Lavender Lemonade

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup lavender flowers (be sure to buy edible grade from a health food store, same goes for the hibiscus if using)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sugar or 1/2 cup honey
• 8 cups water (could also substitute the cold half for club soda)
• 1/3 cup dried hibiscus flowers (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil and remove from heat.
• 2 if using hibiscus, add it now and steep for 5 minutes. remove hibiscus.
• 3 add lavender and sweetener, stir well. let steep for an hour. at first the liquid will be greenish, but after the hour has passed it should be slightly purple.
• 4 strain liquid into an appropriately sized pitcher to remove all solids.
• 5 add lemon juice; stir well. color changing kool-aid has nothing on this—when you add the lemon juice the lavender water changes from dull purple to vivid pink!
• 6 add the remaining 4 cups of water (or club soda) and some ice (or chill if you don't want to dilute).
• 7 serve chilled with lemon garnish.