What would summer be without a frosty glass of homemade lemonade?  Once a week, I mix freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice with simple syrup (the amount depends on how sweet you like your drink) and keep in the fridge.  When we need an afternoon’s refreshing sip, we put about an inch of the sweetened juice in a tall glass, add ice and seltzer or water and a sprig of mint.  As the day progresses and the need for a tad bit of inebriation occurs, we add a shot of vodka.

Simple syrup, itself, is always on hand.  It is easy to make – I use equal parts sugar and water for a heavy syrup but you can make it with a ration of 2 or 3 parts water to sugar.  Just mix, bring to a simmer, cool, and store.  It is great to have readily available to sweeten iced tea or coffee or exotic cocktails.  Two of which are pictured here – Anne’s Secret Source Mojito and my Mandarina – a spur of the moment cocktail made with rum muddled with fresh mint, fresh lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, and a really very tart Italian Mandarin orange syrup.