Gourmet Fare Magazine | In The Glass

In The Glass

For a tasty alternative to soft drinks,
try gourmet thirst-quenchers.

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Drink And Be Merry
Wet Your Whistle With Springtime Refreshers
Prepared by Kathy Cabrera

s the cold days of winter fade and spring shows it's pretty face, its time to create cool and refreshing drinks. For a tasty alternative to soft drinks, try gourmet thirst-quenchers. One of the healthiest and most delicious drinks is a freshly squeezed glass of juice. If you enjoy a glass of orange or grapefruit juice, try squeezing your own for a lighter, sometimes sweeter, drink. Many commercial juices contain extra sugar and preservatives. Home squeezing juices can eliminate these unnecessary ingredients for a more enjoyable drink. Juicers are affordable (about $20 and up), and the investment will return a wealth of tasty afternoon juices. Mix several juices for a homemade citrus punch. For a nonalcoholic cocktail, add cranberry juice and ginger ale to fresh-squeezed orange juice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Lemonade, another popular warm-weather drink, can also be made with a juicer. To sweeten lemonade easily, dissolve sugar in hot water before mixing with fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Try adding fresh strawberries, limes or kiwi for a variety of flavors. Alternatively, mix lemon juice with pureed peaches, powdered sugar and sparkling cider for a pitcher of nonalcoholic Bellinis.

To bring back the taste of yesteryear, try a delicious Orange Creamsicle Mocha drink blended with lots of white chocolate, espresso and a creamy orange vanilla flavoring. Another favorite is a Coconut White Mocha drink with chocolate, espresso and plenty of coconut.

Jenny's Country Kitchen Orange Creamsicle Mocha Mix
Product Details

Jenny's Country Kitchen Coconut White
Mocha Mix
Product Details

No balmy afternoon is complete without iced tea. Try this foolproof recipe for iced tea. Fill a medium-sized pot with water. Add two family-sized tea bags, and bring it to a boil. Put 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of honey in a two-quart pitcher. Add the boiling tea to the pitcher, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Fill the pitcher to the top with cold water. Allow the tea to cool completely before refrigerating to avoid clouding. This recipe is delicious plain or flavored with lemon, orange, cinnamon or mint. Or you can try Pelican Bay's Instant Iced Tea Mixes in a variety of flavors including Peach and Key Lime.

If you can't survive without your morning or midday coffee, try an iced version. Most coffeehouses serve coffee and cappuccino over ice, or even as frozen drinks. You can create many flavored iced coffee drinks as well at home.

Don't limit yourself to our suggestions. Use your imagination to create refreshing afternoon treats.

If you normally add cream and sugar to your coffee, try flavored syrups, melted chocolate, cinnamon or vanilla. Some favorite alcoholic coffees include Bailey's Irish Cream, Kahlua, Amaretto and Crème de Menthe. Add any flavorings before pouring over ice. One great coffee drink combines Amaretto, Bailey's Irish Cream, coffee and whipped cream over ice. Or for dessert, pour coffee over chocolate ice cream.

Ice cream drinks are perfect as the days of spring grow warmer. Two old-fashioned favorites are ice cream soda and chocolate milk shakes. An ice cream soda or root beer float can be an easy dessert. Fill a glass with vanilla ice cream or yogurt and slowly pour root beer over the top. For simple yet delicious milk shakes, put ice cream or frozen yogurt, chocolate syrup and a splash of milk into the blender. Mix until creamy. For fruity ice cream shakes, try blending bananas and honey in place of the chocolate syrup.

Finally, try other refreshing drinks like the Kentucky Derby Mint Julep; a concoction of bourbon, sugar-water and mint. Or add sliced fruit to glasses of champagne or white wine. For outdoor parties, frozen drinks add a festive note. For a perfect margarita, pour tequila, a splash of triple sec, lime juice and sweet and sour mix to the top of the blender blade. Add two cups of ice, and blend for 30 seconds. Another wonderful frozen cocktail... blend vodka or rum, fresh kiwi, strawberry and lime with ice.

Now that you have the idea, don't limit yourself to our suggestions. Use your imagination to create refreshing afternoon treats.

Mint Julep

Drink Ingredients
{Yield: 1 Serving}
1 1/2 oz	Bourbon
4 - 5	Mint leaves
	Sugar water (see below)

Drink Preparation

1.) Pour bourbon into a small glass.

2.) Use a spoon to crush mint leaves into the bottom of a glass.

3.) Fill the glass with ice and top the bourbon off with pre-made sugar water (see below).

4.) Garnish with mint leaves.

Sugar Water Mixture

Stir 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon water until dissolved.

Apricot Fitz

Drink Ingredients
{Yield: 1 Serving}
2 oz	Apricot flavored brandy
1 tsp	Lemon juice
1 tsp	Lime juice
1 tsp	Fine sugar
	Club soda

Drink Preparation

Mix all ingredients and serve over ice.