"cold drinks" news and stories

Today, 7.11.08, 7-Eleven locations will celebrate the company's 81st birthday by handing out free slurpees!

When I was in high school, I served as Editor-at-Large for my school's super intense newspaper, The Black & White. We'd publish about every two weeks, and spend every Tuesday and Wednesday of those weeks holed up in our cozy office until 10 p.m., when we'd pack up the school's computers (I'm not sure if our adviser knew that we did this) and take them to our houses to continue working for the rest of the night.

On the way home, we'd stop by 7-Eleven for late-night snacks. My one friend would always fill up a double-gulp of Code Red, and the rest of us would stock up on Slurpees and Swedish Fish. I can't drink one without remembering how cool we thought we were, zipping around in our parents cars at 10 p.m. on a school night, sipping slurpees.

In honor of the memory I'm going to swing by a 7-Eleven today for a Coke-flavored one. What flavor will you be getting?

Source

Earlier this week I did a post about my love of iced tea. Not real iced tea, but the fake instant stuff with tons of sugar and lemon. A lot of people couldn't understand how I could like the fake stuff. But I stand by my taste.

However, I feel as if I should give the opposing view too, and since it's almost July 4 and it's already hot and humid, how about a list of several different iced teas? I'm pretty sure there's something here for everyone, whether you want non-alcoholic iced tea or something with a little extra kick.

Who says that drinking has to start at five o'clock?

It's probably pretty warm where you are today, and you could use a cold drink, right? I know, I know, you're not supposed to have alcohol or caffiene on hot days. Whatever! This is the Naranjita (via GourmetSleuth.com) a cool drink that will make you think of the Caribbean.

Naranjita

1 ounce light Puerto Rican rum
2-3 ounce ginger ale
1 ounce orange juice
orange slices for garnish
carambola (star fruit) for garnish

Combine all ingredients, pour over ice in a highball glass and garnish with orange slices and star fruit.

Summer doesn't officially begin for another month, but we all know it's here already. The days are getting warmer (if not hotter, like today in the Boston area) and it's Memorial Day weekend, which is the real start of summer for most people.

So how about some lemonade? Like Kat Kinsman, most of the people I knew growing up used packaged mixes when making lemonade, but she gives a good recipe for real lemonade over at AOL Food. The full recipe after the jump.