Faith, Hope & Chocolate

So here I go with more strawberries! I normally don't like lemonade very much, it's either too tart or too sweet for my taste but I found a great recipe where you can adjust the sweetness. And I just love the freckled strawberry lemonade at Red Robin (if you haven't tried it, you should!) so I thought I'd try my hand at it. Plus, Benjamen was doing his physical and written test for becoming a police officer that morning so I thought it would be a refreshing treat when he came home. Awww, I am such a good girlfriend!! It it so easy to make too, I've already made another batch and each time it's been gone in a matter of hours...its THAT good! The hardest part is squeezing the lemons so if you have a juicer or something to help on that aspect it would be very helpful, or I'm sure you could substitute store bought lemon juice also. Here is the recipe, I told you it was easy!

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

4-6 lemons, enough to equal 1 cup of lemon juice

1-1 1/2 c. simple syrup  (recipe follows)

16 oz. container of strawberries, cleaned and hulled

1 quart sparkling water

Juice the lemons to get 1 cup of lemon juice.  Blend the strawberries and 1/2 c. of the simple syrup in a blender or with an immersion blender, until smooth.   Strain to remove the seeds. (I didn't strain the seeds because I didn't have anything that small! It still tasted just fine!)  Pour lemon juice, strawberry puree, 1/2 c. simple syrup, and sparkling water into a pitcher.  Add more simple syrup if needed to achieve the sweetness you like.  Add ice and chill.

Simple Syrup

1 part sugar to 1 part water

I used 3/4 cup sugar to 3/4 cup warm water. This can be done on a stovetop but it is much easier to just use warm water.

Of course I added all of the syrup because I like things sweet, but it wasn't too sweet at all, the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness! The sparkling water also gives it a little extra bite. Either way it was aaaamazing!!

P.S.-I graduate in 3 weeks and I got a J-O-B!!!! : )

Also, check out Sugar High where my Chocolate Ganache Tart with Strawberries was featured! http://blog.onsugar.com/Molly-Ringwald-Gets-Pretty-Back-Great-Spring-Recipes-8274211