My Teta’s Lemonade - without Lemon Juicer
Teta is the Lebanese word for Grandma, and if there’s one thing I regret not doing in my life, it’s that I’d never thought of taking photos of my teta cooking when she was still here with us. Not a single photo of her hands crafting the food and doing her magic in the kitchen! I made this lemonade the same way she’d do it. I’m glad I used to “unconsciously” watch her cooking and I can still picture her with every single step.
Peeps - Take pictures of your loved ones when they are cooking for you, capture and cherish every single moment in the kitchen with them, because although cooking is a routine for many, it will always remain a very special moment as we grow up and understand the value of home cooking more and more!
My Teta’s Lemonade - without Lemon Juicer
Teta is the Lebanese word for Grandma, and if there’s one thing I regret not doing in my life, it’s that I’d never thought of taking photos of my teta cooking when she was still here with us. Not a single photo of her hands crafting the food and doing her magic in the kitchen! I made this lemonade the same way she’d do it. I’m glad I used to “unconsciously” watch her cooking and I can still picture her with every single step.
Peeps - Take pictures of your loved ones when they are cooking for you, capture and cherish every single moment in the kitchen with them, because although cooking is a routine for many, it will always remain a very special moment as we grow up and understand the value of home cooking more and more!
Cooking Instructions
- 1
Teta Soumaya (Soumaya is her name) would pick the ripe oranges which are better to juice, and not always the good looking ones. She’d buy enough to make around 5l (but of course i made much less)
- 2
She would wash the lemons and oranges, chop each into 8 pieces and throw everything into the biggest bowl she has.
- 3
Then she would add a 3/4 cup of sugar to the bowl, put it aside for almost 30 minutes to an 1 hour, and go cook us something else in between while waiting for the oranges to soften up. The next step will require strong hands and a sprinkle of love.
- 4
Teta Soumaya would now start the real work. She’d start squeezing the oranges with her hands to get all the juices out. Bless her, she was very strong thanks to her own gym - her kicthen, where every ingredient was crafted with her bare hands and not with machines.
- 5
Once all the oranges are squeezed, she’d move them into another deep bowl with a colander on top.
- 6
After that, she’d want to make sure that the orange pieces are completely dry like a desert! She’d grab a handful of the peels, squeeze with her two hands and throw them away. She’d repeat this until there’s nothing left. This way all the tasty flavorful pieces of the flesh and pulps are in the juice as well, except for the seeds of course!
- 7
It’s almost the last step now! Teta would pour cold water (taste as you go!), add a few drops of the orange blossom water in the juice without measuring (her eyes were her scale) and give the mixture a soft stir with her old wrinkly hands that held many stories, and cooked a great food for many generations!
(This brand of orange blossom water is lebanese and you can find it on amazon)
- 8
We’re almost done - now she’d call us to the kitchen to have a glass of the heavenly juice, before she’d start emptying it in big bottles of coca-cola that she’d always save in her kitchen cupboards.
- 9
In the end, she’d rinse the bottles to make sure they’re clean from outside, put some in the fridge and hide the rest to be consumed over the next few days (because we were like crickets who’d consume everything she’d make in a matter of seconds)
Cooksnaps
Did you make this recipe? Share a picture of your creation!
Similar Recipes
-
Lemonade - lemonada Lemonade - lemonada
It's not just water, lemon and sugar. It's a perfect lemonade recipe with a twist of orange blossom water that makes it so typically Lebanese!
-
Roman Lemonade Roman Lemonade
This is an upgraded recipe to my original (quick version). It's more concentrated in flavor with bright citrus notes that will make this a memorable beverage for family gatherings or summer picnics.The technique of using lemon peels in sugar dates back to Rome and is called "Oleo-Saccharum", meaning oil sugar and is a classic ingredient in many cocktails. Allowing the sugar to infuse for the shorter 5 hours will yield a subtler citrus flavor, while the longer 24 hours delivers peak zing. This ancient recipe was first listed as an ingredient as early as 1670. Yet today, most home cooks are unfamiliar with it. Myself included. But be prepared. There is a process and you will need to plan ahead. Though I promise you, it's worth the wait and extra effort.Now this is a very basic recipe. But you can experiment with any type of citrus; oranges, grapefruits, limes, etc. You can even add a cup of diced fruit like peaches or cranberries during the seeping process. Even 1/2 cup of mint, hibiscus, violet or rosemary could be added for more earthy/floral tones. The combination possibilities are endless. I'd love to hear about any if you decide to try them. I'll update this recipe with my own combinations in the future.
-
Lemonade with Homemade Lemon Syrup Lemonade with Homemade Lemon Syrup
I wanted to drink a homemade lemonade with a strong lemony flavour.Please drink this syrup by diluting it with water or carbonated water. You can also use it in jelly, as a topping for shaved ice or as a sherbet.Please try to use Japanese honey and lemons.The flavour can be too overwhelming if you use imported honey (like from China), so please avoid it. Recipe by *donchan*
-
Lemonade Concentrate Lemonade Concentrate
Pitchers of lemonade run out so quickly! I make this concentrated version for myself. Trying to make enough for a 3 quart pitcher
-
Basil Lemonade Basil Lemonade
I saw something similar to this on TV, so came up with my own recipe.I recommend having it with a lot of ice. I diluted it with carbonated water, it also works with mineral water. Recipe by Cookie shiasu -
Strawberry and Mint Lemonade Strawberry and Mint Lemonade
It's almost Summertime and I can't wait! Working outside is alot of fun for me but it makes me thirsty and I had some lemons to use up. I'm growing alot of things in the garden but I've had my eye on my first strawberry 🍓 of the season. It was ripe so I did this!
-
Strawberry Lemonade Lemon Peel Shots Strawberry Lemonade Lemon Peel Shots
so simple and awesome for summer!
-
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
So easy a 3 year old can make it! That's right! My 3 year old son has discovered he loves lemonade and he was begging to make some after watching it get made on one of his favorite TV shows. So, we made some for ourselves and it is refreshing and delicious!This really is a great simple recipe for teaching basic skills like measuring pouring, stirring, and even cutting (for older children).
-
My amazing picnic lemonade My amazing picnic lemonade
It’s not summer... but this sure is amazing!Okay so... the whole entire purpose for the way I do this is simple!
-
Lemonade peach tea punch aka fountain of youth juice Lemonade peach tea punch aka fountain of youth juice
I was the host and party planner for my grandma birthday party. And I wanted something that was sweet and a little tangy for the fish plates. I was trying to do something quick and easy because I was doing a lot of jobs for the party.
-
Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade
Enjoy a vibrant and refreshing strawberry lemonade made with homemade syrup, fresh strawberries, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. This delightful drink combines the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness and is garnished with frozen lemon slices and strawberries. It is ideal for hot summer days or any time you need a cool, delicious beverage.
More Recipes
Comments (3)