Single Serve Limeade (or Lemonade) - An Ode to Summer

Ingredient of the Month: An Ode to Summer

So this is my 300th post. I would love to tell you that to celebrate this 'momentous' milestone, we moved from cocoawind.blogspot.com to cocoawindblog.com, but it was a mere co-incidence. This move was long pending and I finally did it today! Yay!

This post is a part of Ingredient of the Month: An Ode to Summer series. And what can be more refreshing than a chilled glass of limeade (or lemonade if you are using lemons) to beat the heat this summer.
Honestly, it doesn't feel like summer in Cincy yet. We are almost in the middle of May and we are yet to pack our light jackets away. It has been raining and chilly and temps have been dipping as low as  the low teens (Centigrade).  But as it warms up over the course of the day, a chilled drink sure perks up the mood!

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

• Water - 1/4 Cup + 3/4 Cup (chilled)
• Sugar - 2 tbsp
• Freshly squeezed Lime Juice - 2 tbsp (+ 1/2 tbsp, if you are using lemon juice)
• Handful of ice cubes
• Lime or Lemon slices for garnish (optional)

In a microwave safe cup, heat up 1/4 Cup water and 2 tbsp sugar for a minute. Give it a quick stir to ensure that the sugar is completely dissolved. While it cools down, roll the limes (or lemon) gently between the palm of hand and the counter to release the juices. Juice the limes (or lemons) till you get about 2 or 2 1/2 tbsp worth of juice. Pour it into the simple sugar mixture and stir to combine. 

Fill up a tall glass (or a mason jar like I did) with ice cubes, throw in some lime (or lemon) slices, pour in the 3/4 Cup chilled water and top it off with the lime juice+simple syrup mixture. 

Give it one quick stir and serve immediately.