Lemonade

Source: Simply Recipes, Olga's Flavor Factory

Prep time: 10 minutes
Yield: Serves 6.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice (5-8 lemons)
• 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)
• 3-4 mint leaves (optional)

Directions

1. Clear and peel half the lemons. Microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.  Take off the heat and add in half of the lemon peels to steep.
3. While the sugar is dissolving, extract the juice from 5 to 8 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.
4. Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. 
5. Add in the mint leaves and the lemon peels.  If not using within 2 hours, strain out the mint leaves and lemon peels or the mint will turn brown and the peels will turn the lemonade bitter.
6. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.