Sparkling Italian lemonade and a Win !!

Basil infused lemonade..how does that sound..refreshing..cool..and so Italian na!..So its Giada time again and this time it is her Sicilian sparkling Italian lemonade which I had bookmarked the moment I saw  the ingredient list... lemon n basil... now I just love the flavor of basil the slight minty and an unique refreshing flavor which I like to put in everything... pesto, pasta, pizza... it just tastes awesome! Never put basil in drinks though so made this and It is out of this world good... crisp and delightful!! The basil is very subtle and surprisingly good with the lemon. I diluted it with a little bit more water because it was a bit strong for my taste, but overall we loved it. 

Ingredients:

Lemon Juice ..................................... 2 cups about 12 to 15 lemons

Basil simple syrup  .............................. 2 cups (recipe follows)

Cold or sparkling water  ....................... 2 cups (I used 4 cups of sparkling water)

Ice ................................................. as needed

Lemon slices ..................................... for garnish 
Method:
1. Mix lemon juice, Basil Simple Syrup and water together in a pitcher. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
2. Pour over ice filled glasses and garnish with a lemon twist. 
Basil Simple Syrup:
Basil ....................... 1 bunch fresh, washed and stemmed
Sugar ...................... 2 cups
Water ...................... 1 cup 
 In a saucepan combine basil, sugar, and water and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 5 minutes. Cool, strain the simple syrup, and store in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

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I also wanted to share my very first win in the blogosphere with all of you guys. I am elated that Priya chose my 'Bharvan Bhindi' dish as the winner of her BSI - okra event. It makes me especially proud as it is my mom's recipe. Thank you Priya.
Here is the certificate I got -

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