Sparkling Tomato Lemonade with Tomato Simple Syrup

1 Make Tomato Puree: Add the tomatoes to a blender with the water. Blend on high for 30 to 60 seconds to form a tomato puree
2 Tomato Syrup: Add the tomato puree and sugar to a small saucepan or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer; the liquid will initially foam up a lot, but just stir rapidly to reduce the foam and prevent any spills. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium and maintain a simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup sit for 5 additional minutes, to infuse the syrup with even more flavor.
3 Strain the Syrup: Set a fine mesh metal strainer over a heat-safe bowl. Pour the syrup into the strainer and let it drain naturally; do not use a spoon or spatula to push it through, or you will push pieces of tomato into the syrup. Once all of the liquid has strained through, discard the solids and place the syrup in the refrigerator to cool completely (mine took just under 1 hour). Transfer the syrup into an airtight jar; it will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
4 Make the Lemonade: (Note: see the recipe notes for a single serve portion!) Combine 1 part tomato syrup with 1 part lemon juice, 2 parts water, and 2 parts sparkling water. Mix well and sample; add more syrup, lemon, sparkling water, or regular water, if desired. I prefer to add more sparkling water so the lemonade is more like a flavored seltzer! Pour over ice and enjoy chilled.