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I was checking out a Food & Wine Festival in my area one weekend and my boys were sidetracked by the lure of free lemonade at one of the stands. They kept filling up their glasses and gulping it down. I wandered over to them and read the sign over the huge lemonade cooler that said it was homemade lemonade made with organic lavender. Turns out we had stumbled across the booth of a local organic lavender farm and they were selling bags of dried lavender as well as garden plants. The woman that owned the farm was laughing at my boys drinking her lemonade faster than she could make it. She told me if I bought a quart sized bag of the dry lavender seeds, she would throw in the recipe for the lavender lemonade. Best deal ever! It is super simple, and unlike with those pre-made store bought lemonades, I know all the ingredients that are going into my children. Lavender also has natural health benefits and can be just as effective as chamomile for promoting sleep and helping to soothe the nerves. When I make my lemonade, I make it to go into one of those gallon sized pitchers with the spicket for easy access for my children.
Ingredients:
16 cups of water
4 tbsp dried lavender seeds
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 cups lemon juice
To start, pour 4 cups of water into a large pot and bring to a boil. In a large bowl, add the 4 tbsp of dried lavender seeds. Pour the 4 cups of boiling water over the seeds. Allow the seeds to steep for 30 minutes.
After the 30 minutes of steeping is over, pour the lavender water into your serving pitcher through a paper towel. This will allow the water to pass through but not the seeds. Discard the seeds.
Add the remaining cups of water to the large pot along with the 2 2/3 cups sugar, and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute or until the sugar has dissolved. While this sugar mixture is coming to a boil, add 4 cups of lemon juice to your lavender water in the pitcher.
After the lemon juice has been added, add the sugar water solution up to the top of the container. Then it is time to place the container in the refrigerator and allow it to cool off for several hours. Once cooled, serve the lemonade over ice and enjoy it with another yummy recipe made with organic lavender, such as Lavender Scones!
- 16 cups of water
- 4 tbsp dried lavender seeds
- 2⅔ cups sugar
- 4 cups lemon juice
- To start, pour 4 cups of water into a large pot and bring to a boil. In a large bowl, add the 4 tbsp of dried lavender seeds. Pour the 4 cups of boiling water over the seeds. Allow the seeds to steep for 30 minutes.
- After the 30 minutes of steeping is over, pour the lavender water into your serving pitcher through a paper towel. This will allow the water to pass through but not the seeds. Discard the seeds.
- Add the remaining cups of water to the large pot along with the 2⅔ cups sugar, and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute or until the sugar has dissolved. While this sugar mixture is coming to a boil, add 4 cups of lemon juice to your lavender water in the pitcher.
- After the lemon juice has been added, add the sugar water solution up to the top of the container. Then it is time to place the container in the refrigerator and allow it to cool off for several hours. Once cooled, serve the lemonade over ice and enjoy it with another yummy recipe made with organic lavender, such as Lavender Scones!
About the Author:
Heather is a single mom of two active little boys who LOVE to eat! She loves to cook and create yummy, healthy dishes for them using as many fresh fruits, vegetables and meats as possible. She loves to share her simple, quick recipes with others who have busy schedules!