Lavender Lemonade for the Legends

It is Saturday and you have had a great productive week. You're feeling like you are on top of the world and want to share it with the family as well as your friends. Before the kids go into that fridge and pick up that soda or that drink steeped in sugar, how about a refreshing drink that will tickle the back of the tongue.

Try this refreshing Pineapple Lavender Lemonade on for size:

Ingredients:
1 large (about 4 pounds) fresh pineapple
1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
11 sprig(s) fresh lavender, rosemary, or lemon verbena
1/4 cup(s) fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Cut the peel from the pineapple, remove the core, and cut the fruit into 1-inch pieces.

Place the fruit in a food processor fitted with a metal blade and pulse until the pineapple is crushed but not pureed. Transfer to a large nonreactive pot, add the sugar, 4 cups water, and 3 herb sprigs.

Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.

Gently press the solids to extract the juice. Cool and stir in the lemon juice. Serve over ice garnished with the remaining herb sprigs