Fizzy Sour Cherry Lemonade - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lb fresh or thawed frozen sour cherries* (1 qt), stemmed
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups vodka (optional)
2 to 3 cups chilled sparkling water
Garnish: fresh sour cherries with stems

Preparation

Blend cherries (including pits) in a blender at low speed until skins have broken down enough to brightly color liquid (some of pits will be coarsely chopped). Pour through a sieve into a 2-quart pitcher, pressing on and discarding solids. Add lemon juice and sugar (to taste), stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Pour 3 tablespoons vodka (if using) into each of 8 tall (10-ounce) glasses filled with ice. Add 1/2 cup cherry lemonade to each and top off with sparkling water.
*We used IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) cherries from Friske Orchards (231-599-2604), in Charlevoix, Michigan.