What I Buy & Why-Lemonade

I love lemonade, especially in the summer.  I have tried a few recipes this summer, but keep going back to just purchasing it at the store, because of “Simply Lemonade“ brand lemonade.  I love this brand because it tastes good, only has 4 ingredients, and contains NO high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  It is 11% lemon juice, and it is not from concentrate. 


The ingredients are filtered water, lemon juice, sugar, and natural flavors.  


Now, I would like to know what “natural flavors” are, and hope that does not mean some chemical cocktail added, but honestly, it is easy to turn a blind eye as it is the last ingredient and again, it is one of four ingredients.   


Check out this long list of ingredients in Minute Maid Lemonade:
 Pure filtered water, sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, sugar), lemon juice from concentrate, less than 5% each of the following: natural flavors, citric acid (provides tartness), modified cornstarch, glycerol, ester of wood rosin, sodium hexametaphosphate and sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate and EDTA (to protect taste), yellow #5.  It only contains 3% lemon juice!  


 I don’t often bring simple processed sugars and HFCS in to our home.  I try to sweeten our food with honey, maple syrup, sucanat or stevia.  But when it comes to lemonade, (& ice cream!-post coming soon), I break our rule.  I tried a lemonade recipe that was sweetened with maple syrup, and it just was not what I was looking for.  I want the true, old- fashioned taste of lemonade, like Simply Lemonade or one like  this recipe at “How Does She…” –will be trying that one soon!
What about you?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Do you know of any great recipes without processed white sugar?