Basil Lemonade - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups water
1 vanilla bean, split
1 cup fresh basil leaf, slightly torn
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
lemon wedge (to garnish)
basil sprig (to garnish)

Preparation

Heat together the water, basil, vanilla bean and sugar in a large saucepan. When it just comes to a simmer, put on a tight fitting lid, remove from the heat and set aside to steep for 20 minutes.
Strain, add the lemon juice, and chill.
Do not scrape the vanilla bean. Set it aside to dry and store to reuse the next time.
Divide the lemonade among 4 - 6 tall, ice filled glasses and garnish with the lemon wedges and basil sprigs.