How to Make Never-Ending Lemonade

In these challenging economic times, it makes perfect sense to try to make the most of every food dollar. Getting the most use out of the foods we eat is the perfect adjunct to that: nothing is wasted and the quality of the food isn't affected. Making Never-ending Lemonade literally squeezes every last drop of goodness out of those pungent fruit, and it means having a pitcher of the tasty elixir on hand at all times during the long hot summer months. And let's face it, there's nothing quite like the real thing. Powdered and bottled lemonade just don't compare to the kind you make yourself! While it does take a little longer to make, it is well worth the effort.

Start with a clean large gallon-sized pitcher. Fill the pitcher about 3/4 with water and add 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside.

Starting with 4 large fresh lemons, cut the stem and blossom ends off 2 of them, then slice all the lemons in half. Squeeze all of the juice from 4 of the lemon halves and discard the peel. Add the juice to the pitcher of water along with the remaining lemon halves with the trimmed ends. Do not squeeze the juice out of the lemon halves with the trimmed ends. Their juice and the essence from their zest will slowly be released in the water while it cools.

Stir again until well blended. Chill the lemonade for an hour or serve immediately over ice in tall glasses.

To keep the lemonade going all summer, wait until the pitcher is almost empty, then remove the lemon halves and squeeze as much of the juice out of them as you can. Discard the peel. Refill the pitcher once again to about the 3/4 mark, and stir in 1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar until dissolved. Starting with 3 more fresh lemons, trim the ends off 2 and slice them all in half. Squeeze the juice out of the untrimmed lemon and discard the peel. Add the trimmed halves to the pitcher and stir. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Repeat this process each time the pitcher gets low, which won't take long, considering how much everyone loves fresh homemade lemonade. Using this method means that nothing is wasted, as the lemons are recycled each time you make a fresh pitcher.

Enjoy!