Desert Spring and Brazilian Lemonade

Here in the desert Southwest we have had an amazingly warm and wonderful winter. Now that it is Spring, I can only imagine what the coming months will hold as far as temperatures. Last week I was in the pool 4 days in a row – it was GLORIOUS!!!

When pool season gets here and the temps rise to the upper 70’s, I like to have some refreshing and easy drink options. I stumbled across this one and decided to give it a try. I would like to give credit to one particular person – there are so many options out there and everything is really up to each individual as to how they want it to taste.

I hope you will try it, make it your own. A great version, I think, would be to blend some of this with vanilla ice cream!!

Brazilian Lemonade (called lemonade I believe because the ‘lemons’ in Brazil taste more like limes)

• 5 medium to large limes (the smoother the lime, the more juice it will produce)

• 1 cup sugar

• 4 cups plus 3 cups of cold water

• 5 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

Some recipes call for the entire lime, peel and all, to be blended together. I think the risk of getting a biter outcome is too great when you do this. My method is just a smidge different!

Cut limes in ½ and juice in to a blender (I use a simple squeeze hand-juicer). After I have juiced all of the limes, I will take the wedges out of 2 halves and place those in the blender. I like pulp so that is why I do this, if you are not a pulp person, skip this step.

In a pitcher, stir together 4 cups of water and the sugar until dissolved. Set aside.

To the lime juice in the blender add 3 cups of water and the sweetened condensed milk. Pulse until well blended & frothy.

Pour blender mixture into the pitcher and stir well. Serve over ice and enjoy!!

I plan on trying this as an “adult beverage” soon – I will just add some tequila for that!