Summer Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade

You know that taste, that taste of when you bite into something and it just takes you to a certain time and gives you that certain feeling? Freshly picked strawberries. They always give me all the warm feels and plaster a big smile on my face, especially when I am munching while picking. In those moments, nothing else matters except eating as many as possible and savoring every fresh burst of goodness that fills my mouth. It is exactly what summer tastes like.

A couple of days ago I went and did a little strawberry picking and brought home a bounty of greatness. I ate half, froze a few, and made this fresh lemonade situation because what is better then a glass of cold ass lemonade in the middle of a freaking hot summer day? Strawberry lemonade is, sparkling strawberry lemonade.

It is everything summer should be.

I knew how perfectly perfect this summer drink was when the mr had his drink in hand, took a sip, and said that it tasted like when he was a kid and would spend his days hunting for, picking, and eating the most delicious wild strawberries. I proceeded to laugh a little, thinking to myself, “well what a fancy dreamy childhood you had.” HA. But really though, that right there is truth my friends. Fresh strawberries are little gems of summertime happiness.

Now to the summer strawberry sprakinling lemonade!

The stuff. Freshly picked strawberries, a couple lemons, and plain seltzer water.

Easy as can be. Juice lemons until you have 1/2 cup juice. Remove stems from strawberries and add to lemon juice, then either with a stick blender or regular one, blend until smooth.

I didn’t add any sweetener to mine because we don’t like super sweet and the berries are way sweet enough for us. But if you want, add a little sweetener of your choice and blend in. Go easy though, maybe a couple teaspoons. You can always add more if you need too.

Basically all you do now is pour a bit of puree into a cup, add an ice cube, slowly pour seltzer in, and give it a little stir.

Garnish with a lemon wedge and a cute little strawberry and enjoy the taste of summer.

-C

---

Summer Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade

makes 2-3 drinks

• 1-2 lemons (1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice)

• 1/2 a pint ( or about 12 small to medium strawberries) fresh strawberries

• plain seltzer, mineral water, or club soda

• a few teaspoons of liquid sweetener of your choice if using

• ice

Juice lemons until you have 1/2 a cup off juice. Place in a jar or blender. Remove stems from strawberries and add to the lemon juice. Either with a hand blender or a regular blender, blend until completely smooth. If you are using any sweetener, you can add a little in now and blend in.

For drinks. Pour the strawberry lemon puree into 2-3 cups. Add an ice cube or two and slowly add about a cup of seltzer to each drink (you can add more of less seltzer to your liking). Gently mix with a spoon. Garnish with lemon and a sweet little strawberry if you like.

Raspberry Zinger Lemonade

I am channeling all my summer time feels here in hopes for warmer weather. As of yesterday there was still a pile of snow outside of my house and I am still leaving every morning in a hat, mittens, and a winter jacket.

I want t-shirts and shorts, I want sandals, and I want to set my winter jacket on fire (not really, but kinda).

This cold weather has crept back into my soul and I needed something to remind me that there will be warmer days to come and I will soon be bitching about how hot I am and blah blah blah.. you know how it goes.

So I make lemonade. This lemonade as inspired by my favorite tea as of late, raspberry zinger. It's a nice and tangy tart and really tasty. I make great big jar of it at night and add a little squeeze or two of lemon to it for that little extra zing. I figured if it tastes good hot, it will taste great cold, which in fact, it does. It taste really freaking good. And it just occurred to me that there is probably a little subliminal inspiration from Beyonce in wanting lemonade, so thanks for the B.

Anyway, it's suppose to me nice and seasonably warm this weekend. Maybe bust out your lemonade game and try a batch of this one.

The stuff. Lemons, a raspberry zinger tea bag, honey (or any sweetener you like to use) water and ice.

Bring some of that water to aalmost boil and pour it over the tea bag (make sure you stick the bag into a jar or pitcher)

While the tea is steeping, juice the lemons. And a personal preference, you can strain out the pulp or not. I use the strainer to catch the seeds but then stick the pulp back in cause I like pulp. All up to you.

While the tea is steeping and still hot, add in any sweetener that you want to use. ( I used a little honey) Stir until that sweetness is all dissolved.

And after the tea has had a good steep, dump the brewed tea into the pitcher with the lemon juice then add in the really cold water. Stir it all around.

Add acouple thin slices of lemon to make it all fancy anda few big chunks of ice to make it super cold

Refreshing, crispy, tangy with a touch of sweet....Perfect for all those warm summer days to come (hopefully)

Have a great weekend people.

-C

---

Raspberry Zinger Lemonade

Makes 5 cups

• 1 raspberry zinger tea bag( I used Celestial Seasonings)
• 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (3-5 lemons, depending on size)
• Anywhere between no to 1/2 cup of sweeter (can use sugar, honey or maple, I like a touch of honey)
• 4 cups water (2 hot, 2 cold)
• ice

Place tea bag in 2 cups of hot water (can be done directly in a pitcher) Add in the sweetener while its still hot and mix until completely dissolved. Let steep for about 10 minutes.

Remove tea bag and add in the lemon juice, 2 more cups of cold water and mix, Top with ice and garnish with a few more lemon slices if your feeling fanciful.

Serve in a glass full of ice with a wedge of lemon and a smile on you face.