Where was I going with this? Right...I had this great idea yesterday! I finally made it out to the garden and realized my basil plants were in serious need of a trim.
What do you do when life gives you extra Basil?
Make Basil Lemonade! I didn't use a recipe and I didn't use much sugar. This is a great recipe to use any extra basil cuttings or even basil flowers. I'm going to include my instructions plus an additional recipe for something a bit sweeter.
Basil Lemonade
I like things simple! I have a variety of jars but for this recipe I used large, wide-mouth Ball jars (quart size) and empty Mason jars (24 ounce?) from pasta sauce. 2 jars have Purple Opal Basil and 2 have Fine Verde Basil.
Ingredients:
Basil: 3 long sprigs per jar
Lemons: 1/2 a sliced lemon per jar
Sugar: 1-2 tablespoon per jar (or use stevia)
Water
Directions:
Place appropriate amount of water in a large pot and boil. While you wait, add the Basil, Lemons and Sugar to each jar.
Once your water has boiled, pour into filled jars. Let the jars cool until you can handle them. Screw the tops onto your jars and place in the fridge. Wait about an hour and shake up the jars then put back into the fridge. Lemonade should be ready in 6-12 hours depending on how strong you like it.
Check me out at Deborah Jean's Dandelion House
And now for something slightly different!
Basil Lemonade
from Alaska from Scratch
Ingredients
For the Simple Syrup:
1c sugar
1c water
For the Lemonade:
1 recipe simple syrup
1c freshly squeezed lemon juice
4c cold water
4 basil leaves, chiffonade
lemon slices
Instructions
To make the Simple Syrup:
In a saucepan, cook water and sugar over medium heat until
the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is a clear syrup. Set aside.
To a pitcher, add lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water.
Stir and taste. If too sweet (every batch is different according to your
lemons), add more cold water until desired sweetness is reached. Add basil,
lemon rounds and ice just before serving. Stir and serve.
Notes
The amount of juice you'll get from each lemon will vary,
but typically you can get 1c of lemon juice from 4-6 lemons.
The party is on at:
Inspire Me Friday
Freedom Friday
Happy Hour Projects
Thrift Thursday
Mom On Timeout
The Fun in Functional
Blissful and Domestic
Little House in the Suburbs
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My Life's a Treasure
Featured at My Turn (for Us) Freedom Fridays #10
The party is on at:
Inspire Me Friday
Freedom Friday
Happy Hour Projects
Thrift Thursday
Mom On Timeout
The Fun in Functional
Blissful and Domestic
Little House in the Suburbs
Farm Fresh Friday
Show Off Friday
The Grant Life
One Creative Mommy
My Life's a Treasure
I made basil jelly with some of my extra basil but I have plenty more with no tomatoes in sight, and this sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteWhat size jars are you using - quarts? 1/2 gallons?
I should have been more specific. The Mason jars are 24 ounces(?) They are old pasta sauce jars. The Ball jars are Quart size, wide-mouth. I have a recipe for Purple Opal Basil here from a book Grow Great Grub. Excellent resource!
DeleteI'm making this right now - just put the water on the stove. I've got 2 half-gallon jars ready to go. Hoping to bring the final product to a cookout tomorrow.
DeleteGreat Recipe. I just posted a Peach Lemondade recipe today. I have a Blog Hop, and I would love it if you would link this post. You can find it at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/3-face-masks-from-your-kitchen-and.html
It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
www.adornedfromabove.com
Thanks for the invite Debi! I just added my link.
DeleteWhat a great refreshing hot weather drink! We are definitely going to give this a try! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. This weekend at Back to the Basics I'll explain why this recipe is SO good for you. I make basil recipes for my hubby when his asthma flares up.
DeleteWhat an adorable kitten! And perfect timing on this recipe! We're just starting to harvest our basil and there sure is a lot of it, so this is a great idea for some of it. Thanks so much for linking this up to The Fun In Functional!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessi! I finally updated the post linking back to each link up. Have a great weekend!
DeleteHi! Visiting from a link party! Oh yum! This looks and sounds delicious. I would have never thought of trying basil lemonade.. but I will now! Thanks for the great new recipe!
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance I would love for you to link this up to my Friday party.. it just opened!
Hi Kelly! I just linked-up and added you link to my post! Have a great weekend!
DeleteHi Bev! I'm your newest follower! I love your honesty in your posts. Your mother is a lucky lady!
ReplyDeleteI just have to try this:) I am pinning it so I will not forget:) Because I have basil running out of my ears right down. Thanks for sharing at Freedom Fridays.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's no such thing as too much basil! Happy Friday!
DeleteI have enjoyed blog hopping today. I have joined your site and hope you visit and join mine. Thank you so much, Katie msqueenfashionista.com
ReplyDeleteYeah! Following!
DeleteI've never had basil lemonade...I'm intrigued! I am a big basil fan too, but I don't know if I've ever even seen these varieties you used. I'll have to keep my eye out for seeds or a plant! Thanks for linking up, now following!
ReplyDeleteIt's yummy! If you're looking for seeds check out my site Mary's Heirloom Seeds.
Deletehttp://marysheirloomseeds.com/
I always include free seed packs!
I'm following you as well! Have a great weekend!
And I'm following you! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteLooks really refreshing. Wish I had this recipe last year. I had tons of basil. Thanks for linking up Mom's Library!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so simple and uniquely delicious! Thank you for sharing on my blog hop. I hope you enjoyed all the great links. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting! Have a great weekend!
DeleteI am new here but plan to follow along, can't wait to read more and try this recipe! Stop by and follow along at:
ReplyDeletehttp://theredeemedgardener.blogspot.com
Thanks for the invite Clint! I'll check it out.
DeleteI've never had basil lemonade before, I think my hubby would love this. Thanks for linking this to the Our Favorite Things Link Party. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delicious idea! Thanks for linking up this week!
ReplyDeleteStacey of Embracing Change
Guess whose awesome lemonade was featured at Freedom Fridays this week? I'm not telling, lol! See you there.
ReplyDeleteNow that's something new and different!? I didn't plant any basil this year, darn it!! Thanks for sharing with Farm Fresh Friday, y'all come back now!!
ReplyDeleteto save garden from disaster one needs diy and few precious tips. check out this awesome blog for kitchen and home tips and guide https://www.shekitchen.com
ReplyDelete