Papaya Strawberry Smoothie

Here's an easy way to help reach your 5-a-day fruit count!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cubed papaya

1 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 cup your choice of juice, like OJ, pear or apple

honey to taste

Whirl everything together in a high speed blender or food processor, taste for desired sweetness, then pour into glasses.

Serves 2

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Dalgona Whipped Coffee or Cocoa

Seems like the whole world has caught on to this so I had to see what all the fuss was about. If I wasn't addicted to caffeine before well I am now!

Of course chocolate has always been my first love so the whipped mocha option could work with a little less caffeine. Or go straight for the whipped cocoa. Or I could use de-caffeinated coffee instead.    Maybe.   Nah.

Ingredients for whipped coffee:
2 tbsps sugar
2 tbsps instant coffee
2 tbsps hot water

Ingredients for whipped mocha:
2 tbsps sugar
1 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsps hot water

Ingredients for whipped cocoa:
2 tbsps sugar
2 tbsps cocoa powder
2 tbsps hot water or milk

Doesn't matter which option you choose just put all the ingredients in a large bowl and stir together.
Just a note: the coffee option comes out the lightest in texture

Then whip on medium speed for 1 minute. Or whisk by hand.

And high speed for 2-3 minutes or until good and frothy!

Dollop on top of warm milk, cold milk or even milk with a few ice cubes if iced coffee is your jam!

Gently stir into the milk and try not to lick the inside of the cup when it's finished. I'm not saying anyone did that but...

Baby It's Cold Outside Mint Cocktail

"I really can't stay" but if I do, I'd love this merry and bright cocktail!

Ingredients: "Say, what's in this drink?"

1  1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz green spearmint syrup
6 oz steeped and cooled mint tea
Squeeze of lemon
Candy cane to garnish

Shake gin and spearmint syrup together with ice. Add mint tea and a squeeze of lemon, then pour into an ice filled collins glass. Candy cane hooked on the glass and Cheers!

"Maybe just a half a drink more"

Recipe from Blaine August as heard on CJAD radio and lyrics borrowed from Baby It's Cold Outside

Blueberry Mojito

Mint in the "mojito garden" is starting to go to seed! Last chance to make this refreshing cocktail with fresh mint from my yard!

Ingredients:

8 fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup blueberries
1 tbsp lime juice
3 tsps sugar
3 tbsps white rum
1/2 cup club soda or tonic water

With a mortar and pestle crush the mint, blueberries, lime juice and sugar together until the sugar is dissolved.

Place mixture in a large glass, fill 3/4 with ice cubes then add the rum and soda or tonic water. 

Garnish with mint and more blueberries then get out and enjoy the rest of the summer while it's still here!

Peach Sangria

Came across this recipe for peach sangria somewhere and thought I'd give it a try.

Ingredients:

1 - 750ml bottle red (or white) wine
1 cup peach nectar
1/2 cup peach schnapps
2 tbsps fine sugar

Sliced peaches (optional)

Simply mix everything together and refrigerate overnight, but if you can't wait overnight then go for it! I'm sure it would've been better had we made this the day before and the peaches would've been a little boozy too, but sadly we couldn't wait ; )

We tried the white wine version too, but have to say the red was our favourite, made with sangiovese.

Makes 4 servings

Pimm's Cocktail Punch

Who is ready to ring in 2018?

2-3 slices lemon
2 tbsps sugar
2 sprigs fresh mint

2-3 more slices lemon
1 orange sliced
12 oz Pimm's
6 oz orange juice

750 ml champagne or sparkling white wine
6 strawberries, halved or sliced
a few cucumber slices
a handful of cranberries

Muddle 2-3 lemon slices, sugar and mint leaves together, cover and let sit at least 1 hour, then discard lemon and mint.

In a pitcher or punch bowl mix 2-3 more lemon slices, orange slices, Pimm's, orange juice and the fragrant sugar.

To serve pour champagne or sparkling white wine into the punch along with cucumber, strawberries and cranberries.

Happy New Year !

serves 6

Another Mojito Recipe

Refreshing mojito for 2

8 oz tonic water
3 oz vodka
2 tbsps sugar
2 tbsps water
14 freshly picked mint leaves
1 tbsp lime juice
1/4 tsp lime zest

Start by dissolving the sugar and water in a saucepan, then set aside to cool.

Muddle the mint leaves then add the vodka. Strain out the mint leaves. Mix the minty vodka with the sugar water, lime juice and zest.

Add ice to a couple of tall glasses pour in the mojito mix and top with tonic water.

Bottoms up 🍹

Fresh Strawberry Lemonade

So it's June 2nd and it's rainy and cool again, but when it gets hot (it will get hot again right?) you'll want this thirst quenching lemonade in your fridge! And isn't the natural colour pretty?

This recipe makes 3 pints. Double or triple as needed.

3 lemons, sliced
1/2 lime, sliced
8 oz strawberries, chopped
1/3 cup sugar
3  1/2 cups water
Mint sprigs (optional)
Rum (optional...why not?)

Mash sugar and strawberries together, then add the lemon and lime slices and mash to release the juices.

Add the water and, if using, the mint sprigs. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, but not longer as it could become bitter.

Is it just me or does this look like a giant sangria? 

After 30 minutes strain out the fruit.

And if you know me you know I don't like waste. I separated the fruit from the rind, etc to freeze and use in a smoothie later on. Compost the rind.

Add ice (and rum if you're so inclined!)

I might have gotten carried away with the garnishes 😉

Vodka Tonic Mojito for 2

The mint is high! Time to make some mojitos!

For 2 mojitos you'll need:

8 oz (222 ml) tonic water
3 oz vodka
2 tbsps sugar
2 tbsps water
14 mint leaves
4 slices of lime
mint, lime and cucumber to garnish

Start by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Cool.

Muddle the lime slices with the mint leaves. Oooohh that's a wonderful smell!

Add the syrup and vodka.

Fill tall glasses with ice and pour in your muddle mixture. 

Top with tonic and garnish.

Strawberry Vodka Mojito

Made these a couple of weeks ago and just got around to posting.

Ingredients for 1:
5 mint leaves
5 strawberries
1 tsp lemon juice
1 - 2 tsps honey
1.5 oz vodka
sparkling lemon lime carbonated water or,
    even better, sparkling lemonade
and ice

Muddle the mint leaves with strawberries.  I didn't have a proper muddler, like this 

so I used a mortar and pestle.

It was ok, but maybe next time I'll try pulsing it in the blender instead.

Anyways, once you have the mint and strawberries prepared, add lemon juice and honey. Swirl in the vodka.  

Put it in a tall glass and top off with sparkling water or lemonade and ice.

Enjoy!

NOTE:  The blender DID work better!

Iced Coffee Float

When you've made a pot of coffee and some is leftover, don't pour it down the drain! Keep it in the fridge and later on in the day when you need a boost you'll be able to throw this little treat together.

Pour chilled coffee into tall glasses.
Add a scoop of Cappuccino frozen yogurt. I used Chapmans.
Then a drizzle or two of chocolate syrup.

You'll never toss leftover coffee again!

Make Your Own Strawberry Electrolyte Replacement Drink

Whether you've been working out or just working out in the garden you need hydration. Blend these ingredients together and keep chilled in the fridge.  

And if you are going through chemo treatment and have been told to drink lots of water, but you don't like drinking water, then try this just to change things up.

Pour over lots of ice and relax.   

1 - 310 ml can coconut water
1/2 cup chopped strawberries
1/2 cup sparkling berry-flavoured water (or just plain water)
pinch sea salt
1 tsp lime juice
2 tsps honey
1/2 cup orange juice