Strawberry Lemonsweet

Season three is proving to be much more ripe with food than any other season. Here’s another one from the HBO show:

See that pitcher on the bottom right? The one with what could only be lemonsweet with strawberries in it? That’s the special at the Inn this week.

Strawberry Lemonsweet

Now, I’ll admit that when I’m watching the show, I obsessively look at the dishware, glassware, and plates of food. When I saw this, I had to try it! I’ve used an adapted lemonsweet recipe from the cookbook for this, and the result is a perfect beverage to see you through spring and into the long days of summer. It’s sweet, with a citrus punch, but also with wonderful subtle flavors imparted by the herbs and strawberries. The longer it sits to infuse, the pinker and more flavorful it will get!

Strawberry Lemonsweet Recipe

Ingredients:

1 orange
4 lemons
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tbs. bruised thyme, rosemary, or mint, to taste
4 cups water
1 pint strawberries, stemmed and sliced

Zest half an orange and half a lemon. Juice all the fruits, and add the juice, zest, sugar, herbs, and water. Whisk or pour into a bottle and shake to mix. Strain into a serving pitcher, add the strawberries. The berries will gradually add color and flavor to the rest of the beverage, making it even more delicious! Garnish each glass with an extra slice or two of strawberry, and a small sprig of herb.

Lemonade with Mint – Chivalry

“‘Tea or lemonade?’

‘Whatever you’re having,’ Galaad said.

Mrs. Whitaker took a jug of her homemade lemonade from the fridge and sent Galaad outside to pick a sprig of mint. She selected two tall glasses. She washed the mint carefully and put a few leaves in each glass, then poured the lemonade.

–Chivalry, by Neil Gaiman

Thoughts:

Delicious! The tart zing of the lemons is countered by the sweetness of the confectioners sugar. The mint, meanwhile, lends the beverage a subtle, even more refreshing quality. Served over ice, it’s a wonderful version of a summer classic, and will leave you energized for whatever grand and noble quests you must face.

Recipe for Lemonade with Mint

Makes about 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

6 lemons
zest from one lemon
6 cups still or sparkling water
2 cups powdered sugar
a handful of mint leaves, crushed

Grate the peel of half the lemon and half the orange.

Juice the fruits. Add the water, sugar, zested peel, and crushed mint. Shake or stir vigorously for about a minute. Pour the mixture through cheesecloth or paper towel to catch the zest and mint. Refrigerate, and serve cold.

Lemonsweet

“Arianne drew the child away. ‘You must be hungry. We have dates and cheese and olives, and lemonsweet to drink. You ought not eat or drink too much, though…” -A Feast for Crows

17th C. and Modern Lemonsweet

Thoughts:

These recipes produce two very different lemonades. The older recipe results in an intense, kick in the face sort of lemonade, with all the vibrancy of fresh lemons, and a sweet tang that goes on and on.

The modern recipe, ironically, makes a lemonade that tastes very old worldy. Using honey instead of sugar reduces the immediate sweetness prevalent in many modern lemonades, while the unexpected taste of the vanilla will make you stop and work the flavors over again in your mouth.

Both are excellent and refreshing on hot summer days. In the future, we might try infusing the modern version with just a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary, while the older recipe could do with a bit of (non-traditional) carbonation.

Recipes available in the Cookbook.