Spring time is finally here and people are looking for ways to spend time outdoors after a long winter.
Even though many will wait until Memorial Day to begin cooking out, some will begin grilling quite a while before that.
When you’re planning a cookout or any outdoor activity, you may want to include spring drinks for a refreshing change.
Some people think about alcoholic beverages but there are many non-alcoholic spring drinks you can also enjoy. Here are a few to consider:
Lemonade is a great spring or summer time drink that everyone in the family can enjoy. Gather lemons, water and sugar and you can make a wonderful, refreshing beverage. Add a sprig of mint to finish it off and then enjoy.
Watermelon Agua Fresca is often served during the summer, but there’s no reason you can’t prepare it earlier in the year if you can find ripe watermelon. You’ll need eight cups of watermelon, water, sugar, lime juice and club soda. Puree the watermelon, water and sugar. Stir in the lime juice. Refrigerate for at least four hours and then add the club soda. If you’ve never tried this drink, you may want to give it a try this year.
Spring Fever mocktail. This drink is made with a variety of fresh juices – apple, lemon, blood orange and mango syrup. Try blending these amounts; 3/4 oz of lemon juice and mango syrup with 1 ½ oz of apple juice and 2 oz of orange juice. Delicious!
Hibiscus-Pomegranate Iced Tea not only tastes great but is good for you, too. Ingredients include herbal hibiscus tea, boiling water, pomegranate juice and cold water. Steep the tea in boiling water for about 5 minutes, pour it into a large pitcher and add the pomegranate juice and cold water. Refrigerate until it is thoroughly chilled. Serve over ice and add lemon wedges and mint.
Blueberry Ginger Bellini is a spring time drink which is made with sparkling wine, but you could also use sparkling grape juice if you don’t want the alcohol. Mash ½ cup blueberries, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 1 tablespoon sugar, juice of ½ of a lemon. Add 2 cups blueberry juice and allow this to steep for five minutes before you strain it. Divide the juice into four glasses and then pour ½ cup sparkling wine or grape juice over it.
You can often find spring drink recipes in women’s and cooking magazines. Try something new this spring when you have a cookout or simply need something refreshing to enjoy on a warm spring afternoon. You can use one of these ideas or come up with ideas of your own.
