Raspberry Party Lemonade

Another missed photo opportunity from last Monday's deck warming party - but my best party secret is how I prepare my drinks. I have several of these large 2 gallon glass apothecary jars ($12 from Walmart  - you can find them in the same aisle as where the random kitchen utensils are - like paper towel holders, etc) - these work perfect for party drinks because you fill the container mostly full of ice so the drink stays cold throughout the whole event.

1. Starting with an empty 2 gallon jar, fill the jar about 1/2 or 1/3 full of water - add your mix (I use the store bought Country Time Lemonade) - use enough mix for 2 gallons - stir.
2. Slice 2-3 lemons and add to lemonade mix. I do this usually the night before the party so the lemons have time to marinate in the mix - making it taste more like homemade lemonade than a powder mix. Everyone always asks me for the recipe and are so shocked that I just use Country Time - it's the lemon slices - makes it so much better!
3. Depending on what flavoring you want to add to your lemonade or if you just want to add color - add a bag of frozen fruit. I love adding frozen raspberries because they add a lot of flavor and turn the lemonade a pretty shade of pink - but if left over night they do bleach - the berries turn an unsightly white. (All the color leeches from the raspberries into the lemonade. You could add frozen raspberries and let them sit overnight, then strain them out and add new fresh ones right before your party for looks. Or just add the raspberries along with the ice just a few hours before your party.)
4. A few hours before your party - not too early because the ice melts fast - fill the jar with ice completely to the top and stir to mix the sliced lemons and fruit throughout the ice. Serve!

The variations could be limitless! But here are a few I've used:

• Strawberry Lemonade: I would add a bag of fresh quartered strawberries over a frozen bag because frozen strawberries tend to look a little smashed and not very pretty.
• Raspberry Iced Tea: Add a bag of frozen raspberries to tea! Yum!
• Blueberry Lemonade: Mix Blue Raspberry Lemonade Koolaid mix (I can only find these Koolaid packets at Kroger - not anywhere else) with sliced lemons and whole fresh blueberries.

Now you know my secret!