Lemonade with Lemonade Ice Cubes

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 gallon cold water, or to taste
• Fresh mint leaves
• 1 orange, segmented

Directions

In a large pitcher, whisk the lemon juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the water to taste. Fill 2 ice-cube trays with the lemonade and place a mint leaf and a piece of cut up orange segment in each compartment. Reserve the rest in the refrigerator. When frozen, turn them into a frozen bowl or an ice sculpture and place on a buffet with the pitcher of lemonade beside them to serve over the ice cubes.

Notes about the recipe: I love making ice cubes with surprises inside that add more flavor to a drink once they melt. And why have a melting ice cubes dilute a drink? Make it from something flavorful and it will add rather than take away from the taste. At Tru I make pineapple water ice cubes with candied lemon rind imbedded and serve them with plum or rhubarb lemonade.