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It's getting close to the kids being out of school for the summer. What better way to keep them entertained, out of your hair and make them earn some cash for that new toy they have been screaming about than to have a lemonade stand. Now, I will fully admit that it's pretty rare I will actually drink the lemonade made by kids, but I certainly support their entrepreneurial endeavors, BUT if there ever was a case, when I would actually drink the lemonade, the recipes below would be the ones.

Basic Lemonade Recipe
1 3/4 cups white sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice (MUST BE REAL LEMON JUICE!)
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled. You are basically making a simple syrup for your lemonade
If you want pulp in your lemonade, remove the seeds, if not then just add the juice. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups water. 

Now that you have your basic recipe down, you can spice it up with summer fruits and flavors.


Strawberry Lemonade
Start with your basic lemonade recipe now add:
1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
In a blender, puree the pint of strawberries and add to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Stir well to combine and refrigerate until well chilled. You can decrease the cups of water and add cups of sparkling water instead, to give an extra fizz-kind of like a strawberry lemonade soda.

So, you have fancy kids who would not be caught dead making just regular lemonade, well my little Emril Lagasses, you can whip up some of Mint and Ginger Lemonade.

Mint and Ginger Lemonade
1/2 cup (packed) chopped fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup chopped fresh ginger
1/3 cup honey (you can substitute sugar or agave if you are allergic to honey)
2 cups boiling water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups (about) cold water

Combine chopped mint, ginger, and honey in medium bowl. Add boiling water.
Let steep 30 minutes.
Strain into 4-cup glass measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Add lemon juice and enough cold water to measure 4 cups total.

I think that with these wonderful recipes, your kids will corner the market, or at least the neighborhood. Hmmm...I wonder if a 5 year old can get a liquor license. What? I'm only thinking of their college fund and the money to be made...fine, just stick with the lemonade.