If you are looking for the most refreshing homemade drink you've ever had... it has to be limeade. I make mine with a twist though.. read on to see how I make mine.


If you are lucky enough to have a lime tree I am totally jealous! Last year when my husband and I set out to design our backyard we thought about putting one in, but opted for a lemon tree instead because the kids love homemade, fresh squeezed lemonade. We totally should have put in a lime tree too! But... we didn't.

This time of year though in our neck of the woods, limes tend to go on sale, A LOT. When they do, my husband (who does all of our grocery shopping) stocks up!  Limes are great on tacos, sliced in water, in pies.... and cheesecake (yum)... but we love to use them to make a batch of limeade.


Not just regular, plain old limeade though... nope. We use a secret ingredient to add a tiny layer of added flavor to our limeade... fresh mint from our herb garden. It doesn't give the recipe a very minty flavor, but it's just enough that you know it's there... and it's gosh darn good! Really.

Here's how I make it:

Yield: 2 quarts
Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice ( about 6-8 fresh limes)
1 cup water + enough to fill your pitcher
1 cup granulated sugar
* a few mint leaves (optional)
ice


Directions: 


1. Begin by making a simple syrup. Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. If you want to make yours with the mint, wash your leaves well, and place them in your saucepan too. Stir as needed until all the sugar has dissolved. (The mint will infuse into your syrup).


2. While your simple syrup is working, squeeze your limes. You can do this by hand, or with a lemon juicer like I have (yup... I only have a lemon one. It worked just fine. I just gave the limes a little extra squeeze once I had gotten all that I could using the juicer).

3. Fill your pitcher halfway with ice. Pour the lime juice over the ice.

4. If you had mint leaves in your syrup, remove those. Pour your simple syrup over the ice and lime juice mixture in your pitcher. Add cold water until you have filled your pitcher. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes (if you can wait that long) and serve.



Now that you are in love with mint in your limeade... wait until you try it in your lemonade. Need a recipe for lemonade? You can simply sub out the lime juice for lemon juice. It's that easy! You will fall in love with the way your limeade and lemonade taste with the tiny addition of some fresh mint.

Serve some at your next family gathering, or BBQ and your friends and family will be asking for your recipe! Just make sure to send them here. (wink wink)