Orange Lemonade - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. water
3 oranges
water
2 Tbsp. shredded orange rind
6 lemons
1/2 c. lightly packed fresh mint leaves (optional)
ice

Preparation

Place sugar in a saucepan.
Stir in 2 1/2 cups water.
Heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
Squeeze juice from lemons and oranges (about 1 1/2 cups of each).
Add juices to cooled syrup. Pour over the mint leaves; cover and steep for 1 hour. Strain fruit syrup; pour into jars or place into a pitcher.
Cover and chill the fruit syrup.
Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.