Lavender-Infused Lemonade
This cool beverage is fragrant with summer lavender.
Ingredients:
Small handful lavender flowers, rinsed and cut from stem
1 cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
2-3 cups ice water
1½ cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
1. Place lavender flowers in a medium bowl. Pour the sugar over the flowers and use your fingers to gently rub the flowers into the sugar. Pour the boiling water over the lavender sugar and stir with a spoon until the sugar has melted. Cover and let infuse for 30 minutes (or up to several hours).
2. Strain the lavender-infused simple syrup and pour into a serving carafe or pitcher. Stir in the lemon juice. Add another two cups of water. Taste and adjust for tartness. Add more lemon juice if too sweet, or add more sugar if too tart. Add ice and more water to desired level of concentration.