Honey-Vanilla Lemonade
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 cups water, plus more as needed
1 vanilla bean
2 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 24 lemons)
Lemon wheels or wedges, for garnish
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, honey, and 2 cups water and place
over medium-high heat. Cut the vanilla bean in 1/2 lengthwise, then, using
the back of the knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from the pod and add to
the saucepan, along with the pod. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook
for 4 or 5 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Put the lemon juice into a gallon jug or pitcher. Pour the sugar syrup
through a strainer into the pitcher and remove the pod*. Add water to
equal 1 gallon and stir well.
Serve over ice with lemon wheels or wedges.
*Save the vanilla pod, rinse it and place in your sugar bowl to make vanilla sugar or grind a 1 inch piece with your coffee for Real Vanilla Coffee.