Red, White, and Blueberry Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 cup (packed) fresh strawberry halves
• 0.5 cups fresh blueberries
• 1.25 cups white sugar , divided
• 6 lemons , organic preferred,
• 5 cups water

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine strawberries, blueberries, and 1/2 of the sugar in a bowl. Use a potato masher to lightly crush berries until all blueberries have broken open.

2. 2

   Use a sharp vegetable peeler to peel off just the yellow zest from 6 lemons; add lemon zest to the berry-sugar mixture.

3. 3

   Pour remaining sugar into the bowl and mix thoroughly. Cover and let sit on the counter for 2 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally, or refrigerate overnight if you prefer.

4. 4

   Bring 5 cups water to boil in a saucepan, transfer in berry mixture. Immediately turn off heat, and let sit for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.

5. 5

   Set a fine mesh strainer over a heatproof bowl, and pour berry mixture through the strainer; press out liquid gently. Let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

6. 6

   Cut the 6 zested lemons in half, and squeeze the juice (through a strainer to catch the seeds) into the bowl.

7. 7

   Taste, and juice in more lemons as desired. You will have another chance to adjust the final flavor after the lemonade is cold.

8. 8

   Transfer lemonade into a pitcher and refrigerate until fully chilled, about 1 hour. Give the lemonade a final taste, and adjust with more fresh lemon juice or sugar if necessary. Fill glasses with ice to serve.