Step 1: Choose and prepare your lemons by rinsing them, rolling gently to release more juice, and cutting each in half.

Step 2: Juice the lemons using a citrus juicer or hand-held squeezer to yield about 1.5 cups of fresh juice.

Step 3: Strain the lemon juice through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl to remove seeds and pulp.

Step 4: Pour 1/2 cup granulated sugar into a large pitcher, add 4 cups of water, and stir vigorously until the sugar completely dissolves.

Step 5: Add the strained fresh lemon juice to the sweetened water and stir well to combine.

Step 6: Taste the lemonade and adjust the flavor by adding more lemon juice for tartness or more sugar for sweetness as desired.

Step 7: Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Step 8: Serve the chilled lemonade over ice cubes and enjoy immediately.