Ginger and Lemongrass Mojito

 

I love cocktails… I love ginger… I love lemongrass… I love mojitos… what’s not to love about this ginger mojito cocktail?

Courtesy of Paulsteuber @ pixabay.com

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS:

1 1″ piece ginger, peeled and sliced

2 stalks lemongrass

8 mint leaves

1 tbsp. Sugar syrup

1 tbsp. lime juice

50ml white rum

Ginger beer or ale

Ice and extra mint leaves

lime slices

METHOD:

• Muddle together mint leaves, one lemongrass stalk and ginger.
• Add sugar syrup, lime juice and rum. Shake well.
• Half fill highball glass with ice and extra mint leaves.
• Strain mixture into glass.
• Top with ginger beer or ale.
• Serve with lime slices and remaining lemongrass.
• Enjoy!

 

Appleberry Fizz

 

I love fruity cocktails, and if they’re sparkling, then so much the better! Needless to say this one’s right up my street! I love the taste of sparkling apple juice with this cocktail, but any sparkling juice will do.

Serves: 4

Prep: 5 mins

INGREDIENTS:

Courtesy of Pexels at pixabay.com

75g blackberries

4tbsp. sugar syrup

2tbsp. Lemon juice

Seeds of 2 pomegranates

100ml vodka

Sparkling apple juice

Mint leaves or citrus zest to decorate

METHOD:

1. Crush blackberries and seeds of one pomegranate.
2. Strain and pour into cocktail shaker.
3. Add sugar syrup.
4. Add lemon juice.
5. Add vodka
6. Shake well.
7. Strain and pour over ice and remaining pomegranate seeds in 4 glasses
8. Top up with Sparkling juice.
9. Garnish and serve.
10. Marvel at how delicious it is!

 

 

Pineapple Coconut Fizz

 

Pineapple and coconut make a great partnership, and this mocktail is perfect as a refreshing summer drink.

Prep: 5-10 minutes

Total: 5-10 minutes

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:

1. ½ x medium pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped, reserving 1 skin-on slice, cut into wedges, to decorate
2. 200ml pineapple and coconut juice drink
3. ½ x 28g pack fresh mint, washed and chopped, reserving a few sprigs to decorate
4. Crushed ice
5. Soda water to top up

METHOD:

1. Put the pineapple in a bowl and crush using the end of a rolling pin.
2. Tip into a jug and add the pineapple and coconut juice and the chopped mint.
3. Fill 4 glasses with crushed ice, then pour over the pineapple mixture.
4. Stir with a cocktail stick, then top with soda water
5. Decorate with the reserved pineapple wedges and mint to serve.

 

The Coolest Ice Cubes Ever!

 

I can’t believe how hot it is. I swear I’m melting away. I know England cries out for hot weather but seriously this is just too much. I feel like I’ve been locked in a sauna. People may pray for the sun but in my opinion, hot weather is so overrated – and that’s coming from a summer baby! Beach babes are able to look effortlessly hot as the temperature soars, and I’m no different. I’m able to look like a hot, sweaty mess with no effort at all!

 

So in this heat, it’s no wonder my thoughts have turned to keeping super cool. For me it’s cold drinks – and I’m knocking them back like there’s no tomorrow. And cold drinks mean ice, which right now is a necessity. The summer season means parties, weddings, barbeques etc where ice and drinks will go hand in hand. But the problem with ice cubes is that they can be pretty boring to look out and as great as they are at keeping your drinks cool, they’re also great at watering them down (which is only OK if you’re drinking water!) I did a post a while back about creating an ice-bucket – made from ice. It proved to be very popular and inspired this post about livening up the humble ice-cube in terms of appearance (presentation is important, you know!) and taste!

1. GOT TO BE HOT TO BE COOL!

Everyone knows that if you freeze cold water, you get cloudy ice. But freeze boiling water and you get crystal-clear ice. And that’s really important if you’re going to add other ingredients to your ice cubes.

2. THE HERB GARDEN

 

Add washed sprigs or leaves to the water before freezing. Mint ice-cubes are great in iced-tea (Mr. D’s fave) or fruit punch; rosemary or thyme are perfect with home-made lemonade; basil works well with gin, vodka or rum based cocktails,  and lemongrass ice-cubes in pineapple or apple juice – WOW!

3. CITRUS FRESH

Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges are a very obvious choice as slices are often served with cold beverages. But you could also try experimenting with pieces of grapefruit, pomelo, blood or ruby orange. These will work with still or sparkling water; as well as a variety of sodas, cocktails and juices.

4. BERRY NICE 

If you want pretty as a picture ice-cubes, berries are the way to go. They give a fantastic burst of colour and a fruity flavour to drinks. Raspberries, blueberries, redcurrants, blackberries etc. could go in whole, although strawberries would probably have to be sliced. They would be perfect with iced tea, lemonade, sodas, berry, cherry, pomegranate or cranberry cocktails or juices, and raspberry would also work well with orange or peach juices.

5. TROPICAL PARADISE

 

Try pieces of pineapple, kiwi fruit, lychee or dragon fruit for a touch of the exotic. These would be a welcome addition to coconut water, a multitude of cocktails and tropical fruit juices.

6. SALAD DAYS

Cucumber, celery, red, yellow and green peppers might be more at home in a salad bowl but these can be really refreshing served with still or sparkling water or in a Pimm’s (my absolute fave – summer just isn’t summer without it!)

7. EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES

Add some washed, fresh rose petals to water before freezing. I adore the delicate flavouring and aroma of rose as an addition to food and drinks, and it is amazing with pomegranate, raspberry and other berry based drinks.

8. IF THE SUMMER HEAT ISN’T ENOUGH…

 

… then try adding cut pieces of chilli to your ice cubes. This will give a light heat to drinks and complements citrus, pineapple, papaya and mango based drinks. Just remove some of the seeds in order to reduce the level of spiciness.

9. GLITTERING COLOURS

Add some edible glitter for sparkle or food colouring for a marbled effect. These obviously won’t do anything in terms of flavour but they will make the ice-cubes in your drink look so pretty, so it might be good for those who want to keep the taste of their drinks pure.

10. DITCH THE H20

Who says that ice-cubes can only made with water. It can be annoying when ice-cubes water down our drinks. So freeze cola for cola-flavoured ice-cubes; pineapple juice for pineapple-flavoured cubes; iced tea for iced tea cubes… you see where I’m going with this.

And of course you can combine any of the above and freeze them in water if you really want to be creative with your cubes. Try rose with raspberry; pineapple with lemongrass and ginger; cucumber with mint… the possibilities are endless!

Let’s hope the only thing that melts in the heat wave is the ice in your drinks! Stay cool.

 

 

Keep Calm And Stay Hydrated

 

Summer has officially descended upon us and the weather is just making me want to drink… and drink… and drink! Forget food, I just want something to quench my thirst so no prizes for guessing what’s going to make up most of this week’s shopping list!

 

 

 

I came across some delicious sounding recipes for drinks which I thought I’d share with you, including one for a hot coffee drink which may not sound ideal for the warmer weather, but a girl always has to get her early morning coffee fix!

HAZELNUT LATTE

One of my fave coffee flavours – hazelnut!

 

INGREDIENTS:

Hazelnut syrup

A cup of whisked, warmed milk

1 tsp. coffee powder

A swirl of cream

METHOD:

1. Put coffee powder into a latte cup.
2. Add a tbsp. of boiling water to coffee and stir.
3. Add hazelnut syrup.
4. Top up with whisked, warmed milk.
5. Add a swirl of cream.

 

MANGO LASSI

(serves 6)

I love mangoes and anything made from this delicious fruit so it’s no surprise that it’s something I always order when I go to an Indian restaurant – although I have yet to make it myself! This version also includes mint – something I’ve never tried in a lassi.

INGREDIENTS:

A small bunch of mint leaves

100ml milk

1 ripe mango, peeled, stoned and chopped

2tbsp. low-fat yogurt

1tsp. runny honey

METHOD:

1. Whizz all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Fill a tall glass with some ice.
3. Pour lassi over ice – and serve!

 

CLEMENTINE FIZZ

Pretty much Bucks Fizz – something I usually have with breakfast Christmas morning but I bet an ice-cold glass of Clementine Fizz would go down very well on a hot day.

INGREDIENTS:

Juice of 1 Clementine

1tsp. triple sec

Prosecco or Cava

METHOD:

1. Put the juice in a champagne flute.
2. Add the triple sec.
3. Top with Prosecco or cava.

 

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

Who wouldn’t like a glass of champers?

INGREDIENTS:

1 sugar cube

A dash of Angostura bitters

10ml brandy or cognac

Champagne or your favourite sparkling wine

METHOD:

1. Place sugar cube in a fluted glass.
2. Add Angostura bitters and brandy or cognac.
3. Top with Champagne or sparkling wine.

 

WASABI BLOODY MARY

(makes 6)

usually made with tobacco sauce, this version uses wasabi for an even more powerful kick!

INGREDIENTS:

1ltr tomato juice

3tbsp. wasabi powder

6 shots vodka

1tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 lemons, halved

6 celery sticks

Handful of ice

METHOD:

1. Place ice in glasses.
2. Put all other ingredients – except celery –  into a large jug.
3. Stir well.
4. Pour into glasses over the ice.
5. Serve with celery sticks.

Enjoy these gorgeous drinks. Enjoy the Summer!

All recipes from Woman’s Own, March 2014

All recipes serve one unless otherwise stated.

 

Cocktail Heaven: Dark n’ Stormy

 

I love cocktails… I adore rum. So Bermuda’s national drink, Dark n’ Stormy is just perfect for me. And it’s so easy to make. Try it and see.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

50ml rum

25ml lime juice

Ginger beer

Ice

METHOD:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour rum and lime juice into glass.
3. Top up with ginger beer.
4. Drink!

 

 

 

 

How Cool Is That! Make Your Own Ice Ice-Bucket!

 

It’s Christmas; time for eating drinking and being very, very merry! Socialising is one of the best things about the festive season, and I love having a full house.

Of course, along with drinks comes the need to keep them cool. I found this method for making a beautiful ice- bucket using a plastic bottle and water! You can decorate it however you like using a range of materials. The end result is stunning – and costs virtually tuppence!

 

You Will Need:

Empty 2ltr plastic bottle

Empty 1ltr glass bottle

Water

Decorative materials for ice-bucket e.g:

flowers

leaves

fruit slices

petals

sprigs of herbs

berries

food colouring etc.

METHOD:

1. Cut the top off empty plastic bottle.
2. Place glass bottle inside.
3. Fill two-thirds of bottle with water.
4. Push decorative materials around the sides (or add food colouring. Do not stir if you want a marbled effect.)
5. Stand the bottle in the freezer for 4-5 hours until frozen.
6. When ready to use, run glass bottle quickly under a hot tap so that it slides off.
7. Place hand-crafted, highly original ice-bucket on the table along with drinks and mixers.
8. Wait for admiring comments!

TOP TIPS:

• Use boiled, slightly cooled water for a crystal clear finish.

 

• You can also apply the method to making ice-bowls to serve ice-cream (place a smaller bowl inside a large one) or make shot glasses.