Collection of recipes from family & friends

Archive for the ‘Beverages’ Category

Cucumber-Watermelon Refresher

This is a delightful summer time drink that is refreshing, with a little booze added to the mix!

This recipe comes from my friend Kim S.

Watermelon Cucumber Mint Juice

  • 2 cups seedless watermelon (diced)
  • 1 cup cucumber (peeled and diced)
  • 1/4 cup mint leaves

Directions: add the watermelon, cucumber and mint to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the pulp.  Chill and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Cucumber Watermelon Refresher

  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1/2 ounce triple sec
  • 2 ounce watermelon cucumber mint juice
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
  • watermelon slice (to garnish)

Directions: In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, triple sec, watermelon cucumber mint juice and lime juice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with a small watermelon slice.

*This post may include affiliate links.

Category:

Beverages

My Favorite Keurig Chai

I have never been that fond of coffee, but I often want to start my day with a warm drink. Several years ago I found the Cafe Escapes Chai Latte K-cups for my Keurig. While this is pretty good on its own, I’ve recently found that adding a tablespoon or two of coconut flavored creamer makes it awesome. My favorite is the Girl Scouts Caramel and Coconut Creamer by Coffee-Mate, but lately it’s been very hard to find locally. A decent substitue is the Almond Joy Creamer by International Delight.

Category:

Beverages

Cappuccino Punch

Yield: about 1 gallon

Ingredients:

½ Cup 

Sugar 

2 Quarts 

Milk 

¼ Cup 

Instant Coffee Granules 

1 Quart 

Vanilla Ice Cream, softened 

1 Cup 

Boiling Water 

1 Quart 

Chocolate Ice Cream, softened 

 

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and coffee; stir in boiling water until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Just before serving, pour coffee mixture into a 1-gallon punch bowl. Stir in milk. Add scoops of ice cream; stir until melted.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Berry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 Cups 

Low-Fat Milk or Frozen Vanilla Low-Fat Yogurt 

1 

Ripe Banana, Quartered 

1 Cup 

Mixed Fresh Berries (Raspberries, Blueberries, and/or Blackberries) or Unsweetened Frozen Mixed Berries 

 

 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Tropical Bliss

Ingredients:

2 Cups 

Papaya, peeled and chopped 

1 Cup 

Mango, peeled and chopped 

1 Cup 

Pear Nectar 

1 Tbsp. 

Fresh Lemon Juice 

 

 

Directions:

  1. Place papaya and mango in a single layer on a jellyroll pan.
  2. Freeze at least 1 hour.

Place frozen fruit, nectar, and lemon juice in a blender; process until smooth.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Party Waters

These recipes come from Better Homes & Gardens Magazine.

Pretty and refreshing, dazzling and delicious. You’ll be amazed at the flavors that pop out when you soak fresh fruits, tender herbs, and edible blossoms in clear glass pitchers of icy water.

Just combine the ingredients, add water, and cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours. Plop in the ice and pour into pretty glasses to serve. Sample some of these sunny-day flavors:

Lemon-Herb Water: Lemon slices, mint or basil leaves, and blooming pesticide-free yellow roses.

Lime-Cucumber Water: Lime slices, matchstick cucumber slices, and mint leaves.

Berry-Rose Water: Raspberries and blooming pesticide-free pink roses.

Orange Water: Orange and kumquat slices and pesticide-free nasturtiums.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Melon Mixer

Ingredients:

2 Cups 

Cantaloupe, diced 

1 Cup 

Honeydew Melon, diced 

1 Cup 

Seedless Watermelon, diced 

½ Cup 

Mango Nectar 

1 Tbsp. 

Fresh Lime Juice 

8 

Mint Leaves, chopped 

4 

Ice Cubes 

 

 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Fireside Warmer

Ingredients:

1 1/3 Cups 

Water 

3 

Lipton Regular Cup Size Tea Bags 

1 

Cinnamon Stick, broken 

2 

Whole Cloves 

1/3 Cup 

Sugar 

1 1/3 Cups 

Cranberry Juice Cocktail 

1 Cup 

Dry Red Wine 

 

 

Directions:

In medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add tea bags and spices; cover and brew 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Stir in sugar, cranberry juice and wine; heat through. Remove spices and garnish, if desired, with orange wedges.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Cozy Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. 

Baking Cocoa 

2 Cups 

Milk 

2 Tbsp. 

Sugar 

½ tsp. 

Vanilla extract 

¼ Cup 

Water 

  

Whipped Cream 

Ground Cinnamon 

 

 

Directions:

  1. In a saucepan, mix the cocoa and sugar.
  2. Add water.
  3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute.
  4. Reduce heat; add milk and heat through.
  5. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
  6. Pour into 2 cups; top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

 

Category:

Beverages, Recipes

Comfort Colada

Ingredients:

2  

Ice Cubes 

1 ½ oz. 

Southern Comfort 

1 oz. 

Cream of Coconut 

2 oz. 

Pineapple Juice 

 

Directions:

Put all ingredients in blender and mix.

Category:

Beverages, Recipes