Season: November to March. A cool glass of homemade lemonade knocks the commercially produced alternative into oblivion. Once tasted, this will become a favorite thirst quencher. Serve this lemon syrup diluted with cold water as a cool summertime refresher, or mix with tonic water and a splash of Angostura bitters for a nonalcoholic cocktail. You can also use oranges as well as lemons.

　　

Ingredients

makes two to three 16-ounce bottles

　　7 to 10 unwaxed lemons

　　3 1/4 cups granulated sugar

　　

Step 1

Scrub the lemons and pare the zest from 4 of them. Bring a pan of water to a boil, drop in all of the lemons, and leave for 1 minute. Lemons are often quite hard and unyielding–this will soften them, and they will give more juice when squeezed. Lift out the lemons and keep the lemon-infused water to one side. Squeeze the juice from the lemons and measure out 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of it.

　　

Step 2

Put the sugar, lemon zest, and 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of the lemon-infused water into a saucepan. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a boil. Add the lemon juice and bring just to the boiling point. Remove from the heat and strain through a sieve into a pitcher. Pour immediately into hot, sterilized bottles (see p. 125) and seal immediately with sterilized screw-caps, corks, or swing-top lids.

　　

Step 3

Let cool, then store in a cool, dry place or the fridge for up to 4 months. For longer keeping–up to 1 year–sterilize the filled bottles in a water bath (see p. 125).

　　

Step 4

To serve, mix 1 part syrup to 4 parts water.

　　

P.S.

Step 5

Another way to increase the yield of juice from citrus fruits is to roll the fruit back and forth over a work surface, pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand, for 2 to 3 minutes.

　　The River Cottage Preserves Handbook by Pam Corbin.Pam Corbin has been making preserves for as long as she can remember, and for more than twenty years her passion has been her business. Pam and her husband, Hugh, moved to Devon where they bought an old pig farm and converted it into a small jam factory. Using only wholesome, seasonal ingredients, their products soon became firm favorites with jam-lovers the world over. Pam has now hung up her professional wooden spoon but continues to "jam" at home. She also works closely with the River Cottage team, making seasonal goodies using fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers from her own garden, and from the fields and hedgerows.