Kathy Strahs was watching her 7- and 9-year-old children operate a lemonade stand when she realized something pretty complex was going on. “It was more than just kids selling lemonade. They were collaborating, strategizing, preparing drinks and food, shouting to attract customers,” the California author said.
And from that idea, a book was born: The Lemonade Stand Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes and Crafts for Kids to Make and Sell. It’s a fun, full-color guide to everything from setting up and decorating a stand to pricing and promoting items to be sold.
Lemonade is just a jumping off point for smoothies, teas, and other beverages. Illustrated recipes for baked treats such as polka-dot blondies or double chocolate mini-muffins will help develop a new baker’s confidence. For a young entrepreneur ready to expand his or her retail enterprise, the book has instructions for friendship bracelets and other craft projects to make and sell. Kids can get started right away on building their business by downloading a template to make pennants for a banner.
While we may think of that iconic lemonade stand as a typically summer endeavor, the book has recipes for cold-weather beverages and heartier snacks. (Picture an autumn stand selling steaming cups of hot cocoa or mulled apple cider and maple-cinnamon granola bars.)
Here’s a nice transitional recipe to take us from the hottest days of summer into the fall season that’s just around the bend. It’s the perfect time to follow Strah’s advice to “Give life a squeeze!”
Cranberry Lemonade
Classic lemonade takes on a tart and tangy twist—and a hot pink hue—with the addition of cranberry juice.
Makes 2 quarts (8 cups)
Ingredients:
· 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 to 7 lemons)
· 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
· 1 cup sugar
· 6 cups cold water
Directions:
1. Pour the lemon juice, cranberry juice, and sugar into a pitcher or drink dispenser,* and whisk until all of the sugar is dissolved.
2. Pour in the water and whisk to combine.
* Stick your arm in the mouth of your pitcher or dispenser—if it’s too small for you to easily whisk the lemonade, mix the ingredients in a large bowl instead. Once it’s all combined, set your pitcher or dispenser in a sink (to catch any spills!) and carefully pour the lemonade into it.
From The Lemonade Stand Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes and Crafts for Kids to Make--and Sell!, by Kathy Strahs (Burnt Cheese Press, 2017). Reprinted with permission.
