Spring Clean Lemonade

After a morning of spring cleaning indoors or out, this is a welcome late afternoon treat.

Spring Clean Lemonade

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 10 lemons
• 8 cups cold water
• 1 cup Cointreau
• 1 cup vodka

In a small saucepan, make a simple syrup by simmering 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar until sugar is fully dissolved. Cool to room temperature. 

Juice lemons directly into a pitcher. Then, add cooled syrup, cold water, triple sec and vodka. Stir with vigor.

Add lots of ice to pitcher or in glasses and serve. 

For a family-friendly version, omit alcohol from lemonade and instead add two additional cups of cold water. When serving, add 1 oz of triple sec and 1 oz of vodka to each 'grown-up glass'. Non-drinkers can pour from the booze-free pitcher. 

On the side: strawberries

Out of my speakers: Counting Crows, "About Ghosts"