Homemade Lemonade

I know most people know how to make homemade lemonade, but rarely take the time to do so.  Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of that, too.  It's so easy to grab a pack of lemonade mix, add water and be done.  But nothing can replace the taste of homemade lemonade, especially on a hot summer day. 

Happy Monday!

Margaritas

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone!  If you're feeling festive tonight, you should try Ben's margarita recipe!  Unlike the margaritas you find at restaurants, this recipe does not call for tons of syrup.  It has just the right about of lime flavor, but not so much that you can only drink one (which is what we're going for, right?).

Disclaimer: These measurements are by no means precise.  I've mentioned before how Ben just kind of eyes ingredients.  I probably haven't seen him use a measuring cup more than five times, ever.  So with that being said, brace yourself for Ben's version of "measured" ingredients.

Ingredients
lime margarita mix
crushed ice
tequila (he used silver)
triple sec

Fill the blender 3/4 full with crushed ice (this is important, because crushed ice is easier to blend, thus leaving fewer large chunks in your margarita).  Carefully blend the ice in the blender.  Use a large spoon to stir the ice around to make sure everything gets blended nicely.  Pour the margarita mix in the blender for 10-12 seconds (with the restrictor cap on the mix).  Pour the tequila for 4 seconds (without the restrictor cap).  Add 1 generous pour of triple sec.  Turn the blender to liquefy and let it blend for about 10 second.  Turn the blender off.  Stir the margarita around with the large spoon and add more crushed ice if needed (about a cup).  Turn the blender on again for a couple of seconds.  Taste and adjust accordingly.  (For Ben that means adding a touch more tequila).

So there you have it.  Those are Ben's measurements.  I tried to translate it into normal, everyday measurements, but that was just impossible.

*I highlighted the restictor caps on the margarita mix and the tequila because the flow of liquid varies greatly whether or not the cap is on, so be careful!

Pomegranate Martini

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about pomegranate martinis, or pomtinis as I call them, and how they are healthier and yummier than other drinks.  Last night, I decided I needed to test this theory and today I am here to report that they are so good AND lower in calorie than other fruity drinks!

Ingredients
pomegranate syrup (grenadine)
vermouth
vodka
sugar
orange slice
ice

Place martini glasses in the freezer or place crushed ice in the glass to chill (see picture below).  Fill the shaker about 1/2 way with ice.  Pour 1 1/2 oz. vodka, 2 oz pomegranate syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon vermouth into the shaker.  Secure the shaker lid and shake until well-blended.  Run an orange slice around the rim of the martini glass and coat the rim with sugar.  Pour liquid into the glass and garnish with a thin orange slice or a pomegranate.  To be honest, if these measurements aren't enough for you, it won't hurt to add a little bit more of everything!

Happy almost summer!

Not your ordinary jello shots

This weekend, Ben and I made jello shots. Yea yea, I know, we're not in college anymore, so what business do we have making jello shots, right? But these are "sophisticated" jello shots! I promise! Ben saw the idea on this website, which has some other tasty foods, as well.

To make the jello shots, you'll need 5 good-sized oranges. Cut them in half and scrape out the middle. Save the juice from the oranges, because you'll need it for the mixture. Now set the 10 orange halves into a casserole dish and start on the jello.

We used orange flavored jello, but I think it would look good with any orange-ish color jello, like tangerine or apricot. I got a large box of jello mix, rather than the small one. Add 2 cups of hot water to the mix, stir and let it cool a little bit before adding the vodka. We added about 1 1/2 cups (maybe less) of vodka to the jello mixture. Some of it was strawberry flavored left over from the strawberry lemon drops and then we use regular vodka, also pour in half a cup of orange juice. Mix well and pour into the orange halves. Fill them as close to the top as possible. Place in the refrigerator over night. Then slice and enjoy!

Tasty Treats

I found these two pictures that I forgot to put up on the blog. This one is the strawberry lemon drops I made a couple of months ago. Here's the post with the recipe. These are sooooo good! In this picture, I added muddled strawberries to the mixture to make it red.

The next treat is a strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and mint leaves. I did not make the strawberries or the shortcake, but it's fun to make it look pretty!

More Spring Drinks

Here are two drink recipes that Ben and I tried out over the weekend. The first is a mojito, which is not new to us. The second is a strawberry lemon drop (this was my girlie drink) and it was so good! I forgot to buy grenadine (oops), so I muddled a real strawberry and added it to the drink which was AMAZING! But the drink in the picture is not the one with the added strawberry, because this idea came after the first drink was already made (and I'm not one to waste a perfectly good drink).

Strawberry Lemon Drop

• 2 oz. strawberry vodka
• 1 oz. sweet & sour mix
• 1 large strawberry, muddled

Combine in shaker with ice. Mix well and serve in chilled glass. Garnish with strawberry.

Mojito

• 4 mint leaves
• 2 oz. rum
  
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• lime juice
• club soda

Muddle the mint leaves and sugar. Combine with rum and lime juice in shaker. Mix well. Strain into chilled glass with ice and top off with club soda. Garnish with lime.

This is a great article about how to avoid using sweet and sour mix, because let's face it, it doesn't exactly taste good but so many drinks call for it. Thanks for the article, Dan!

Strawberry-Mania

Southern Living's website has a great special on strawberries: 25 Indulgent Strawberry Treats

I've picked out a few that look particularly delicious and that I am going to try in the near future.

Strawberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

• 2 cups fresh strawberries*
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

1. Process strawberries in a food processor or blender 30 seconds or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Pour strawberry puree through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl, pressing with back of a spoon. Discard solids. Add buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla to puree; stir until well blended. Cover and chill 1 hour.

2. Pour strawberry mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and times may vary.) Garnish, if desired.

*1 (16-oz.) package frozen strawberries, thawed, may be substituted.

Croissant French Toast with Strawberry Syrup

• 4 large day-old croissants
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Slice croissants in half lengthwise.

Whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. Pour into a shallow dish. Dip croissant halves into egg mixture, coating well.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add four croissant halves, and cook about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat procedure with remaining butter and croissant halves. Sprinkle with powdered sugar; top with Sweetened Whipped Cream, if desired, and Fresh Strawberry Syrup.

Strawberry Sparkler

• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries, thawed
• 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled
• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle champagne, chilled*

Process strawberries in a blender until smooth; pour into a pitcher. Stir in cranberry juice and champagne, and serve immediately.

*1 (1-liter) bottle sparkling water, chilled, may be substituted.

The rest of the strawberry treats can be found here.

Spring Drinks to Wet Your Whistle

There is no doubt that when Spring and Summer arrive lemonade is a top drink choice. Well, here are two drink recipes, one for those of us that are over 21 and one for the younger, less fortunate folks. Both recipes are from the Southern Living website.

Frosty Lemon Martini

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• lemon wedge
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 6 tablespoons chilled lemon-flavored vodka
• 2 tablespoons chilled lemon-flavored liqueur
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 thin strips lemon peel

1. Pour sugar onto a small, rimmed plate. Rub rims of two martini glasses with lemon wedge to moisten, then dip rims into sugar to coat.

2. Place ice in a cocktail shaker. Add vodka, liqueur, and lemon juice. Shake until mixture is very cold, about 10 seconds. Strain into glasses. Garnish each with a twist of lemon peel.

Makes 2 servings. For extra frostiness, put the sugar-rimmed glasses in the freezer for 8 minutes. December 2003


Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

• 3 cups fresh lemon juice (about 20 lemons)
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 12 cups water

Combine juice and sugar in a one-gallon container; stir until sugar dissolves. Stir in water. Serve over ice.

Makes 16 servings. July 2003 issue

Enjoy!