We love lavender lemonade! This floral spin on a classic summer drink tastes lovely, but it also lets you practice a bit of kitchen alchemy: You start by making lavender tea—a liquid that starts out as an unappetizing grey-purple­—but by adding the magic of lemon juice, the mixture turns a beautiful, pale pink.

LAVENDER LEMONADE

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers (or more to taste)*
• 2 cups cold water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 lemon sliced into wheels or wedges for garnish (optional)

*Find culinary lavender at Penzeys Spices in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Lakeville or at thespicehouse.com.

Pour the boiling water over the lavender in a glass pitcher.

Cover and allow to steep 10 minutes.

Strain and discard the lavender from the water and return the lavender tea to the pitcher.

Add the cold water, ice, lemon juice and sugar to the pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Chill until serving, with a slice of lemon for garnish.

Source: Adapted from allrecipes.com