Refreshing quenchers
Nothing satisfies like a cold drink on a hot day. Treat yourself to a set of fun tumblers, set the ice maker to “high,” and grab the blender. Then, let the good times flow with these refreshing mocktails:
Jell-O Punch (pictured above): In a large bowl or pitcher, mix three ounces of Jell-O mix (any flavor) with one cup of boiling water, then stir until Jell-O is dissolved. Add a thawed, 12-ounce container of frozen lemonade concentrate, and one liter of ginger ale. Add ice to your liking and serve immediately. This drink is quite sweet, so you may wish to add additional club soda. If there are leftovers, freeze in Popsicle molds for a colorful treat.
Watermelon Slush: Cube and freeze half of a seedless watermelon on a baking tray. When cubes are frozen, add to a blender with enough water to create a slushy mixture, then add lime juice to taste. Add sweetener (stevia is a good choice here) to your liking then add six to eight basil leaves. Briefly blend once more, and serve immediately.
The Great White: Mix six ounces of frozen limeade concentrate with eleven cups of water and three cups of sugar. Place in a large container and freeze. Half an hour before serving, allow the mixture to stand at room temperature to soften, then use a large fork to scrape the mixture into large pieces. Put chunks of the limeade ice into glasses and pour lemon lime soda over to cover.
Doctored Dr. Pepper: Pour a can of cold Dr. Pepper over ice into a glass. Add a tablespoon of vanilla syrup (such as Toriani) and 2-3 tablespoons of coconut coffee creamer.
Razzle-Dazzle Berry: For a lighter option, fill a glass halfway with unsweetened lime seltzer. Add ice and natural cranberry juice, then finish with the juice from a quarter of a fresh-squeezed lime.
Spice It Up: Mash or finely chop eight ounces of fresh ginger. Mix the ginger with ¾ cup sugar, ¾ cup water, and a dash of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring for three minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to rest for half an hour, then pour through a sieve and discard the solids; add a quarter of a cup of fresh lime juice. Pour the syrup into four glasses and top off each with about six ounces of club soda and ice.
Easy-Peasy: Purchase Italian syrups online in nearly any flavor you can think of. Add sparking water and ice. Serve with a straw.
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett
