Blueberry Lemonade

8:41 PM

I have never been a summer girl all my life. Those hot, humid, tiring months never held much appeal to me.

Until this summer that I am spending here in Chicago.

It's like a season reversal between summer and winter between Kolkata and Chicago. The Summer is as soothing and sought after as winter in Kolkata and winter is as dreary and dreaded as Summer in Kolkata. And though with such soothing Summer, you don't need refuge in cold treats still the sight of colourful summer fruits and berries have restored my thirst to use them up in creative ways. Every time we are going to grocery shopping a few punnets of berries are being picked up. We loved them so much that most of them are finding their way to our cereal bowl, oats porridge, fruit salad or just on their own as between meal snacks.

The sight of blueberries has brought one of my fondest summer memories back. When we were in school my uncle had a big Phalsa (Indian blueberry) bush in his back garden. During the boring summer afternoons our favourite pass time was to sit on the ledge of the boundary wall and pop those sweet sour Phalsa berries in our mouth. We knew the dark purple ones are the sweetest whereas the light almost lavender coloured ones still needed few more days on the vines to bring out the best. so the competition between the siblings never ended in who finds the most of the purple ones. It was such fun with phalsa juices dripping down the corner of our mouth and we all sitting there on the wall with our legs dangling halfway in the air.

I wish We had got such variety back home so that I could make various items to last the whole month. but unfortunately am here only for a short span of time so my choices are definitely limited. After making Blueberry Pancakes a few times I thought of making this blueberry lemonade. A very dear drink of the Americans during the summer with a little twist. The beautiful soothing colour with the tang of the lemon and zing of the spearmint proved to be the best cooler for a beautiful summer evening.

Blueberry lemonade

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

Blueberries: 100 gms (handful per person)

Sugar: 4 tbsp

Lemon juice: 1 tbsp

Mint leaves: 4-5 leaves and couple of twigs to decorate your glass

Ice cubes

Lemon rings to serve

Method:

wash and drain the blueberries well and put them in a bowl. Using the back of a fork mash them as much as you can. Sprinkle the sugar on top and mix till they dissolve. Add 1/2 glass water and mix. Cover and place in the fridge for 4 hours to overnight. The time you give to this the more flavour and colour development happens.

When you are ready to serve, muddle the mint leaves in a big bowl, add 11/2 glasses of water and mix in the lemon juice. Pour in the blueberry mix in this. Give everything a good stir and taste. If needed add more lemon juice or sugar. Strain through few layers of cheesecloth or a strainer.

Fill glasses with ice cubes and few lemon rings. Pour the lemonade and decorate with the mint leaves.

Serve immediately.

A Homemaker's Notes:

i cant wait to get home and try the same recipe with Jamun or Kalojam or Java berries. If you can get hold of some good quality Jamuns try it right away and enjoy gorgeous jamun lemonade this balmy summer evening.