SUMMER
RECIPES
LEMONADE
COCKTAIL
The dog days of summer have arrived. The humidity. The heat.
The dire need for a holiday. Don’t we all need something cool
and refreshing to sip on as the sun sets…whether on our patio
in the backyard or indoors basking in the air conditioning?
These guilt-free Lemonade based cocktail recipes are made with
all natural, in season and locally sourced herbs and fruit.
Because after all, isn’t lemonade synonymous with the month of
August? So pour yourself a glass or two and enjoy!
Perfect Lemonade Recipe– Simple, all natural lemonade recipe
from scratch. Makes 20 servings, save some for the kids and
use the rest as a base for the cocktail recipes below.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups (415 ml) white sugar
235
1.5 cups (355 ml) lemon juice
8 cups (1,890ml) water
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, combine
sugar and 1 cup (235 ml) water.
Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to
room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
2. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher,
stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups
(1655 ml) water. Serve with sliced lemons for garnish and ice.
Limoncello Lemonade- sweet, cool and spritzy.
4 servings
1/2 cup (120 ml) homemade
lemonade
1/4 cup (55 grams) mint leaves
(fresh)
2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
1 cup (250 ml) club soda
(divided)
2 cups (500 ml) limoncello
(divided)
ice cubes (crushed)
mint leaves (Lemon slices and fresh, for garnish)
4 glasses (for 4 servings)
Directions:
In a pitcher add 1/2 cup (125 ml) lemonade, 1/4 cup (55 grams(
fresh mint leaves and 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Using a
muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, muddle the mint leaves
with the lemonade and lemon juice (this releases the natural
oils of the mint). Divide the mint-lemonade mixture among four
glasses. Add 1/4 cup (62.5 ml) club soda to the lemonade-mint
mixture. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) limoncello on top of the club
soda and top with ice. Garnish each glass with lemon slices
and sprigs of fresh mint.
Vanilla Lemon Drop
4 servings
Ingredients:
8 oz (240 ml) lemon lime soda
(ex. Sprite, 7-Up)
8 oz (240 ml) lemonade
6 oz (180 ml) vanilla infused
vodka (to learn how to make
infused vodka, click here)
4 oz (120 ml) lemon liqueur (such as limoncello)
Ice cubes
Sliced rounds of lemon for garnish
Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour lemon lime soda, lemonade,
vanilla infused vodka and lemon liqueur into a cocktail shaker
filled with ice and freshly sliced lemon rounds. Shake and
strain into the glass with ice. Serve.
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
16 servings
Ingredients:
4 cups (1000 ml) water
1 pt raspberries (475 grams)
(plus more for garnish)
13/4 (350 grams) cups sugar
1 qt (945 ml) lemonade
ice (for serving)
750 ml carbonated water
2 cups (475 ml) vodka
Directions:
Bring water, raspberries, and sugar to boil in a large
saucepan, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Reduce
heat, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Strain mixture through a
fine sieve, pressing gently on berries to release juices;
discard solids. Let syrup cool completely. Combine syrup and
lemonade in a large pitcher. Divide among 16 ice-filled
glasses. Top each with sparkling water, and vodka if using.
Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Watermelon Cocktails
Summertime and the living is easy! The most delicious, sweet
summer fruits are in season and ripe for the picking. These
watermelon cocktails are sure to quench your thirst and cool
you off on these hot, humid days.
1. Fresh Watermelon Margarita
Insider’s tip: Whirl an ample amount of ripe, cut and cubed
melon (seedless preferably) in a blender with a bit of salt.
Strain through a sieve to avoid any pulp.
For 3 margaritas
Ingredients:
4.5 cups (1,125 ml) seedless watermelon cut into rough 1.5
inch cubes (about 3.5 cm–bite size) which should be about 1.5
lb cubed fruit (70 grams)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons fresh juice from 5-6 limes
3 tablespoons St. Germain Elderflower liquer
3/4 cups (175 ml) silver tequila (100 agave if possible)
Directions:
1. Add watermelon, salt, lime juice, St. Germain and tequila
to a blender. Puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh
sieve into a pitcher, using the bottom of a ladle or a rubber
spatula to press liquid through the sieve.
2. Mixture can be served immediately or sealed and chilled for
up to 5 hours in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, fill
three serving glasses with ice, re-stir the mixture and divide
evenly between glasses. Bon appetite!
2. Watermelon Limeade
Serving size: 1 liter
Ingredients:
Flesh of a 5 pound (2.25 kg) watermelon, cut, cubed and seeds
removed
1/4 cup (50 ml) lime juice, from 3-4 limes
2 tablespoons agave nectar
Directions:
1. In two batches, pulse the watermelon cubes in a blender
until it becomes a chunky sauces–should take about 10-12 short
pulses. Transfer and pour mix into a colander lined with
cheesecloth set over a large pot (this will remove the
pulp)–stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has
dripped through. Transfer 3.5 cups (875 ml) of liquid to a
large pitcher and reserve remainder for another use.
2. Add lime juice and agave nectar to pitcher and stir to
combine. Refrigerate until completely cool. Serve in ice-
filled glasses, garnished with lime zest or rings if desired.
3. Watermelon Sangria
4 servings
Ingredients:
4 cups (1000 ml) cubed ripe seedless watermelon
1.5 cups (375 ml) white wine
1 ounce (30 ml) anejo rum
2 ounces (60 ml) Cointreau
2 ounces (60 ml) simple syrup
2 limes
ice
Garnish: watermelon slice and mint sprigs (optional)
Directions:
1. Puree watermelon cubes in a blender. Strain into a large
pitcher. Add wine, rum, cointreau and simple syrup–stir.
2. Juice 1 lime and add juice to pitcher. Slice the other lime
lengthwise and then slice into additional thin pieces. Add
lime slices to pitcher, cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours
allowing the ingredients to infuse together. Pour into icefilled serving glasses, garnish with additional watermelon
slice and mint sprigs. Enjoy!
4. Watermelon and Cucumber Juice
Refreshing, tangy and the perfect hydrating antidote to a hot
summer day.
Insider’s tip: make sure all the ingredients are very cold to
begin with and juice in the order listed below. Use a slower
speed if possible on your juicer.
2 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups (500 ml) fresh watermelon juice form about 6 cups (1500
ml) diced watermelon
3/4 cups (175 ml) fresh cucumber juice from 1 large cucumber
1.5 teaspoons fresh mint juice from about 15 mint leaves with
stems
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice from 1-2 limes
1 tablespoon sugar (brown or white–optional)–can replace with
honey as healthier alternative
Directions:
Stir juices together thoroughly (add sugar or honey–if
desired). Divide between 2 ice-filled glasses and serve
immediately or keep refrigerated for up to one day and stir
well before serving.