Rhubarb Lemonade - the cool refreshing Drink!

 It has been too hot out lately!  Too hot for the Humphreys at least!  We have hit 90 degrees on multiple days here in Big Lake.  We have all our windows covered and are keeping the lava sun at bay as best we can.  We have the "swamp cooler" set up and are drinking all the cold drinks we can get our lips on!   

 We all have Rhubarb Stories I think and we all try to find new and different things to do with Rhubarb.  It is plentiful and easy to grow here, and it comes back every year which is bonus round for most of us!   This year I was introduced to the idea of "Rhubarb Lemonade"!  It was mentioned in one of my online forums for growing things and it struck a chord with me as 1) it has been so hot and 2) I have a plethora - which is a lot - of Rhubarb! There was no recipe given so I played with it a bit and developed my own!

I was reminded the other day of the boys going to a baseball game in Arizona in what felt like a super heat wave.  Uncle Jeff took them and they dressed all up and had face paint on.  It was a great game apparently and when the guys got home, I asked what the best part was and they all said - The Lemonade Guy!!!  He sang a little song that went something like....."Lemonade!!! That Cool Refreshing Drink!!Lemonade!!Get your Fresh Lemonade, Like your Grandma made!"

Well this is NOT your Grandmas Lemonade!  It is however very cool and very refreshing!

Rhubarb Lemonade

4 C. Diced rhubarb

2 C. Sugar 

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

2-3 Lemons sliced with rind on

32 oz water

16 oz seltzer water or sparkling water.  You can use Fresca or Ginger Ale also to make it sparkling but cut the sugar 1/2 Cup if you do.

Rhubarb and lemons have lots of vitamin C, some magnesium, and potassium in them, and rhubarb is high in fiber, even though you are straining it for this recipe, it still has some benefit.  Healthy and delicious!

Start with the 4 cups of rhubarb;

Dice it into about 1" pieces.

Put it into a large stock pot.

Slice the Lemons and squeeze them over the rhubarb and then put the slices into the pot. Add the cinnamon, sugar and the 32 oz of water.  Simmer on low heat until the rhubarb is soft, stirring occaisionally.

Strain through a seive or a cheesecloth into a refrigerator jar or pitcher.  If it seems thick, or tastes too sweet add a little water.  Remember that you will be adding seltzer or sparkling water to serve so don't over do the water at this point.

Here is the beautiful end product - after straining!  The color will depend on what type of rhubarb you have and the color of it - this batch was a very red batch of rhubarb.  My next batch was mostly green stalks so is a lighter color.  I love the pink of this one though!

Fill a glass with some ice.  I am using a Mason jar with a drinking lid on it. Fill it about half way full with your rhubarb lemonade and then pour your seltzer or sparkling water over the top of the whole shebang and enjoy!  

Be cool and blessed be!