Lemonade 50 cents

Thirsty people everywhere, and not enough to drink. Make a mint selling cool, refreshing lemonade.

Get ready:
Lemons, sugar, salt and water
Water and ice, and more lemons
Cutting boards, knife, lemon squeezer, grater, and measuring cups (dry and wet)
Pitchers or jars for lemon syrup and water, ice holder, paper cups
Paper and markers for signs
Box with lid for change and money

Get going:
1. Get your recipe down. Test it on friends and family, and develop a lemonade (or other drink) that people really like. (Try out the sample recipe shown here for starters.)

2. Calculate how much each serving costs, and make sure you charge enough to cover them. Remember that part of the cost is the amount of time it takes you to mix up a batch, so pay yourself fairly for your time. Find out how much stores nearby charge for their drinks to see if your price is reasonable.

3. Study your market. When do the most people walk by? When do they seem the thirstiest? Set your stand up to meet peak demand. Do you live near a popular bike path or jogging route? Exercise builds a powerful thirst. Are construction workers building something on your block? Make sure you are set up for their lunch break. Is there a parade coming up? All those spectators are potential customers.

4. Set up your table and hang signs advertising your lemonade. Let people see the fresh lemons, so they know you are offering them a high-quality product. Cut wedges of lemon on the spot to add to each cup of lemonade that you sell, so it looks as fresh as it can be.

5. Have a supply of quarters, nickels, and dimes on hand, so you can make change for your customers. It's also easier to keep track of the money if you have a box or container with a lid to keep it in.

6. Ask your customers how well they like your lemonade. Keep refining the recipe until it looks the best it can be.

Hot tips
• Once your lemonade stand is famous far and wide, sell your recipe to the restaurants around town,
• Offer to provide lemonade for birthday parties and picnics in the neighborhood.
• Also sell food with your lemonade, like cookies or cupcakes.

Lemonade
Here's our favorite recipe.

To make lemonade syrup:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Rind of 2 well-washed lemons, grated
1/8 teaspoon salt
Juice of 6 lemons

Stir sugar, water, grated lemon rind, and salt in a pan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cool and add lemon juice. Strain through mesh strainer and store in a pitcher or jar.

To serve:
Add two tablespoons lemonade syrup to a glass of ice water. Stir. Garnish with a wedge of fresh lemon.

Makes about 12 servings.

Excerpted from Get Out! Outdoor activities kids can enjoy anywhere (except indoors) by Hallie Warshaw with Jake Miller. Copyright 2001 by Orange Avenue, Inc. Excerpted, with permission by Sterling Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.