Strawberry Lemonade in a Crock with Ball® Nesting Jars
My first job was working at a small tea room. I was a waitress and helped work back in the kitchen, mainly washing dishes. I knew nothing about cooking. As many of you know, my food journey mostly started here while writing this blog. I have learned so much in the past six years sharing my favorite recipes and ones that I’ve made myself in this space. But my first experience with whole, homemade foods was working in the tea room. I absolutely adored working there! The woman who owned it was a single mother, and she made everything that was served from scratch. From cakes and pies to soups, sandwiches, quiches, and more. It was the most delicious food anyone in town had ever tasted, and everyone raved about it. She inspired me in so many ways, but I’ll never forget eating there for the first time and tasting the delicious strawberry lemonade and chicken and dumpling soup. If I had known then what I know now, it would have been plain to see that what I was missing in my life was whole food ingredients and from scratch cooking. It’s one of the reasons that my own cooking wows the people that visit our home and our store; it’s really that simple.
If you have ever worked as a waitress, which I did up until Tad was almost two, then you might know that waitress often are the ones filling or making your drinks. I learned while working at the tea room how to make fresh strawberry lemonade, and it was absolutely delicious! I don’t think I ever served a table that did not enjoy a few glasses, and it was incredibly simple to put together. While the tea room’s lemonade came from a box of concentrate (much easier to make with large crowds), my lemonade recipe is made from fresh lemons!
I was recently gifted a few boxes of the new Ball® Nesting Jars from @ballcanning. How wonderful are these? They are pint jars shaped for stacking, or nesting, for easy storage. They make excellent drinking glasses, too, as they fit easily into cup holders, fit nicely in your hand, and they look adorable!
I had to ask the makers of Ball® home canning products more about these jars, as they are pictured with canned food inside stacked upon one another. Is is possible to stack home canned food, and the seal will be safe? I had always been told to never stack jars, but they told me that it is completely fine to do so! These jars are specially made for nesting and stacking, and the other jars by @ballcanning are stackable as well. How nice is that!
ingredients & recipe:
MAKES 1 QUART:
4 large lemons, thinly sliced and seeds removed
1 cup sugar
1 quart water
1/4 cup strawberry puree
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium crock, large enough to hold at least 1.5 quarts of liquid, place the sliced lemons.
Cover with sugar and mix with a wooden spoon. Cover with a tea towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
With a potato masher, mash the lemons and sugar, removing as much juice as possible and oils from the rinds. Cover with the quart of water and continue to mash until satisfied.
Pour the lemonade over ice in a glass such as a Ball® Nesting Jar.
To make strawberry lemonade, mix in 2 tbsp per 8 oz cup of lemonade. Stir well or shake. Serve with a fresh strawberry and some lemon slices mixed in!
Who doesn’t love a glass of iced strawberry lemonade on a warm spring or summer’s day? It is even better when made with fresh ingredients! I little sprig of mint would be divine in this recipe as well, don’t you think?
Click here to shop the new Ball® Nesting Jars!
xoxo Kayla
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own Comment.
