Don’t wait for life to hand you lemons. Go out and grab some, plus some gooseberries (and even tequila) to make some lemonade to cool off summer’s heat. 

Pink lemonade 

Serves 4

Ingredients 

200 ml water
200 ml sugar
200 ml lemon juice
200 ml cranberry juice
500 ml ginger ale
1 lemon, sliced, to garnish 

Method  

1. Combine the water and sugar in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. 
2. Remove the pot from the stove and transfer to the fridge to chill.
3. Add the lemon juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale to the syrup. Stir gently.
4. Add the lemon slices and keep refrigerated until needed.

 

Gooseberry lemonade 

Makes 1.8 L // Cooking time 20 minutes

 

Ingredients 

For the gooseberry lemonade 

4 lemons, juiced
4 Tbsp honey
⅔ cup gooseberries
8 mint sprigs 

To serve 

1.5 L sparkling water
3 cup gooseberries
1 lemon, sliced 

Method 

For the gooseberry lemonade 

1. Blend the lemon juice, honey and gooseberries until smooth.
2. Push the mixture through a sieve, reserving only the liquid.
3. Stir through the mint and refrigerate until needed.

To serve 

1. Mix the lemonade (about 1½ cups) with the sparkling water. Pour into glasses filled with ice and top with extra gooseberries and a slice of lemon.

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Andreas Eiselen // HMimages.co.za  

Do you love gooseberries? Give this gooseberry toastie as try! 

Aloe vera lemonade 

Serves 4 // Cooking time 15 minutes

 

Ingredients  

⅔ cup aloe vera juice
1½ cups mineral water
¼ cup honey or agave syrup
1 cup lemon juice
Fresh mint
Lemon slices 

Method 

1. Stir the aloe vera juice and water together in a jug.
2. Dissolve the honey or agave syrup in the lemon juice and mix through the aloe juice and water.
3. Refrigerate and serve with fresh mint and lemon slices.

Recipe & styling: Amerae Vercueil
Photography: Samantha Pinto // HMimages.co.za 

Thyme and tequila lemonade 

Serves 1 // Cooking time 5 minutes

Ingredients 

2 tsp white sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp tequila
1 sprig thyme
200 ml soda water 

To serve 

1 lemon wedge
1 sprig thyme 

Method 

1. Place the sugar, lemon juice, tequila and thyme in a tall glass and muddle together with a spoon.
2. Add ⅓ of the soda water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Top off with the remaining soda water and a few ice cubes.
3. To serve, top with a lemon wedge and a sprig of thyme.

Impress your friends with these refreshing green melon cocktails. 

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Andreas Eiselen // HMimages.co.za 

Bonus lemonade inspired recipe: Pink lemonade and mint sorbet 

Makes 1.5L // Total time 20 min plus freezing time 

Ingredients  

1 cup sugar 
¼ cup water
4 sprigs fresh mint, chopped plus extra for serving 
500ml Lemonade 
2 large punnets strawberries, plus extra for serving  
Ice cream cones, to serve 

 

Method 

1. In a saucepan, heat the sugar, water, mint and half the lemonade together. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and a syrup has formed.
2. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
3. Blitz together the cooled syrup and strawberries until smooth.
4. Stir through the remaining lemonade and pour into a 2L plastic container.
5. Cover with clingfilm and freeze for 8-12 hours or until firm.
6. Serve scoops of the sorbet in ice cream cones, garnished with fresh berries and topped with mint.

Photography: Fresh Living Magazine, Zhann Solomons 

Also read: 5 refreshing melon recipes perfect for summer