KAFFIR LIME LEMONADE

Mother Nature thinks it's summer. It was 80 degrees yesterday. I started craving one of my favorite summer time drinks. Lemonade. I was sitting in the sun reading the New York Times new cookbook when I came across a recipe for Kaffir Lime Lemonade. I looked around the yard and I had everything I needed just a few steps away.

Kaffir Lime is one of my all time favorite flavors. You grow this tree for the leaves. It is one of the major flavors you taste in Thai food. We planted a tree last year. I used to have to drive out to Indo China Market just to buy these leaves.

The tree looks like this

The leaves look like this

I made a simple syrup of sugar, water and the lime leaves

After it cooled I added fresh lemon juice, club soda, and ice.

And...uh....look at the first picture. The sun was setting so I made it a big girl drink with a splash of vodka.

                                                       KAFFIR LIME LEMONADE

2 cups water
1 cup sugar
10 kaffir lime leaves
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
2 cups chilled club soda or seltzer
Vodka (optional)

Combine the water, sugar, and the lime leaves in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool, then refrigerate until cold.

Fill each tumbler with ice and top with 1/4 cup of the lime syrup, 1 TBSP. lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of club soda. Add a splash of vodka if you like and stir.

Makes 8  drinks.