I grew up drinking cherry limeade in the form of lemon-lime soda mixed with a little grenadine syrup. I later graduated to one with a couple of authentic ingredients. It was still probably made of lemon-lime soda but it at least had a wedge or two of fresh lime in it, along with some maraschino cherries. There is something about the sweet-tart taste of a good limeade on a hot day — it’s right up there with a cold glass of iced tea or lemonade. And the fresher the ingredients, the fresher the taste. I use freshly squeezed lime juice in this recipe and bottled 100 percent cherry juice. I sweeten it just a bit with a quick batch of simple syrup, which is a snap to make. After I mix up the concentrate, I divide it among glasses and top each one off with sparkling water. It’s fizzy, cool and refreshing. And it takes me back to my childhood. This would be a fun recipe to make with kids. Additionally, a handheld citrus juicer comes in handy but is not necessary. Note: Grenadine is typically made of pomegranate juice so I’m sure pure pomegranate juice would make a great substitute for the cherry juice. Enjoy food made fresh!
Serious Cherry Limeade 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 8 limes) 1 cup 100% cherry juice 12 ounces sparkling water Garnish with lime slices and fresh cherries (optional)
To make the simple syrup, stir together sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil over medium heat. This will take 4 to 5 minutes and sugar should be completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Cut the limes into halves. Squeeze each lime half in a citrus juicer over a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing firmly to release the juices (flip each half over and squeeze again to extract more juice). Tip: If squeezing limes by hand, try twisting the tines of a fork into the cut lime while squeezing to release more juice; strain any seeds out before using. Combine the lime juice with the cherry juice. Once the simple syrup is completely cool, stir it into the juices until well combined. Fill 4 glasses with crushed ice. Divide the mixture evenly between the 4 glasses. Top off each one with a few ounces of sparkling water. Garnish the glasses with fresh cherries and slices of lime, if desired. If you are not using all of the concentrated mixture at one time, cover and keep chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week; add sparkling water when ready to serve. Makes 4 servings.
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