Read more about Chef Melissa d’Arabian and why she is supporting National Lemonade Days.

Q. As a child, do you have memories of hosting a lemonade stand or making lemonade?

A. I grew up in hot and dry Tucson, and lemonade stands were how my sister and I made any extra spending money. I remember my mom would make us subtract out the cost of the lemonade concentrate, though, so we would learn about business while selling.

Q. If you had one tip for families hosting lemonade stands, what would it be?

A.    Have a signature lemonade recipe! Add strawberries, or mint or iced tea. Don’t forget about good old fashioned PR - post on Facebook and Twitter about your stand! It’s amazing how many people want to support a good cause, as long as they know about it!

Q. Why do you feel connected to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation? What inspired you to get involved?

A. Last year, our school lost a first-grade hero (Connor) to cancer. Connor brought our whole community together. About the same time we lost Connor, my four daughters squeezed their own lemons to make lemonade for a free lemonade stand. They gave away lemonade and had a donation jar for charity. Their generosity inspired me to get involved in a bigger way with Alex’s Lemonade Stand – combine our celebration of Connor with my daughters’ mad lemonade-making skills.

About Melissa d'Arabian

Embodying home cooking at its finest, television host and cookbook author Melissa d’Arabian naturally connects with today’s diverse families to offer unique yet relatable food and lifestyle solutions that are part of a bigger story about how to eat well, be a responsible consumer, and spend with purpose. She currently hosts Food Network’s cooking series “Ten Dollar Dinners” and Cooking Channel’s lifestyle show “Drop 5 lbs. with Good Housekeeping.” Utilizing her creative resource management techniques, Melissa’s approachable and satisfying recipes are as flavorful and elegant as they are affordable and nutritious. After earning an undergraduate degree from University of Vermont and an MBA from Georgetown University, Melissa enjoyed a successful career in finance and strategy in both the United States and abroad in France before eventually becoming a stay-at-home mom to her four daughters. Passionate about sharing her tried-and-true money-saving strategies with local women’s groups, Melissa submitted a video audition for season five of The Next Food Network Star – the popular reality competition show she then competed on and won. Her first cookbook “Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week” debuted in August 2012 and became an instant New York Times best seller. Melissa and her family live just outside San Diego. Stay in touch with Melissa on Facebook and Twitter (@MelissadArabian), and visit www.melissadarabian.net for more information.