Make Your Own: Sparkling Lemonade

Please note: The iSi Twist’n Sparkle has been recalled due to safety issues. Please check this website for more information.

One of the reasons I love social media is that I am exposed to information that I might not otherwise be aware of.  Of course the flip side of that is that if I’m not careful I can find my time sucked away as I follow all the rabbit trails that my friends/contacts share!  So I’m very judicious in my online wanderings and only spend time where I have true interest. 

Recently, one of my Facebook contacts posted information about a project they were sponsoring on a site called earthbongo.  This is a simple community-based site that seeks to improve our world one small project at a time.  Members post projects they are working on with steps or information for others to join in.  There’s nothing big or glamorous, it’s just a community of people doing little things.  This completely supports my view that if we all did a few small things the impact would be much greater than we imagine.  So I joined earthbongo and also signed up to complete the project that caught my attention in the first place. 

The project is simple.  Basically cut down/quit using bottles and reuse more of what you have by making your own bottled water.  I already limit my use of flat bottled water to very specific situations.  However, I use bottled sparkling water – plain and flavored – at parties as a festive alternative to cocktails or wine, or for myself as an alternative to soft drinks. 

I’d been thinking about buying a soda maker for some time but was having a hard time with how space-consuming they all are.  Recently I noticed a new entry into the field, the Isi Twist and Sparkle.  Two things attracted me to this option: you don’t need a big machine to add the sparkle to the water, it’s all done in one sleek unit; I’ve had an Isi Whipped Cream Dispenser (a gift from great friends!) for some time and love it. So this earthbongo project gave me the kick-in-the-butt I needed to purchase one and get going!

For my first project I made sparkling lemonade.  It was easy and successful!  I’m on my way to reducing my bottle use (and the expense of purchasing bottled waters). 

Next time I make this I’m going to decrease the amount of lemon and simple syrup to make it more of a lemon-flavored water than a lemonade.  I have plans for all kinds of fruit concoctions and even more ideas for introducing a little sparkle into cocktails, too.

This recipe is specifically for the Isi Twist and Sparkle.  If you are using a different option make sure you read the instructions for your specific unit to ensure success.

Twist and Sparkle Lemonade

• 1 cup simple syrup (recipe below)
• 5 – 6 lemons
• 1 cup water

Make simple syrup by mixing 1 cup of water with 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat and boil for 2 minutes.  Cool to room temperature.  This makes about 1 1/2 cups of simple syrup.  You can save and refrigerate the extra 1/2 cup for use later.

Squeeze the juice from the lemons and then strain it through a fine strainer to remove all pulp. Normally I like a little pulp in my lemonade but the Twist and Sparkle instructions specifically say to use only clear liquids. You’ll want 1 cup of lemon juice, after it’s been strained.

Refrigerate all ingredients, including the plain water, until thoroughly chilled, about 4 hours.

Add 1 cup of lemon juice, 1 cup of simple syrup and 1 cup of water to the Isi bottle.  Your mixture should come to the 3 cup line on the bottle. 

Put a CO2 cartridge in the sparkler top and screw it on the bottle.  Wait for 1 minute while the lemonade infuses with bubbles.

In the photo above I added a few crushed mint leaves with the ice in my glasses, added the lemonade and garnished with another sprig of mint and one of lavender.