Recipe and photography by Kristen Olson
Food styling by Sara Bartus

Serves 8

Lemonade Base
¾ cup sugar
5 cups water
1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice cubes
Sliced lemons, for garnish

In 2-quart saucepan, heat sugar and 1 cup of the water over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes. In a large resealable pitcher or glass jar, combine simple syrup and remaining lemonade base ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to make one of the lemonade flavors below.

Dill Pickle Lemonade
1 cup dill pickle juice
8 dill pickle spears

Add 1 cup dill pickle juice to a pitcher, top with chilled lemonade base and stir to combine. Serve over ice, garnishing each glass with a pickle spear.

Mango-Mint Lemonade
1 medium mango, pit removed, peeled and chopped
½ cup fresh mint leaves

Place chopped mango and mint in pitcher. Muddle with the back of wooden spoon. Add chilled lemonade base and stir to combine. Strain the lemonade as you pour into the glasses over ice, garnishing with a fresh mango wedge and mint.

Blackberry Lemonade
1 cup blackberries
1 lemon, thinly sliced

Place blackberries and sliced lemon in pitcher. Muddle with the back of wooden spoon. Add chilled lemonade base and stir to combine. Strain the lemonade as you pour into the glasses over ice, garnishing with fresh blackberries and lemon.

TIP! Top with soda water for a refreshing sparkling lemonade.