When life gives you lemons, you squeeze them and make something good.
I have a list of recipes to work on and post for the remainder of the summer. I’ve never had a list like this before. Planning ahead is totally unlike me, but my brain capacity seems to be diminishing by the day. And ideas come to me as quickly as they fade. Lemonade was not on the list for this summer. Until last week, when we found a pile of lemons on our doorstep.
Last Sunday, we got back from our babymoon. It left us with bittersweet emotions—pure excitement to hold this little girl in our arms with a very large side of mourning the loss of it being just the two of us. Monday came too quickly as it always does, requiring a chocolate croissant and a strong cup of coffee. But along with Monday came an unfortunate email and a pile of lemons on our doorstep.
We were informed that our apartment building was in foreclosure and the bank was asking us to move out … in one months time. The bank offered us moving assistance (thankfully) which took a full week of nail biting negotiations. We scoured Craiglist for a new place forgetting we live in a college town with most apartments, especially the goods ones, already booked up for the next school year. There were tears, arguments, and late nights awake wondering if we’d find a place. Not just any old place, but a place we felt comfortable bringing our little nugget home to.
Most days our home is fairly mellow. We laugh a lot and try not to get upset or rattled by much, but last week did us in. By the end of the week, with hair frazzled and dark circles under my eyes, I decided to pick up the box of lemons. Squeeze them—as hard as I could. And make something good. Something really, really good.
When I was little, my mom always said I played the best soccer when I was mad. I guess the same is true in the kitchen. This lemonade is good—really good. And unlike last week, it’s incredibly easy and refreshing. I like it even better with strawberries and basil. But I’ll let you decide how to doctor up your lemonade.
As I finish typing this post, we just got word we have an apartment! A good one—a really good one. The little lady will even get her own room. Sometimes life gives you lemons. But it’s what you do with them that counts. Even if it means making a good glass of lemonade.
This lemonade is sweetened by sugar and agave nectar yielding a very smooth result. It makes a great base for fruit or herbal lemonade. If I could drink a margarita right now, I’d swap the lemons out for limes and add a little tequila and grand marnier.
Ingredients
Scale
1 c. water
1/2 c. pure cane sugar
2 tbsp. agave nectar
1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 6 lemons)
4 c. chilled water, purified
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and sugar. Heat on medium-high until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and stir in agave nectar.
Meanwhile, juice lemons. To extract more juice from the lemon, cut a small slit in the lemon and cook in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Into a pitcher, combine the sugar solution (simple syrup), lemon juice, and chilled water. Stir to combine.
Refrigerate and serve cold. If too sweet for your liking, dilute with water.
Notes
•To make herbal lemonade, add a couple sprigs of herbs (basil, thyme, mint) to the simple syrup while cooling. Continue making recipe as follows. Leave sprig in for a more pronounced flavor.
•To make fruit lemonade, puree one cup of fruit (strawberry, watermelon, cherry) with one cup of water and 2 tablespoons of agave nectar. Pour through a fine mesh sieve and stir into lemonade.
•To make an Arnold Palmer, mix equal parts lemonade and prepared tea.
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Good Grief, woman! I’m so out of the loop! This is crazy and awful and wonderful news, all at once. I imagine your head is positively spinning right now. Hope you’re feeling as strong and powerful and beautiful as you look from pictures 🙂
Ok, first of all, as always when I visit your site, your pictures are stunning. Like, really stunning. I totally want to be you with all your talents when I grow up. Secondly, I’m so happy you found a place – I really hope your move goes smoothly and this last little bit before baby is calm (ok, as calm as possible).
Wow – that sounds really frustrating to only have a month’s notice! So glad you guys were able to find something nice! I wish we would have gone on a babymoon — I was so tired by the end of my pregnancy that I didn’t want to go anywhere! 🙂 This lemonade sounds lovely – I really like how you give directions for how to make the variations.
Oh, I can relate to so much of this, M. I, too, felt so many mixed emotions (from the feeling of ‘loss’ to just being out of my heart excited). The first weeks of motherhood will be crazy, but you’ll adjust and the new normal will be equally, if not more, wonderful. And your creativity? It will go in waves, but just allow yourself time to enjoy this time. Hope you are feeling well! xoxo
I’m so happy for you that it all worked out! It’s so stressful! We had to move when I was 8 months pregnant and buy everything for the nursery once we moved. But 5 years later it all worked out, and our little lady was none the wiser! Good luck Melissa! I love reading your blog and following your journey.
Srry to hear that you had to go through such stress while expectant, but great people come with great solutions and you find your way out of it successfully. Congratulations and you can now relax and focus on the lovely future that awaits you!
That’s fantastic that you got an apartment, and congratulations on your little girl coming along. Remember that it’s not the end of just the two of you – you’ll both still be there after your little one comes along. Same same but different.
Congratulations on the new apartment and the baby girl! It’s difficult to find a good apartment nowadays and I believe the little angel on the way helped you with your situation 🙂 Thank you for sharing this recipe!
congrats on the apartment. i know how hard it can be. i found my current apartment after searching for a year (yeahhh, i am quite picky)… so again: congrats and thanks for this lovely recipy. rosemary and lemon is my fave lemonade 🙂
So so happy to hear you found a place! Apartment hunting in a college town is nerve racking, but bless you for going through it with a baby girl on the way!
I’m thinking the croissant and strong coffee, coupled with your obvious tenacity, helped immensely in dealing with this situation. And, look at the results! Sounds like a great resolution and as a bonus to all your readers, some awesome lemonade over which we can drool! Excellent post, and good job turning all of those lemons into something really good.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but I’m really glad everything worked out and that you’re happy with your new apartment. 😀 I can’t wait to try your lemonade recipe…the addition of strawberries and basil sounds really good so I think I’m going to try that, Thank You!!
Good Grief, woman! I’m so out of the loop! This is crazy and awful and wonderful news, all at once. I imagine your head is positively spinning right now. Hope you’re feeling as strong and powerful and beautiful as you look from pictures 🙂
Love you lots, Mel.
that looks good!
Ok, first of all, as always when I visit your site, your pictures are stunning. Like, really stunning. I totally want to be you with all your talents when I grow up. Secondly, I’m so happy you found a place – I really hope your move goes smoothly and this last little bit before baby is calm (ok, as calm as possible).
Wow – that sounds really frustrating to only have a month’s notice! So glad you guys were able to find something nice! I wish we would have gone on a babymoon — I was so tired by the end of my pregnancy that I didn’t want to go anywhere! 🙂 This lemonade sounds lovely – I really like how you give directions for how to make the variations.
Oh, I can relate to so much of this, M. I, too, felt so many mixed emotions (from the feeling of ‘loss’ to just being out of my heart excited). The first weeks of motherhood will be crazy, but you’ll adjust and the new normal will be equally, if not more, wonderful. And your creativity? It will go in waves, but just allow yourself time to enjoy this time. Hope you are feeling well! xoxo
I’m so happy for you that it all worked out! It’s so stressful! We had to move when I was 8 months pregnant and buy everything for the nursery once we moved. But 5 years later it all worked out, and our little lady was none the wiser! Good luck Melissa! I love reading your blog and following your journey.
Srry to hear that you had to go through such stress while expectant, but great people come with great solutions and you find your way out of it successfully. Congratulations and you can now relax and focus on the lovely future that awaits you!
That’s fantastic that you got an apartment, and congratulations on your little girl coming along. Remember that it’s not the end of just the two of you – you’ll both still be there after your little one comes along. Same same but different.
So happy you found an apartment you love! That must be the best feeling. Yay!
This lemonade sounds so refreshing! Beautiful photos!
Congratulations on the new apartment and the baby girl! It’s difficult to find a good apartment nowadays and I believe the little angel on the way helped you with your situation 🙂 Thank you for sharing this recipe!
congrats on the apartment. i know how hard it can be. i found my current apartment after searching for a year (yeahhh, i am quite picky)… so again: congrats and thanks for this lovely recipy. rosemary and lemon is my fave lemonade 🙂
Us too. We are far too picky for our own good! Yum—rosemary lemonade sounds so good. Once I’m off my strawberry/basil kick, I’m headed for this.
The strawberry and basil lemonade looks INCREDIBLE! So summery and refreshing. Love your blog 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
Congratulations! I was worried about you guys when Jen told me! I’m so happy you were able to make the best of a sour situation
Isn’t it crazy?! This town hasn’t been the nicest to us. We need to get together when this is all said and done. When is your move date?
Mmm lemonade in summer is the best! And this sounds like a fabulous recipe for the classic drink 🙂
So so happy to hear you found a place! Apartment hunting in a college town is nerve racking, but bless you for going through it with a baby girl on the way!
Thanks Abby!
I’m thinking the croissant and strong coffee, coupled with your obvious tenacity, helped immensely in dealing with this situation. And, look at the results! Sounds like a great resolution and as a bonus to all your readers, some awesome lemonade over which we can drool! Excellent post, and good job turning all of those lemons into something really good.
Thanks Dan! Seriously croissants and coffee can do wonders. My medicine 🙂
I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but I’m really glad everything worked out and that you’re happy with your new apartment. 😀 I can’t wait to try your lemonade recipe…the addition of strawberries and basil sounds really good so I think I’m going to try that, Thank You!!
Thanks Kim! I keep telling myself I’m just glad this happened before she arrives. Hope you love the lemonade!