Homemade Vanilla Lemonade

Last October while we were in California we visited a Tea Room that served vanilla lemonade.
An unusual couple, I agree. But it was so good! And so smooth!

So today because lemons were on sale and because I have more vanilla beans than I know what to do with, we made vanilla lemonade!

Vanilla Lemonade

3/4 c sugar
1 c water
1 c lemon juice
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
3 to 4 c cold water (to dilute)

Make a simple syrup by heating 1 cup of water, sugar, and split vanilla bean with seeds until the sugar has dissolved completely.
Juice 4 to 6 lemons to make 1 cup of lemon juice.
Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. (I strained mine through a mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter to catch lemon and vanilla seeds)
Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength.
Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes.
If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.