Refreshing Cook Drinks for a Hot Summer Day from Shawn & Sue

Here are the "cool down" drinks we were talking about this morning with their recipes that will make you say, "ahhhhhhhhh." Try these this weekend!!

LEMON DROP CREAM SODA

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon whipped cream vodka (optional)

2 cups seltzer water

Whipped Cream

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

In a saucepan, whisk sugar, lemon juice, and zest of lemon together and bring to boil. Keep whisking, and boil for another 2 minutes until sugar is dissolved. Pour lemon syrup in a strainer and discard the zest.

Add 2 tablespoons of lemon syrup and 2 tablespoons heavy cream to the bottom of each glass and a 1/2 cup of seltzer in each glass with whipped cream to top it off. (www.chocolatemoosey.com)

SUMMER MELON SLUSHIES

Watermelon-Lime

1 watermelon

Simple syrup (recipe to follow)

Zest of 2 limes

Juice of 4 limes

Honeydew-Ginger-Mint

2 honeydew melons

Simple syrup (recipe to follow)

2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger

4 sprigs fresh mint

Instructions:

Remove the seeds and skin from the melon.

The simple syrup is in both of these drinks - in a small saucepan combine 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil. Simmer (don't stir)until the sugar dissolves in about 3 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the flavorings except for the melon, let cool and strain into a small bowl. Then blend it together, cover and freeze for about 8 hours.

When ready to serve, put in a glass, top with a splash of soda water with additional fruit on top if you'd like to make it prettier. (www.womansday.com)

GINGER-PEACH SODA

1 cup of sugar

2 tablespoons of fresh ginger

2 ripe peaches

2 liter Seltzer

16 fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

Bring 1 cup of water, sugar, and ginger to a simmer and stir to dissolve sugar. Let syrup steep for about 30 minutes. Pour syrup in a fine-mesh sieve, cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. When serving, add peach slices in a taller glass. On a spoon drain some of the peach for its juice into the glass and pour about 2 tablespoons of chilled syrup over peaches. Add ice cubes and then top with seltzer. Stir it together and add 2 mint leaves to garnish. (www.womansday.com) 

Enjoy and stay cool!