Concentrates - Strawberry Lemonade

Two examples of our concentrates!

Having two daughters as well as having the annoying diagnosis of MS, I want to do everything possible to raise girls with every chance of being healthy.  Hearing all of the horrible things out there about food dyes and lists of ingredients that don't appear in nature, I try to keep the girls as far away from processed foods as possible.  One thing I like is making my own concentrates.  This way, the girls can put as much/little flavoring in their water as they like, and I feel better knowing where everything came from!  AND - it continues the soda-free lifestyle that I planned for them.  At 5 and 3, neither girl asks for soda . . . and I hope it stays that way as they continue to grow!

There are many recipes out there for this.  I use one that I found in Taste of Homes - 2005.  I know there is also a good one on SB Canning.

We ended up making a few different versions of this -
Strawberry Lemonade
Blueberry Limeade
Berry Lemonade

Just use 4 qts of whatever type berry you like with your choice of Lemon juice or Lime Juice.

Strawberry Lemonade
~ adapted from Taste of Home's Contest Winning Annual Recipes 2005

4 quarts fresh strawberries, hulled
4 cups lemon juice (I used bottled)
3 quarts water
6 cups sugar

Sterilize quart canning jars and lids.

In a blender, puree the strawberries.  Place in a large non-reactie pot; add lemon juice, water and sugar.  Bring to 165F over medium heat.  Stir occasionally.  DO NOT BOIL.  Remove from heat and skim off the foam.

Pour into hot jars, leaving 1/4" headspace.  Adjust caps.  Process 15 minutes in boiling-water bath.

To serve, mix to taste with water, lemon lime soda, ginger ale or soda water.

This makes 6 quarts of concentrate.

I will warn you that some people have complained about the actual "fruit" that is in the juice.  BUT - it is REAL FRUIT.  So, I just tell them to get over it.

I did strain my blueberry Limeade - but did it when mixing with water, prior to serving.  The blueberries were quite large and I didn't want any of the little ones here at the time choking on a blueberry in their drink.