Looking for a good, slightly boozy way to beat the heat? If so, consider checking out the Mojito Granita recipe that Rob at the Foo(d) Bar Blog has concocted. He'd been considering making one of the granita recipes featured on NPR last summer, but an overgrown backyard mint patch convinced him that he needed to devise a way to use what he had. Thus the Mojito Granita was born.
He cooked up a simple syrup that he infused with several sprigs of mint, mixed that with freshly squeezed lime juice, rum and chopped mint leaves and froze it in a glass baking dish (although metal is preferred). As it spent time in the freezer, he'd stir it every so often to ensure that it didn't become just one giant ice cube. Head over and check out the full recipe (which is accompanied by a series of step-by-step pictures).
I've never made granita myself, but I do have a big bunch of mint sitting on my kitchen counter, even as I type. I may have to devote some of that mint to making this recipe for myself. Thanks Rob!
I recently experienced excruciatingly hot weather while in Dubai, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme humidity made matters worse. Living under such sizzling heat, people in Dubai must find the best way to quench their thirst. Watermelon juice saves the day!
I first tried this sweet, smooth, hydrating drink at a friend's house last week in Sharjah, a neighboring city of Dubai. Sipping the watermelon juice, I felt as though I was being cleansed. It was as if my body was being restored after being exposed to such scorching high temperatures all day. The juice cooled me down like no other drink has previously done. And so, the rest of my trip I drank a couple of glasses of watermelon juice.
This summer, as temperatures start to rise, I suggest watermelon juice. Unlike citrus juices, there is very little acidity. And for those of you concerned with your health, watermelon juice is a great alternative to other juices. Read on to find out its health benefits.
How do you like your iced tea? What I mean is, do you like real brewed iced tea or do you like the stuff from the store, with all the sugar and lemon?
As I think I've mentioned here before, I can't stand real brewed iced tea. It just seems like, well, I got a hot cup of tea and I let it sit on my desk for a couple of hours and now I have to drink it cold. And no matter how much sugar and/or lemon I add, it just doesn't have the same taste as the packaged Lipton or Nestea.
I don't think of bourbon as a summer drink ingredient. Summer drinks to me are ones that are fruity and light and crisp and maybe have an umbrella in them. I mean, they don't have to have an umbrella in them, but fruity and light are what I think of when I think of summer drinks. Bourbon is a harder potion to me, made for fall and winter nights.
But this recipe over at MarthaStewart.com for Eli's Elixir (created by Allen Katz) sounds promising, because it does have that fruit element in it (apple juice, apples) along with 2 oz of bourbon. You also use a Homemade Ginger Cordial in the recipe too.
I haven't had a root beer flavored popsicle in a long time. That would really hit the spot right now.
I know, I know, it has nothing to do exactly with National Root Beer Float Day, but it got me thinking about root beer. How did root beer, something I drank all the time when I was a kid get pushed out of the picture in favor of Diet Pepsi and other sodas?
Here's a recipe for a root beer float (it's very basic, just root beer and vanilla ice cream). How about a root beer float cake?
It's so hot and humid right now, I feel like crying. I should really move to northern Canada for July and August every year, or at least find some way to be cryogenically frozen for those two months. Wake me up when Jerry Lewis walks out on stage again.
However, there are some things we can drink to take a little bit of the heat away, like The Lemon Drop Cocktail. The full recipe is after the jump, but what I would do before you start drinking it is 1) take off all of your clothes, and 2) buy a big fan and put it in front of you (actually, maybe you shouldn't do it in that order). Then make the drink and sip accordingly.
When I was a waiter at a pizza place about 20 years ago, I'd often have customers come in and order a strawberry dikery. Yeah, that's how they pronounced it. I wanted to punch them in the face, but it was usually a woman who said it and my mom raised me to be nicer than that.
Today is National Daiquiri Day, so I thought I'd take this Thursday Happy Hour post to point you to some recipes around the web. Like this one over at Recipezaar. Or maybe this one for a Lime Daiquiri at AllRecipes. And, of course, a recipe for a Strawberry Daiquiri at Vegetarian Fun. A few recipes, actually.
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.
OK, here it is June 25th, so I know I'm a little late getting this info out to you, but June is National Iced Tea Month. My question is: why?
You would think that the powers that be in the iced tea world (or whoever names these holidays) would wait for the much warmer/hotter/more humid months of July or August for this holiday. June is always a strange month (depending on where you live, of course). Some days can be 90, some days can be 60. Some days we can have torrential downpours, some days nothing but blue skies and heat. But even when it's warm and sunny it's never as warm and sunny as July and August.
But that's OK. Iced tea is my summer drink and I don't mind starting out the summer this way. I don't like real iced tea though (it just tastes like, well, cold tea to me). I need lots of sugar and lemon.
I've seen a dozen different recipes for this drink. Almost all of them feature Midori and a harder liquor, but a lot of them don't go beyond that and a little pineapple juice.
But this recipe at DrinksMixer.com goes a bit further. The midori is there, but is adds a lot of fruit to the mix: peach schnapps, creme de bananes, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice. I've seen recipes that include Malibu rum or vodka, but it looks like the schnapps is taking that role in this particular recipe.
The summer is coming on strong and that means lemonade, lemonade, lemonade. Yesterday I gave a recipe for the rather interesting Hickory Smoked Cherry and Bourbon Lemonade, and here's another lemonade concoction, from Eating Well. This one utilizes cucumbers! English hothouse cucumbers, to be exact. Recipe after the jump.
Well, there's two words I never thought I'd see in the same name of a drink, "hickory" and "lemonade."
This drink over at AOL Food seems to combine the best of a summer barbecue and the refreshing offerings at a kid's lemonade stand! Not sure how easy it is to get smoked cherries where you are (I never heard of them before this, except when describing wine), but it's a main ingredient. Recipe after the jump.
The other day I was all set to make mashed potatoes -- I'd even peeled the cooked potatoes and placed them in my big bowl, when I realized that I couldn't find my masher! With a little bit of innovation, clumpless potatoes were only moments away.
How do you like your iced tea? What I mean is, do you like real brewed iced tea or do you like the stuff from the store, with all the sugar and lemon?
I don't think of bourbon as a summer drink ingredient. Summer drinks to me are ones that are fruity and light and crisp and maybe have an umbrella in them. I mean, they don't have to have an umbrella in them, but fruity and light are what I think of when I think of summer drinks. Bourbon is a harder potion to me, made for fall and winter nights.
I haven't had a root beer flavored popsicle in a long time. That would really hit the spot right now.
It's so hot and humid right now, I feel like crying. I should really move to northern Canada for July and August every year, or at least find some way to be cryogenically frozen for those two months. Wake me up when Jerry Lewis walks out on stage again.
It's summer, and that means it's time for a good old-fashioned 
I haven't had a great breakfast in a while. I usually just grab a granola bar. But here are some recipes for breakfast foods, including 
When I was a waiter at a pizza place about 20 years ago, I'd often have customers come in and order a strawberry dikery. Yeah, that's how they pronounced it. I wanted to punch them in the face, but it was usually a woman who said it and my mom raised me to be nicer than that.
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.
Who says that drinking has to start at five o'clock?
OK, here it is June 25th, so I know I'm a little late getting this info out to you, but June is 
I've seen a dozen different recipes for this drink. Almost all of them feature Midori and a harder liquor, but a lot of them don't go beyond that and a little pineapple juice.
The summer is coming on strong and that means lemonade, lemonade, lemonade. Yesterday I gave a recipe for the rather interesting 
Well, there's two words I never thought I'd see in the same name of a drink, "hickory" and "lemonade."
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
