Strawberry and Lime Punch

Strawberry and Lime Punch

from Ashley Cole

2 liter of Diet Lemon Lime Soda (7-up, Sprite etc.) has to be diet or the punch is too sweet.
1 can of frozen limeade concentrate
1 container of sliced frozen strawberries (I found them in a tupperware container in by the frozen fruit)

Crushed or regular ice
Add sliced fresh lime slices

Bananna Smoothies

Banana Smoothies

frozen ripe bananas (slice and freeze in an individual layer- once frozen pop in a ziplock bag in the freezer and store until ready to use)

V-8 Splash Smoothie - Strawberry Banana or Tropical Colada

Combine in a blender adding frozen bananas until you reach your desired consistency.

Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi

This refreshing Indian drink helps offset the fiery effect of chile, so serve it with or after a spicy meal. It can be made either salty or sweet according to your preference. Puree fresh mango flesh with plain yogurt, lemon juice, and ice cubes. Add sugar or salt to taste.

**JR has made it with vanilla yogurt and omitted the sugar/salt.

Christmas Wassail

Christmas Wassail

3 cups sugar
4 cups water
1 (12 oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate, undiluted
1 ½ cups lemon juice
1 Tbsp. almond flavoring
2 Tbsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. ground cloves, allspice, and cinnamon
2-4 quarts water (to taste)

Heat sugar and 4 cups water in 6 qt. pan. Add remaining ingredients and heat until hot. Do not boil. Serve warm with orange and lemon slices and craisins added just before serving. (If saving leftover beverage, remove slices to prevent bitterness.) This can be cooled and stored in refrigerator for ten days. Makes 24 -48 ½ cup servings depending on water added.

Pina Colada

Pina Colada

2 cups pineapple juice
¾ cup cream of coconut
3 cups crushed ice

Combine in blender. Serve immediately.

Grandma's Mint Drink

Grandma's Mint Drink:

Probably hands down my favorite summer drink. Mom use to send us outside to pick the mint when we were little and we always had it in the summer at Grandma's house. This picture doesn't do it justice either - I didn't have any ice or a straw and I should have taken the picture when there were still fizzy bubbles on top. Oh well. First you make a syrup by boiling 5 cups of water and 5 cups of sugar for 10 minutes. Then take the syrup off the heat and add 4 good handfuls of mint leaves (crush and twist them a little as you put them in the syrup) and let it steep for 1 hour or more. Then strain. Add 1 thawed can of frozen orange juice and 1 3/4 cup of lemon juice concentrate. Store in the fridge. To serve: Fill tall glass with crushed ice, add about 1/4 cup of syrup and fill the rest with 7-up. So refreshing!