Tag Archives | drinks

Summer Drinks {sparkling lemonade & sparkling strawberry lemonade}

Sparkling lemonade

Lemonade  is the official summer drink at our house!

Summer afternoon breaks ….. oftentimes I would find my kids and their friends gathering in the kitchen eating and making all kinds of drink concoctions or maybe more like a science experiment. When it was over and done with, the unanimous drink of choice was always lemonade.  After their thirst was quenched, they went back outside to play.  I was often left with wet & sticky counter tops and trails of sugar on the floor.  Over the years, they’ve learned to clean up their mess and have become experts at making lemonade.  It’s a wonderful sight to see all the kids mingling together, talking and having fun in the kitchen, making lemonade and making memories.

To simplify the process of making lemonade, I introduced the kids to,”simple syrup” as a way to sweeten drinks instead of just adding granulated sugar.  Sometimes I would have sparkling/seltzer water available to add a little bit of fizz to their drinks.  A large supply of lemons was always on hand.  I have to set a limit on the amount of lemonade they can consume or else they will make it to the last lemon.

 

Sparkling lemonade

Sparkling Lemonade

{1 serving, 12 oz glass}

3   tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice {1 large/2 small lemons}
1/4 – 1/3   cup simple syrup {recipe, here }
1/2   cup seltzer/sparkling water
ice

Combine all the ingredients in a 12 oz glass, stir, and serve.

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Strawberry Lemonade

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Strawberry Lemonade

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade is a twist on the classic lemonade with strawberry flavor infused into the simple syrup.
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Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

{1 serving, 12 oz glass}

3   tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice {1 large/2 small lemons}
1/4 – 1/3 cup   strawberry-simple syrup, {recipe, here}
seltzer/sparkling water
ice

Combine all the ingredients in an 12 oz glass, stir, and serve.
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To make a big batch of Lemonade
{6-8 servings}

1   cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice {6-8 lemons}
1  1/2   cups simple syrup or strawberry-simple syrup, {recipe, here}
4   cups seltzer/sparkling water
ice

Combine lemon juice, simple syrup and sparkling water in a pitcher/container,
stir, and serve over ice.

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* These recipes calls for seltzer/sparkling water, you could always substitute it with cold water.

{print Lemonade recipes, Here}

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posted by: Kay

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Simple Syrup

simple syrup

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Simple Syrup is an essential ingredient for summer drinks {lemonade, ice tea, cocktails…}. It’s a mixture of equal parts sugar and water heated up in a pot to dissolve the sugar.  This is an easy way to sweeten drinks without having to wait for sugar granules to dissolve.  It’s also great to have it on hand in the refrigerator to use whenever needed. Simple syrup will keep for one month and about two weeks for the strawberry-simple syrup.

Recently I made sparkling lemonade and strawberry lemonade using simple syrup, click here to see it.

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simple syrup

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Simple Syrup

{makes about 3 cups}

2   cups water
2   cups sugar

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and stir the mixture over medium-high heat until sugar has dissolved {3-5minutes}.  Remove from heat and let cool completely.  Transfer to a glass container and refrigerate.  The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about 1 month.

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 Strawberry-Simple Syrup

{makes about 3 cups}

2   cups water
2   cups sugar
16 ounces fresh/frozen strawberries

Add strawberries to water and sugar mixture, bring to a broil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes and skim foam from top if necessary.  Strain and discard strawberries.  Let cool completely.  Pour into glass container and store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

{Simple Syrup recipes, print Here}

 


posted by: Kay

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Winter….. staying warm & cozy with a cup of hot chocolate

2014 winter

The view of the snow covered mountains in the distance gave me a little sense of the winter season here in the valley where I live.   The temperature is in the 40s and a chance of a blanket of white winter snow will not be in the forecast soon … hoping it will happen in the near future.

Staying warm near the wood stove while working on the computer, I got into the mood of making hot chocolate after seeing Jenny Steffens Hobick’s recent blog post, Mimi’s Creamy & Dreamy Hot Chocolate.  It’s a simple recipe and I have all the ingredients; so I decided to try it out.  Bill and the kids tasted the hot chocolate and they liked it.  The recipe is a keeper.

 

 homemade hot chocolate

homemade hot chocolate

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Let’s Celebrate!

A few simple essentials to celebrate special occasions throughout the year

Basic fruit punch     confetti      all-purpose tissue flags      birthday calendar reminder

celebration essentials

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                                             Fruit Punch                                          

Punch 2-1

This is my favorite punch to serve kids.  It’s a simple recipe and very forgiving if you want to change the flavor or the color of the punch.

Fruit Punch

1  (12 oz) can frozen apple juice
1  (12 oz) can frozen pink lemonade or lemonade
1  (6 fluid oz) can unsweetened pineapple juice (optional)
2  (2 litter) bottles ginger ale
ice

Directions

In a punch bowl, mix together apple juice, pink lemonade and pineapple juice (optional).  Add ginger ale and ice then serve.
* Make ahead, mix the first three ingredients and refrigerate it.  Just add ginger ale  and ice when ready to serve.
 
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                              diy  Paper Tissue Flags                            

Punch flags step 3

Punch flags step 1 &2-2

Supplies:

tissue paper    curling ribbon    6″ skewers  •  double sided tape  •  scissors

Directions:

 1. Cut tissue paper in a rectangle shape with fringe on the two ends.  2. Cut three (4 1/2 – 5 inch length) ribbon pieces and wrap it around a skewer once then tie it 1/2 inch from the top.  3. In the middle of the cut tissue paper, place a piece of double sided tape and attach it to the top of the skewer.
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Punch flags step 4
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These little flags are great for picking up hors d’oeuvres and snacks or topping off cupcakes, cakes, drinks and gifts.

The inspiration for this paper tissue flag project came from Chelsea Fuss at {frolic}

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                                      Confetti                                  

Punch & tissues steps 1-4 :1

Supplies:

tissue papers    scissors    glassine bags    decorative tape

Directions:

1. Take one sheet of tissue paper and fold it a few times until it’s about 4 to 5 inches in width & length.   2. At one end start cutting a long strip to the opposite end, repeat this every 1/2 inch.  3.  Stack half of the strips together and clip them into little pieces 1/2 inch or smaller.  Repeat this step until finished.   4.  Fill a glassine bag with confetti and fold the top down and tape it.

Punch & tissues step 5

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                               Birthday Calendar                           

Birthday Calendar

Use this birthday & anniversary calendar as a quick reference and stay informed of all the special dates.

This free printable, calendar was designed by Jordan at Polkadot Prints {click here for the printable}.

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source:  girls & confetti photo, Rachel Mcginn photography //  punch recipe, Lynn Morris

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posted by: Kay         0

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Hot Cocoa

hot cocoa tray

Hot Cocoa is a popular gift for giving and always a treat to receive at Christmas time. My kids will be giving these treats to their friends for Christmas.  Here are a few ideas to make store bought hot cocoa mix and marshmallows special to give as gifts.

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Kraft Jet-Puffed Stacker Mallows

I discovered these Kraft Jet-Puffed Stacker Mallows a few years ago at Target.  These flat marshmallows are perfect to be made into fun shapes using mini cookie cutters.

marshmallow cutouts from Kraft Jet-Puffed Stacker Mallows

hot cocoa mix

Hot cocoa package

Mini plastic bags come in many sizes and the large clear bag has a sticky tape closure that seals it like an envelope.  The Swiss Miss cocoa mix is the favorite with our kids (2 1/2 to 3 Tablespoons per bag).  Each gift package contained two servings of hot cocoa, instructions, two candy canes and enough marshmallows to share.

 

plate of hot cocoa packages x1000w-1

 have fun !

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•  dip cookie cutter in powdered sugar to keep marshmallows from sticking to it       string cut-out marshmallows together as a garland  or turn them into gift tags  •

Supplies: www.clearbags.com ( 3″ x 3″ bags  •   4″ x 4″ bags     5 7/8″ x 4 1/2″ bags )   ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

posted by: Kay         4

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