As a non-drinker of anything alcoholic, compounded by being a non-soda drinker, and not being especially thrilled about water, I am excited when I find something special to drink. This is one of my favorite special drinks, Cherry Limeade! It’s made with fresh cherries and freshly squeezed lime juice, mixed with sparkling water or club soda.

Hint: Buy yourself a cherry pitter! It’s the only way to get through the three Fresh Cherry recipes on this site-this one, Cherry Limeade, Fresh Cherry Salsa and Fresh Cherry Pie!

Cherry Limeade

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups (about 385 g/ 3/4 lb.) fresh cherries, pitted
• 2/3 cup (133 g) sugar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 4 limes)
• 2 cups (473 ml) chilled sparkling water (more or less to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the sugar and the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for approx 5 minutes. Then turn off heat and let sit.
2. While sugar and water are simmering, pit the cherries and juice the limes.
3. Place 2 cups pitted cherries into a food processor or blender and whirl until smooth.
4. Strain the pureed cherries with a mesh strainer. Reserve the juice, and discard the solids. Don’t panic! The cherry juice will be an awful brown color, things will improve with the addition of the lime juice. (Cherry juice is not red! Now you know how much red food coloring goes into commercial cherry juice.)
5. Combine the sugar-water, the lime juice, and the cherry juice into a large pitcher. Place in refrigerator and chill completely.
6. Just before serving, stir in the sparkling water or club soda.
7. To get really fancy, top with a slice of lime and a frilly straw!

Enjoy!