Ginger Lemonade Spritzer (Goddess Nectar)

Oh my gosh, this drink! It’s soooo refreshing, and very fizzy! Is fizzy a word?? It is for this drink!

This spritzer is great for hot, summer days when you need a drink that not only quenches your thirst, but is also very delicious.

And, it’s also a great drink to serve friends that don’t drink alcohol, but you still want to serve them a nice looking “mocktail”.

All summer I was making large pitchers of lemonade or ginger lemonade, but most times a large pitcher was too much for me. So I decided to make the simple syrup and use as needed. But then I added it to some seltzer water and it reinvented itself into Goddess Nectar!

You are going to start with a simple syrup, all you need is fresh ginger, lemon juice, sugar and water.

I started with about 1-1/4 cup water in a small sauce pan. I took a 1-1/2 inch chunk of ginger, peeled it and sliced it. Then I placed the ginger in the water and brought it to a light simmer for about 8 minutes or so. It’s important for it not to boil, but just a very light simmer. Next, I turned the heat off and added one cup of sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let that steep for about 10 minutes, then remove the ginger slices. Add one cup of lemon juice, stir well and pour into a jar. Give the jar a gentle shake before using.

To make the spritzer, fill a glass with ice and pour in some of the simple syrup. The measurement depends on the glass of course, but to give you a starting point I used an 8oz glass tumbler, filled with ice, I add about ¼ cup of the goddess syrup and top it off with seltzer water. You can add less of the syrup, it really depends on your preference. Stir well, add a slice of lemon and enjoy.

Hibiscus Lemonade

I had to try another lemonade recipe. Since I love hot hibiscus tea but it’s way too hot for tea right now, I made this delicious hibiscus lemonade.

Refer to my Honey Lavender Lemonade recipe here, and swap out the lavender tea for the hibiscus tea.

Easy!

This is also delicious with some sparkling, seltzer water too.  I used a vintage glass, it was my Grandmother’s.

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Watermelon Mint Spritzer

This little cocktail was perfect as I sat on my patio in the evening.

I threw about 2 cups of cubed watermelon in a small blender along with ½ cup simple syrup and 6 mint leaves and blended on high until completely pureed. Then I strained the liquid, the pulp and seeds will not pass through the strainer. Toss that once all the liquid has passed through.

To a cup of ice add about ½ to 3/4 cup of the watermelon and mint liquid, a shot of white rum and top with seltzer water or club soda. Add a sprig of mint and enjoy.

Like I said, it’s perfect on these hot evenings. Enjoy!

 

 

Honey Lavender Lemonade

There is nothing more refreshing then fresh lemonade on a hot humid day.  It is really a treat on days that I am doing yard and garden work.

I up’d my lemonade game and made Honey Lavender Lemonade, and I cannot stay away from it!

Between the refreshing lemons and the sweetness from the honey simple syrup, the hint of lavender just took this drink to a different level.

I started with the simple syrup. To a small saucepan I poured in one cup of water, about ½ cup of sugar. I didn’t measure, I just eyeballed, which I do a lot! I heated that over a medium low heat, stirring often, until the sugar was dissolved. Then I turned off the heat and added ½ cup of my favorite honey. I stirred the simple syrup until the honey dissolved and then set it aside.

Next I steeped the lavender buds. I measured 2 T of organic lavender buds into a small coffee filter and tied it shut with a little piece of butcher twine. Tossed that in a coffee mug with water, about 1 cup of water and nuked it for about 2 minutes. Set it aside to steep. Basically your making lavender tea, YUM!

Finally I started working on the lemons. I squeezed about 6 lemons and got about one cup of lemon juice. I poured that into my Mom’s pretty Princess House pitcher.

When the simple syrup and lavender tea were cooled, I poured that in with the lemon juice and added an additional 3 cups of water.

Stir and serve. Garnish with lemon slices and a sprig of lavender. I will definitely be making this a lot this summer!

 

Honey Lavender Lemonade

5 cups water

½ cup sugar

½ cup honey

2 T organic lavender buds

1 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice

1. Start with the simple syrup. Add 1 cup of water and the sugar to a small saucepan. Heat the water until the sugar melts and remove from heat. Add the honey and stir until dissolved. Set aside.
2. Add the lavender buds to a coffee filter and tie shut with butchers twine. To a coffee mug add 1 cup water and the lavender tea bag and heat in the microwave for 2 minutes and then let steep while you juice the lemons.
3. Add the lemon juice to a pitcher, add the simple syrup and the lavender water. Then add the remaining 3 cups of water.

Delicious Mocha Smoothie

Hi! My name is Kim and I am addicted to chai lattes.

And I am being serious!

You might have coffee when you get up in the morning, but for me it HAS to be a chai latte.

But, I didn’t have any chai in the house this morning. None.

So after I stopped crying and pulled myself up off the floor, I whipped up this Mocha Smoothie.

I do love a good mocha. Thankfully. Cuz I am also addicted to mocha!

But instead of just a mocha coffee, I made the mocha smoothie. I was hoping the healthy Greek yogurt wiped out the sugar from the chocolate. That works, right?!

I put about 1 to 1-/1/2 cups of ice in my smoothie blender, added about 2-3 oz of Greek Yogurt, or about half of one of those 5 oz cups, and about ½ to ¾ cup of cold coffee.

Once that was well blended, I added about 4 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, and I eyeballed that 😊

I may or may not have added more than 4 tablespoons….

You could also blend in about a ¼ cup chocolate chips, but the syrup is enough for me. I have done the chocolate chips before, but I didn’t really care for the bits of chocolate as I was sipping so no more chips for me! Just give me the syrup!

When I make this smoothie for on the go I do not top it off with whipped cream, BUT if I am enjoying it at home I not only top it with whipped cream, I also add a little drizzle of chocolate syrup too!

Mocha Smoothie

1-1/2 cups of ice

½ to ¾ cup of cold brewed coffee, do not use coffee grounds

2-3 oz plain Greek yogurt

¼ cup chocolate chips, optional

4 T chocolate syrup, more or less depending on your preference

Add the first 4 ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Add the chocolate syrup and blend again.

You can top this drink with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup.

Enjoy!

Ginger Honey Lemonade

I have been enjoying a hot tea of fresh ginger, lemon and honey every afternoon.  All three of those ingredients are beneficial; anti-inflammatory, immune booster and aides in digestion.

But then I thought, why not make an iced lemonade from this awesome concoction!

I enjoyed the ginger lemonade the day that I cut my grass for the first time this season and wowza was it a delicious treat!  Very refreshing!

And it’s so very easy to make.  I had a very large piece of ginger, so I still have enough for another pitcher or several cups of hot tea.

I took five 1 inch pieces of the ginger, peeled it and cut it into halves and placed them into a sauce pan with 5 cups of water.  Cover the pot and bring it to a light simmer.  Let it simmer for about 15 minutes and remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, take 5 lemons and squeeze the juice (minus the seeds!) into a pitcher.

When the ginger water is cooled but still ever so slightly warm, pour that into the pitcher with the lemon juice and then add ¼ cup of honey.  You can adjust the honey to more or less depending on how sweet you want the lemonade.

The honey will dissolve better if the lemonade is still just a little warm.

Pour over ice and add lemon slices, sit back in your lounge chair outside and enjoy!

Mudslide Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate is perfect for these cold, snowy Pennsylvania nights.

I’ll get right to it….

In a small saucepan over medium low heat, heat your milk, about 1-3/4 cups.

Meanwhile in a microwavable cup, add a heaping tablespoon of cocoa, 1 square of semi-sweet chocolate (or whatever you have on hand), and about 2 or 3 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk. Heat it for about 10 seconds, remove it and stir and pop it back in for another 10 seconds. Do not over heat the chocolate but it should be completely melted.

The milk needs to be hot when combining with the chocolate mixture. Use a small whisk if you have one but a spoon will be just fine. Stir or whisk until the chocolate and the milk are well combined.

Add about 1-1/2 shots of Kahlua. Is there such a thing as one and half shots?? Whatever. It worked for me. Be a rebel and add 2 if you want!

If you are going to be fancy, and why not be fancy! Use a clear glass mug, drizzle with chocolate syrup. Pour the hot chocolate into the fancy chocolate swirled mug. Top with marshmallows, whipped cream, or nothing. Would that be naked hot chocolate?

This alone can be a dessert, it is just that rich.

Enjoy!

Mudslide Eggnog

Have you ever had a Mudslide Eggnog? I can promise you that you might want to give it a try before you say “no way”. I served it to a few of my friends that wrinkled their nose at the mention of it, but after they had a sip of mine I made one for them also!

Recipe is easy, 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua, 2 parts eggnog. Pour over some ice in a shaker or mason jar, shake and strain from the ice into a martini glass that is lightly drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of ground nutmeg. Enjoy!

RumChata and Caramel Milkshake

This is a sin. Seriously.

And forgive me, but it is a sin I will definitely commit again!

I was craving a milkshake, and I wanted a cocktail. So hit up the liquor cabinet and I combined the craving.

Super easy. And you probably don’t even need to use a recipe. But here it is anyway, in case you’re curious!

I put about 2.5 ozs of RumChata in my little drink blender, added about 2 cups of vanilla ice cream, a shot of Caramel vodka and about a ¼ cup caramel sauce.

Blended until smooth, which didn’t take long because my little blender is a whiz!

I poured it into a mug, topped with a squirt of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

You could also add some chocolate syrup to make a chocolate caramel milkshake!

This milkshake was perfect, even though it was a chilly night!!

RumChata and Caramel Milkshake

2.5 ozs Rumchata

1 Shot of Caramel Vodka, optional

¼ cup carmel sauce

2 cups vanilla ice cream

Add to blender and blend until creamy smooth. Top with additional carmel sauce and whipped cream.

Enjoy!!

Raspberry Mocha

Just in time for Valentine’s Day! A luscious treat for your love to start the day!

Chocolate, Raspberry and Coffee, OH MY!

While your coffee is brewing, make your chocolate and raspberry milk- One cup of milk, 3 tablespoons each of chocolate syrup and raspberry syrup. Swirl extra chocolate syrup and raspberry syrup in the cup and pour in the milk mixture. Add 1-1/2 cup coffee to the milk mixture.

You can reheat in the microwave if you want to serve it hot, or let the coffee cool before adding to the milk mixture if you want it cold. Either way, it’s absolutely delicious!

Top with whipped cream and another drizzle of the syrups, add a cute straw and serve.

Raspberry Mocha

1-1/2 cups coffee

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons chocolate syrup, plus more to swirl in cup or glass

3 tablespoons raspberry syrup, plus more to swirl in cup or glass

Whipped cream for topping

Enjoy! Happy Valentine’s Day!!