An Inspired Cook

Joe and I have visited several farmers markets around Albuquerque lately.  Our first market was the Rail Yards Market that happens every Sunday.  It’s located in the heart of the city in an old rail yard that is near 100 years old.  The market attracts many who come every Sunday to walk among the vendors who sell fresh produce, honey, local arts and crafts along with jerky, breakfast burritos and a lemonade booth with every flavor of lemonade under the sun. We went on a hot morning with clear skies and the sun shining brightly.  It didn’t take long to become parched.  We saw all the lemonades across the way and wandered over.  We couldn’t decide what lemonade to try when they offered up samples of any combination we wanted to try.  OH MY MY!  Every flavor of lemonade was so delicious, we just couldn’t make up our minds.  We finally went with a blueberry lemonade that had the most refreshing taste.  I decided right then and there that as soon as I had a kitchen again I was going to make lemonade or limeade.  Well, now that I have a kitchen again its time to test some new recipes.  The limes were on sale so guess who won!  Our fruit of choice was ripe and juicy strawberries.  These days I’m always on the hunt for lemons or limes on sale.  Summer is the perfect time to always have a refreshing pitcher of lemonade or limeade.

This limeade starts with making a simple syrup.  It’s one part sugar to one part water. Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan and dissolve the sugar over medium heat.

Bring the mixture just to a boil.  Turn off the heat and let cool completely. Simple syrup can be made ahead of time and remain in the refrigerator for several weeks until your ready to use.

If I hadn’t spilled some of the simple syrup I would have had a full quart.  Another reason to let it cool completely.

Okay, so I have my simple syrup ready to go, strawberries hulled and ready to slice and limes ready to juice.

In a medium bowl pour 1 1/2 cups of simple syrup over the strawberries.

I used my hand blender to blend the strawberries until smooth.  I find the hand mixer makes less mess than scraping down the sides of a traditional blender.

Strain the blended strawberries into the lime juice. Add 3 – 4 cups of water and stir.

You can definitely taste the lime and strawberry combination.  With 3 cups of water it’s a very sweet treat and will taste much like what they served at the Rail Yard Market.  If you like it that way it’s perfect over ice.  But if you prefer a lighter version that is less sweet, add an additional cup of water.  The amount of sweetness is up to you.




Strawberry Limeade

1 1/2 cups Simple Syrup
1 1/2 cups Lime Juice (approximately 6 – 8 limes)
2 cups Sliced Strawberries
3-4 cups Water
Slice Strawberries and Lime Slices for garnish

To make simple syrup add 1 part water to 1 part sugar.  Heat in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a boil.  Pour into a glass jar and let syrup completely cool.  Any leftover syrup can be refrigerated for several weeks.

Slice strawberries and juice limes.  Add strawberries to a medium mixing bowl and add the simple syrup.  Blend with a hand mixer until the mixture is completely blended and smooth.  Strain the strawberries in with the lime juice.  Stir in 3 cups of water and taste.  If too sweet add an additional cup of water and stir. Refrigerate.

Makes approximately 2 quarts