Strawberry Lemonade

I think I have found the perfect cocktail to make for parties/get-togethers/dinners, etc. This is so nice and refreshing. I know the Gin is optional, but you're totally missing out if you don't add it.

If you want to make it pretty, just add some lemon slices and strawberry halves.


Strawberry Lemonade
(makes one 2 liter pitcher)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled & halved
• 1 cup lemon juice (~4-6 lemons)
• 2 355ml Canada Dry Ginger Ale
• 2 cups water, plus more
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Gin (optional)

Directions:

1. In a small pot, heat up 2 cups of water with 3/4 cup of sugar over medium high heat. Once the mixture starts bubbling, turn the heat to low and continue simmering until the sugar has dissolved.
2. In a 2 liter pitcher, combine strawberries and lemon juice. Using a hand/stick blender, puree strawberries with lemon juice until smooth. Slowly pour the ginger ale down the side of the pitcher to create as little bubbles as possible. There will be bubbles, but don't worry.
3. Slowly add in the syrup you just made into the mixture. Stir in enough water to fill up the pitcher.
4. Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours before serving. The bubbles will settle after chilling in the fridge.
5. To serve, combine 1-2 ounces of gin with 3/4 cup of strawberry lemonade, or drink on its own.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot chocolate!! It's definitely one of the best things about Christmas. Loads of hot chocolate. I actually quite like this recipe. It's very chocolatey.

Honestly, you can add hot water or hot milk in it. I find that if you make this with hot milk it's a lot creamier and less likely to clump than when I made this with hot water. Sorry Alton. :P


Hot Chocolate Mix
(makes 5 1/2 cups of mix)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsps cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients until well incorporated. Mix can store indefinitely in an airtight container in the pantry.
2. To serve, scoop 1/3 cup of mix into a mug and pour in 1 cup of hot milk/water, stirring vigorously to combine.

Summer Limeade

So the weather has been cold and dreary. Typical around this time of the year and very depressing. Thank goodness for summer drinks! This limeade made it less dreary.

I love this drink. And evidently so does K, since he bit onto the straw pretty darn hard when I tried to remove it from his mouth. It was tough trying to pry it from his grip without splashing it all over the place. That kid drank almost half my drink! Crazy...

It's even better with a shot of tequila but ssshh....K is not to know about this until he's a lot older. ;)


Summer Limeade
(serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (about 10 limes)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water, plus more
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a small sauce pan, dissolve sugar in 1 1/2 cups of water to make a simple syrup.
2. In a 2 gallon or 4 liters pitcher, combine lime juice, syrup, salt and enough water to fill the pitcher.
3. To serve, fill glasses half way with ice cubes and pour limeade over the ice. 

The limeade is pretty tart stuff, so the ice shouldn't water it down. If you find that it's too tart, just divide it into two pitchers and fill with enough water to your tastes.

Strawberry Milk

As a kid, I used to love love LOVE strawberry milk. It was essentially strawberry flavoured syrup that I'd squeeze into my milk to make it taste like strawberries (and loads of sugar). Well, I grew up and now drink something a little more healthy than that. It's still good, but definitely healthier. And it's a quick way to squeeze some fruit into my diet. Boy, I sound so grown up, don't I? Better stop now. ;o

This is a good way to get rid of the strawberries that are too ripe. In fact, that's actually what I did the other day when I made this and took this picture. Teeheehee. :P


Strawberry Milk
(serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1-2 tsps condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, halved

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend. Alternatively, you can also use a stick/hand blender. I use my Magic Bullet most days. :)