Elderflower Honey Lemonade
I devoured wholesome tales about girls like candy when I was younger, and Heidi always held a special place in my heart. What’s not to love? Soaring descriptions of Swiss mountain landscapes dotted with wildflowers sounded idyllic. And while Heidi and her grandfather lived a quiet, remote life, it didn’t seem to have the squalor of my modern day one.
Sometimes simple really is better.
Heidi thrived on goat’s milk, but I have to admit that’s not really my thing (no offense goats). Instead I turned to elderflower, a wildflower that grows in the Swiss Alps. It’s popular to use this medicinal to prepare tonics and it’s said to be good for all sorts of ailments. I couldn’t resist mixing it with a bit of alcohol though.
Hey, everyone has their vices.
Instead of making my own elderflower tonic, I opted to take the easy way out and use elderflower liqueur. Mostly because who the hell has elderflowers just growing around their surbuban neighborhood. We then top it off with some honey simple syrup. Don’t use refined sugar, folks. Heidi’s grandfather would never approve.
Next we’re going to add some lemon slices and several very generous splashes of lemon juice. This is really up to you. If you like tart, keep juicing. If you’re on the sweet side, be gentle.
Now comes the fun part where we get to pour it into a glass, top it off with sparkling water, and watch it shine. If you’re wary about getting this recipe right, you can simplify by just omitting the honey simple syrup and lemon juice and going straight for splashing in some pre-bottled lemonade and topping it with sparkling water. I won’t judge you.
I know it’s been a long, lonely winter but hopefully this tonic and a little bit of sunshine will transport you to a healthier place. Take care of yourselves, folks. And when in doubt, trust Heidi and the magic of the Swiss Alps. A simple life is the real secret to happiness.
Elderflower Honey Lemonade
1/4 cup honey simple syrup
3-4 ounces of elderflower liqueur
2-3 Tablespoons of lemon juice
Sparkling water
Put ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice. Top with sparkling water.
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