When my parents retired they would leave steamy Washington, D.C. and head to Baileys Island Maine for the summer. When I would go to visit my mother and I would enjoy the cool mornings and go blueberry picking. Maine blueberries are sublime. When we returned we would rinse them off in preparation for making a wonderfully refreshing blueberry lemonade. You can add sparkling water if you want to give it a more soda feel.
- 4.5 cups of water
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice about 6 lemons
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1.5 cups of blueberry puree
- Puree
- 2 cups of fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup water
To make the blueberry puree you need to rinse the blueberries and place them in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil then lower the heat, cover and cook stirring frequently for about 3-5 minutes or until the berries are softened and deep purple. Puree the mixture in a blender or mini food processor until completely smooth. Strain the berry mixture, then store in the refrigerator to chill.
To make the lemonade, put the water (or this is when you can add sparkling water if you would like) and lemon juice into a pitcher, add the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. You can make a simple syrup if you want however, I think this is just fine. Add about 1/2 the blueberry puree then taste add more if needed. Mix well and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
For a garnish add a thin slice of lemon and a few whole blueberries on top.
This is a fun refreshing summer drink that the whole family will enjoy.