Thyme Lemonade (Guest Post by Emily)

Today's post (a refreshing thyme lemonade) is by Emily of Jelly Toast, a blog filled with flavorful, easy-to-follow recipes and gorgeous photos. See more of her talent at Jelly Toast.

Hi there! I'm thrilled to be here while Clemence is away, to share with you a simple and lovely summer recipe. I must start by admitting that I am not generally a lover of Summer. Fall is my true seasonal love. Wool sweaters, crisp breezes and mugs of spiced apple cider are what I crave year round. That being said, I refuse to not make the best of every season, and this Thyme Lemonade is perfect for getting myself into the spirit of the Summer.

There are not many things that call to my mind warm summer days quite like a tall, crisp and sweet glass of lemonade. Adding a fresh herbal element takes this classic summery treat to the next level. 

If you've never tried your hand at making lemonade from scratch, you truly must try this recipe. The most difficult, or rather, time consuming thing is squeezing all of the lemons. If you are the lucky owner of an electric citrus juicer, you're one step ahead of the game.

This recipe starts with a simple syrup infused with fresh thyme, and I prefer this method because it truly melts the sweetness of the sugar into the lemonade, without any unpleasant sugar crystals floating around. Play around with the flavors by adding other herbs or even fruits to the syrup. The possibilities are endless.

Have a fabulous Summer!

Thyme Lemonade 

Yields 6 - 1 cup servings

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups of water

Directions

Make Simple Syrup:
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, add sugar and thyme sprigs to 1 cup of water
and stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow simple syrup to cool slightly.

Make Lemonade:
In a pitcher, add simple syrup, lemon juice and 4 cups of water (more or less water to
adjust to your taste). Stir to combine. Serve lemonade over ice, garnished with
additional thyme sprigs and lemon slices if desired.

Variations: 
Various fresh herbs, such as rosemary or basil, would be lovely in this lemonade, as well.
Experiment with the strength of the lemon flavor. Add more lemon juice, water or sugar to
adjust to your personal taste.
To turn this lemonade into an instant Summer cocktail, add a splash of vodka, tequila or even champagne.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Jelly Toast via Simply Recipes