Old Fashioned Lemon Balm And Lemon Verbena Lemonade Syrup Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED LEMON BALM LEMONADE

Steps:

• Scrub the lemons well. Peel the rind thinly, avoiding the white pithe, and set aside the lemons.
• Place the lemon rind, lemon balm leaves, and the sugar into a small heat-proof pitcher. Pour the boiling water into the pitcher and stir well, crushing the lemon balm leaves to release their flavor. Leave mixture to infuse for about 15 minutes.
• Now, cut the lemons in half and squeeze out the juice. Strain juice into a large glass pitcher, add a few fresh sprigs of lemon balm, and add the cooled, strained syrup. Top up with water or half-water half-ice, and chill until needed.

OLD FASHIONED LEMON BALM AND LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE SYRUP

Steps:

• Place the sugar, lemon halves and water into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Add the lemon verbena and lemon balm leaves and boil for 2 minutes; leave to cool. Add the citric or tartaric acid if using at this stage. Allow to cool and then cover and allow to infuse for 24 to 48 hours, depending on what strength you require. (I have left this for 3 days sometimes too, for a real lemon zing.).
• Sieve through a fine mesh or colander, discarding the lemon halves and the herb leaves - then pour into clean and sterile bottle/s; seal tightly and store in a cool dark place for several months or in the fridge for several weeks.
• To use: 1 part syrup to 4 parts water or sparkling water, to taste - add more for a stronger lemon flavour or less for a more delicate flavour. Add ice, a slice of lemon and some lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves as a garnish.

LEMON VERBANA OR LEMON BALM PESTO

Steps:

• Rinse lemon balm well in a bowl of water. Let it soak until needed.
• Grate parmesan if needed.
• Peel garlic. Set up your food processor with the cutting blade or use a blender. Turn the machine on and drop the garlic in while the blade is turning. Turn off when garlic is minced, after about 10 seconds.
• Rinse the lemon balm well and pat dry with towel. Remove leaves and put in food processor or blender. Put walnuts and salt on top of leaves. Process until finely chopped but still a bit rough.
• With the machine going, slowly pour in olive oil.
• Stop the machine and add parmesan cheese. Process briefly to mix. Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
• To serve, stir pesto into hot cooked pasta or spread on bread or crackers. Eat warm or at room temperature.
• Refrigerate or freeze any extra.
• Enjoy!

LEMON BALM MOJITOS

Steps:

• Put the lemon balm and the sugar in a short glass, and muddle until well mushed together (don't go crazy, or you will have bits of lemon balm in your teeth).
• Add the shot of rum, a squeeze of lime, and fill the glass with tonic water. Add ice and stir gently. Garnish with a lime or lemon balm sprig. Cheers!

PERFECT LEMONADE (REAL LEMONS AND SUGAR)

Steps:

• Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves completely.
• While the sugar is dissolving, juice the lemons.
• Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength.
• Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet, add a little more juice.
• Serve with ice and sliced lemons.

LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE

Steps:

• Bring sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and add lemon verbena. Cover, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, and let cool thoroughly.
• Combine lemon juice and lemon verbena syrup in a pitcher. Fill glasses with lemon verbena ice, and divide lemonade among glasses (or cover and refrigerater for up to 3 days).
• LEMON VERBENA ICE CUBES:.
• Fill 2 ice trays halfway with water, and freeze. Top each cube with a lemon verbena leaf and cover with water, and freeze for up to a week.

FRESH MINT AND MELISSA (LEMON BALM) TEA - TISANE- INFUSION

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over fresh herbs (or use a tea ball) in a tea pot that's been rinsed out with warm water.
• Let steep for about five minutes.
• Strain into warmed tea cups and enjoy your tea - tisane - infusion sweetened to your taste with honey or sugar. May be served hot, or cold over ice. Enjoy!