Tag: lemonade

Maple Lemonade

I’ve got a budding entrepreneur on my hands! My oldest daughter has been dreaming up business ideas since she was four. At nine, she’s already lined up her classmates to work in her salon (which she named, “Make It Up”) and she’s been saving up her Chanukah gelt for years! Entrepreneurial spirit is definitely in the genes, so it’s no surprise that she’s so business-minded.

When the weather starts to warm up, my little businesswoman starts dreaming up her lemonade-stand strategy. This year, she decided to sell brownies and saltwater taffy in addition to watermelon lemonade. Pink lemonade is always a good seller with the kids, and it’s so much fun to watch their faces when they take their first sip. We’ve done watermelon limeade before, so we went with lemonade this time. I made some chewy brownies with colored sprinkles and we headed to the Bay Parkway waterfront to set up our stand. It was such fun to watch my daughter in action! She would light up with every customer, and she took each sale so seriously. The passersby were so impressed! She netted $30.75 profit, which she put aside with all her savings, after tipping her sister $5 for helping.

My kids are huge lemonade fans, and not just for selling. Our absolute favorite recipe is one that I tasted at one of Levana Kirschenbaum’s cooking demo’s. She actually made it for my kid’s camp last year and I’ve been making it ever since. Traditionally, lemonade is made by making a syrup out of sugar and water, but with Levana’s maple version, there’s no need for that! I also love that the maple syrup is a natural sweetener, so it’s healthier than the traditional. Thanks to Levana for allowing me to share this recipe with you all!

Maple Lemonade
reprinted with permission from The WholeFoods Kosher Kitchen
More lemonade variations on LevanaCooks

3 cups water
1 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup maple syrup

Place all the ingredients in a jar or pitcher and stir well. Mix again before serving as the maple syrup tends to settle at the bottom.


Related Recipes:

strawberry limonana
watermelon limeade
cherry basil limonana

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Cherry Basil Limonana

If you’ve never tried limonana, you’re missing out on an amazing drink! The traditional thirst-quencher is made by mixing lemonade with lots of fresh mint and ice – for a refreshing summer treat.

But you know me – I can never just do classic. OK, maybe I can – but I still love putting my own twist on things. That’s how my strawberry limonana happened.

This year, I decided to try using my new herb obsession – basil! I’m putting it in salads, stuffing it into sandwiches, and now, even drinks! Strawberry-basil is a classic combination, but it works amazing with cherries too!

I love the idea of adding fresh fruit to my lemonade, but if you’re not fond of having bits of cherries in your drink – check out my variation for an infused version instead!

Cherry Basil Limonana

1/2 c lemon juice
1/4 c maple syrup
15 basil leaves
1 heaping cup pitted fresh cherries (about 20)
1 c water
2-3 cups ice

Method:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until slushy.

VARIATION: If you don’t like having the pieces of cherries in this smoothie/slush hybrid, you can boil the cherries  with maple syrup and water until the cherries are soft. Puree the mixture in the blender with basil leaves and pour through a strainer. Blend the cherry-basil infused syrup with the lemon juice and ice.

 

Other Summer Drinks:

strawberry limonana
watermelon limeade
tropical fruit smoothie

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Watermelon Limeade

There’s nothing like an ice cold cup of lemon or limeade to cool you off on a hot summer’s day. Summer, or winter, I’m a huge fan of citrus drinks, but all too often, I find that they are overly sweet. This lightly sweetened watermelon-limeade is reminiscent of agua fresca, a refreshing fruit-infused water drink popularized in Mexico . Aqua fresca is a terrific thirst quencher for summer picnics and barbeques.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been wanting to set up a lemonade stand for my kids. So when I was testing this recipe for the blog, I knew just  what to do with my pitcher full of limeade. My girls couldn’t be more excited about their reenactment of one of their favorite books “Pinkalicious and The Pink Drink,” while my son stood by asking for continuous refills. I set my kids to work designing a sign for our table (isn’t it adorable?!) while I put together all the necessities. Since we used tiny little cups, we set our price at just 5 cents, a total steal for today’s economy!

We live on a very quiet block, with not much foot traffic, so my little ones grew increasingly sad as they waited for someone, ANYONE to buy a cup. With construction going on directly across the street, we were lucky enough to have the contractor buy a round for all of his workers. He generously gave my kids more than 20 cups worth of pay. After that, traffic picked up and thanks to the generosity of strangers and friends my elated children netted $6.51. That’s a whole lot of profit when you’re asking for a meager 5 cents a cup.

I’ll never forget the excitement and smiles on the faces of my children, and the pride they showed in their first business venture. Our pink lemonade wasn’t just a thirst-quencher. For two little girls in Brooklyn, it made a favorite book come alive and wishes and dreams come true.

Watermelon Limeade

1/4 watermelon, or 3.5 lbs
3 cups water
1/4 c sugar dissolved in 1/2 c boiling hot water
juice of 2 limes
2 limes, sliced
ice cubes
sliced limes, for garnish

Method:

Peel and chop watermelon Add the watermelon to a food processor and blend until completely smooth. Pour the watermelon juice through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, squeezing to release all the juice. Discard watermelon pulp. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil and add 1/4 cup sugar. Mix until sugar is completely dissolved and set aside to cool. Add the watermelon juice, water, cooled sugar syrup, lime juice, sliced limes and ice cubes to a pitcher. Pour into glasses and garnish with sliced limes.

TIP: If you don’t have a citrus squeezer, see my kitchen tips for a great way to juice your limes!

1 year ago: smores chocolate toffee bark
2 years ago: salad nicoise

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Strawberry Limonana

Limonana is a frozen minty lemonade that is popular in Israel. With tart lemons, sweet sugar syrup and fresh mint, it’s the perfect icy drink for a hot and humid day. I had to put my own twist on it, so I included frozen strawberries, for added color and delicious berry flavor.

When I had first planned on writing this post, it was supposed to be about all things summer. About the sticky, humid weather here in Brooklyn, and how to beat the heat on these unbearable days. I had plans to woo you with coffee ice cubes and frozen grapes. But all that changed.

Yesterday, I went to see Jamie Geller off to Israel at a goodbye party sponsored by Nefesh B’Nefesh. Jamie, if you don’t already know, is the author of the Quick & Kosher cookbooks, as well as the face behind Joy of Kosher. She is making aliya with her family, and chronicling her journey in a series of webisodes, titled “Joy of Aliyah”. The first two episodes have covered Jamie’s announcement, and “The Lift”. Joy of Aliya is real and raw, taking you along for the ride through the milestones of the aliya process.

I was speaking to Jamie about her move, and how lucky she is to be able to live in the holy land of Israel. I told her about the year I spent in seminary, over 10 years ago, and how it changed my life forever. She encouraged me to take a Nefesh B’Nefesh pamphlet, but I declined. “I don’t need one”, I said, “It’s already in here,” pointing to my heart.

After leaving the BBQ, I was feeling really nostalgic (or should I say, homesick?). so I went to my basement, and dug up my old seminary albums (yes, I admit, I grew up in the pre-digital age). I thought it might be a good idea to capture my experience by posting some pictures on my blog. As I turned each page, the photos pulled at my heartstrings and I felt that deep yearning to return. There is no other place on earth where I have felt such inner peace and a sense of being complete. In Israel, I don’t need to hike Masada, or drive an ATV through the galilee, I need only to walk along the holy city streets to feel as though I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I am sure it is because Israel is the place for which it states, “Eretz Asher Tomid Enei Hashem Elokecha Ba Meireishit Hashana Ad Acharit Hashana“, “Israel is the land for which the eyes of G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year, until the end of the year.” The holiness of the land is so palpable, you can feel it with every step (there’s a reason they call it “The Holy Land!”).

As I looked through my pictures, I realized, there isn’t a single one that I could share that would convey to you my heartfelt love for Eretz Yisroel or what it means to me. It’s the feeling of being home, of being where I belong. It’s more than any pictures can show or any words can convey. It’s a soul-thing. And Jamie, it’s still right in here, stronger than ever. Maybe, just maybe, we will meet again soon, in Jerusalem!

Come to think of it, if I did move to Israel, what would my blog be called? Would it be Busy in Beitar, or Busy in Bayit Vegan, or Busy in Beit Shemesh? Oh gosh, so many choices, where would I move? I think I might need that pamphlet after all.

Watch Jamie’s Joy of Aliyah eposides, here.

Read about my return to Israel after 10 long years, here (bonus, beautiful pics!).

 

Strawberry Limonana

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
15 mint leaves, or according to taste
2 cups frozen strawberries
3 cups ice
mint leaves, for garnish

Method:

Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, add the mixture to a blender with lemon juice, mint leaves, strawberries and ice. Blend until ice is crushed into a slushy consistency. Garnish with mint leaves.

 

1 year ago: watermelon ice cubes

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