Sunshine in a Bottle

The summery weather this past weekend has gotten me thinking about foods for warmer weather.

One fun and easy thing I like to make is Meyer lemon syrup.

I love Meyer lemons. A cross between a tangerine and a lemon, they're not too tart or too sweet. They have an amazing, perfume-like scent. For me, even if they aren't the fruit that symbolizes summer, they're summer in a fruit.

Here's the recipe, adapted from this one on Epicurious.

2 cups fresh meyer lemon juice
2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Combine and bring to a boil.
When boiling point has been reached, remove from heat and let cool, then bottle how you please.

I like all the little bottles they have at Cost Plus to give the syrup as gifts.
The labels in the picture are stickers from Chronicle Books, hole-punched and tied with raffia for extra Martha credit.

A little Meyer lemon syrup and plain soda is guaranteed to make you think of summer and put a smile on your face.

And if that doesn't work, add a little vodka!

Other uses are as a marinade on meats or fish, or you can drizzle over yogurt or hard cheeses, or fruit or cakes.

The syrup lasts, refrigerated, for about a week.