Typically, I post a new lemonade recipe in early Summer because that is the start of my personal lemonade drinking season. But August 20th is National Lemonade Day (started in 2007 to encourage children to learn about entrepreneurship through running lemonade stands) and I couldn’t pass up the day to honor my favorite warm weather beverage! Hence this recipe.

While it is hard to tell that this is a lemonade derivative from its coloring, it most certainly is! It starts, as all lemonade does, with some lemon juice. Instead of plain sugar, this version of lemonade is sweetened with a mint infused simple syrup. The beautiful rosy color is from all the fresh berries added to the concoction. Adding all those fresh, plump strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries to the mix results in a delightfully flavorful summertime sipper. This beverage also adjusts very well to being spiked with a bit of vodka!

Summer Berries Lemonade

Summer Berries Lemonade (adapted from foodnetwork.com)  Total Time Required: 25 minutes, Active: 15 minutes, Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 sprigs fresh mint, plus more for serving
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 lemon, sliced into wheels
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) blackberries
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) raspberries
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) strawberries, halved
• 1 liter seltzer or soda water

Directions

Combine the sugar with 1 cup of water in a small pot and place over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

Make the simple syrup.

Remove it from the heat and add the mint sprigs. Let the mint steep in the simple syrup for 10 minutes, then discard the mint.

Add the mint to the simple syrup.

Add the lemon juice, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and lemon wheels to a large pitcher and stir to combine. Add the mint simple syrup to the fruit and juice and stir.

Add the mint simple syrup to the fruit & juice.

When ready to serve, add the seltzer to the mixture in the pitcher and stir. Serve over ice with sprigs of fresh mint and some of the fruit.

Pour the lemonade to glasses half filled with ice, leaving room to add some fruit to each glass.

For a spiked version, add a shot of vodka to individual glasses.

Enjoy the taste of Summer!

Enjoy all the final days of Summer with some lemonade!  ~Linda

Summer Berries Lemonade (adapted from foodnetwork.com)  Total Time Required: 25 minutes, Active: 15 minutes, Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 sprigs fresh mint, plus more for serving
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 lemon, sliced into wheels
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) blackberries
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) raspberries
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) strawberries, halved
• 1 liter seltzer or soda water

Directions

Combine the sugar with 1 cup of water in a small pot and place over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove it from the heat and add the mint sprigs. Let the mint steep in the simple syrup for 10 minutes, then discard the mint.

Add the lemon juice, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and lemon wheels to a large pitcher and stir to combine. Add the mint simple syrup to the fruit and juice and stir. When ready to serve, add the seltzer to the mixture in the pitcher and stir. Serve over ice with sprigs of fresh mint and some of the fruit. For a spiked version, add a shot of vodka to individual glasses.