Cooking with your kids: Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade

I love cooking with my daughter, even though she tends to make more of a mess than anything else. It's important to start cooking with your kids at an early age because they will love cooking more if they are familiar with it, and have the confidence that years of practice can give. Oh, and you can get them to make you some excellent food for you when they are old enough to cook by themselves and it's a special (or average) occasion. Score! Seriously, though, my favorite recipe to make with my daughter is my version of pink lemonade. If your child can roll a ball, they can help you make this yummy drink!

You will need:
5 lemons
Marachino cherries (optional-not for small children as it's a choking hazard)
1 cup sugar (or less if like it more sour)
1 or 2 drops red food coloring
Enough water to make 2 quarts of lemonade

long handled spoon for stirring

pitcher
juicer
knife
cutting board
*Always be very careful when using knives around children. Be sure that you cut the lemons far out of reach of the child, and quickly remove the knife after use*

1. Reserve one lemon for later. With the remaining four lemons, take turns rolling them on the counter with the palm of your hand, applying pressure. This releases more juice.
2. Cut each of the four lemons in half. Have your child help you squeeze out the juice with the juicer. With small children, place her/his hand on top of yours as you squeeze, or take turns juicing them until you collect all of the juice.
3. Check to make sure no seeds have fallen into the juice. Discard the extra pulp and seeds from the top of the juicer. Add the juice of all four lemons to the pitcher.
4. Add the cup of sugar. Have your child hold the cup with you as you pour it.
5. Add one or two drops of red food coloring.
6. Stir the sugar and lemon juice well. Have your child help you stir, or stir by themselves. Slowly add the water, and continue stirring until all water is added and the sugar is dissolved.
7. With the fifth lemon, cut off the stem end and the opposite end. Slice the lemon into circles about 1/4" thick. Reserve two circles, and add the others to the pitcher. With the remaining circles, cut a slit going halfway up so that you can rest it easily on the rim of a cup. Add a fun straw. Enjoy!

She is trying to get the juice out. I had to help her since she isn't strong enough yet.

I can do it, Mom!

One drop of food coloring goes a long way.

If you prefer your lemonade to remain yellow, omit the food coloring.

Slip the cut side of each lemon slice on the edge of your cup and add a straw.

Adding the extra lemon slices to the lemonade makes it so pretty and adds more flavor.

Yummy!

For an extra touch of flavor and color, drop a marachino cherry into the bottom of your cups when serving, but only for children who will not choke on it.