pitcher with the lemon juice.
(NOTE: I opted to strain the strawberries in a fine mesh sieve before adding it to the lemon juice, since I knew my kids wouldn't like the strawberry seeds in their lemonade.)
Stir well to combine and refrigerate until well chilled.
Add the sparkling water and stir well.
Pour over glasses filled with ice and serve, garnished with mint, lemon slices, and strawberries.
Enjoy!