Lemonade and Limeade are probably some of my favorite summer drinks. It's the perfect blend of tart and sweet and makes a beautiful addition to a summer meal or event. I like to have fun with my lemonades and limeades by adding things like berries or tropical fruit which not only enhance the flavor, but help with the presentation as well! One of my favorite concoctions is my strawberry limeade which I'll share with you today. I just couldn't resist making this refreshing drink one last time before summer ends! So break out your cutest pitcher and grab some limes because summer is going fast!
First off, slice your limes in half and juice them. I used about six limes to get one cup of lime juice, but that number may vary based on the size and juiciness of your limes. I'll also try to grab a couple more than I need to garnish my glasses and pitcher.
I am NOT a fan of pulp so I usually strain my juice twice. My juicer has a strainer on it, but I'll also run it through a mesh strainer to catch all the pulp I can. (Go slow and be careful if you do this, it can be messy.)
Next we'll need our strawberry juice. You'll need about 4-6 strawberries for this. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries, but fresh will be prettier as a garnish later on. Slice your strawberries into small chunks. I'll cut a few extra to add to my pitcher or glasses when I serve. I usually try to slice these a bit bigger and in the shape of my strawberry (refer to pictures).
Throw the small strawberry chunks into the microwave for 30-60 seconds and then mash them with a fork or metal whisk. You want to get as much juice as possible so the more mashed, the better.
You COULD toss the strawberries in the blender, but it's such a small amount I just prefer to do it this way. To eliminate any chunks, I strain my strawberry juice as well. Scoop out three tablespoons of juice and add it to the lime.
Fill your pitcher with five cups of water and pour in your lime/strawberry juice and your sugar. Stir until completely combined. Add more sugar or water until you reach your desired taste. I like to leave mine a little tart so it's perfect later when I serve it with ice.
Chill until you're ready to serve.
Right before I serve my limeade, I'll garnish my glasses and add my fruit chunks to the pitcher. It helps flavor the limeade a little bit, but mainly it just looks nice.
And there you have it! Deliciously refreshing limeade to cool you down on those hot summer afternoons. Now go find a comfy chair on a front porch and enjoy!
