Sudharas (Lemon Syrup)

Many, today, may not have heard of this sweet dish which was very commonly done about 2-3 decade back. It's a very simple dish with just 2 main ingredients i.e. sugar & lemon juice & cardamom or kesar for flavour. Though it seems to be very simple, one can be unsuccessful (as I was the first time I made it), if the syrup consistency & the proportion of lemon juice to syrup is not proper. This was the first dish I independently tried prepared independently which was a failure. But as said, practice makes the man perfect, now I am the expert in this.

Ingredients:

1. Sugar - 1 cup
2. Lemon Juice - 1/3 cup ( can be varied as per taste)
3. Cardamom(elaichi) Powder - 1 tsp
4. Saffron(Kesar) - pinchful (optional)

Directions:

1. Take the sugar in a pot. Add water till the sugar is well soaked. Keep the pot on medium flame gas stove. Stir from time to time. When the sugar melts & the solution starts boiling, check the consistency. To do this, lift the spoon & hold it above the pot. Let the syrup in the spoon drain off to the last drop. when the last drop that falls down is extended with the thread like structure, then this is the right consistency. Put off the flame.
2. Add the lemon juice to the syrup & stir well.  Add cardamom powder & kesar to it. Let the Sudharas cool. 
3. Store Sudharas in clean, dry bottle.

I am sure kids will relish sudharas.