My Favorite Summer Drink

I used to live in Brandon, FL. The story behind why I say used to is ongoing, but you can find out that little bit of gossip in another blog. Back to Brandon. Brandon is an ever expanding city to the east of Tampa. There is a little plaza, full of great small town vibe businesses and restaurants, named Winthrop Plaza. It also happens to be a not so secret photographer fav, I would know because I have used it many times myself for photo sessions.

In Winthrop there used to be a very cool handmade mini donut shop run out of a 1969 Air-stream, called Remi's Minis. It was a family owned business, a super cool "food truck", in a cool location, and the nicest people running it. Unfortunately Remi's Minis has sine closed its "doors". Totally heartbroken over this I decided that I was going to recreate one of my favorite menu items. Perfect for Florida's increasingly hot summer days.


Fresh citrus and dried lavender displayed with a white pitcher on a wooden board.

Lavender Lemonade

If only I could recreate those mini Elvis donuts too, I would be in sugar heaven.

Alright, so I hand squeezed 10 massive lemons in to this Hearth and Hand, Joann gains Target, pitcher. After the first two my hand started to cramp up. So, naturally, I googled how to make my life easier. I of course didn't have any tools and I was not about to go to the store for a juicer during a pandemic. I used this simple trick instead. Simply roll and slightly squish the lemon in your hands before cutting. Then cut it in half a squeezing the juice out becomes so much easier. Now fair warning, this method will give you a little bit of pulp an definitely some seeds.

Next you scoop 1 cup or white sugar and at least 2 cups of water and stir to dissolve. I looked all over grocery stores like Publix, Fresh Market and Whole foods and could find any type of Lavender at all. Amazon to the rescue! I ordered a large bag because I know I will be making this again along with some other ideas I have for it. I'm thinking, candles, bath bombs, hand scrub, cupcakes.... The list in endless. My mom had this nifty thing from Teavana that I used to infuse the lavender into some boiling water for about 30 minutes before I added it to the lemonade. You only need about 1 tablespoon of lavender. Too much and you will feel like you are eating a lemon and lavender scented soap bar.

Last, you dump in the lavender to the lemonade and mix. I added about 2 more cups of water. If you include the water the lavender was infused with this makes about 5 cups of water. I stopped here because for me the blend was perfect, but you may want to add a little more water, sugar or lemons to your taste.

A purple beverage with ice sits next to fresh lemons on a wooden cutting board.

Enjoy!

P.S I did add one drop of blue dye and 2 drops of red dye because I wanted the lemonade to have a lavender color to it. Without the dye it actually looks a little pink.