Theme Week: Summer Drinks Series

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What better way to cool off during a steamy summer night with a delicious cocktail? Earlier this summer I was invited to Minute Maid Cocktails & Creation hosted by Lena Almeida of the blog Listen to Lena.

We were treated to creations using Minute Maid Light Lemonade and Minute Maid Light Orange Juice created by food and entertaining expert and cooking instructor Nadine Hughes.

The event proved to be inspiring! This week we are sharing our favourite summer drinks that are perfect for an afternoon BBQ with friends or a date-night on the porch after the kids are tucked-in.

Our guest for this week is Aly from The Newlywed Life. Her lifestyle blog is a collection of healthy recipes, creative DIYs, affordable fashion and pretty fabulous parties; plus she’s my sister-in-law so I have it on good authority that she mixes up a tasty cocktail!

In the meantime, here are Nadine’s specialty cocktails for you to enjoy!

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Blueberry Lemon Pops

*makes approximately 8-10 pops. Preparation time: 20 min + 4-5 hours for freezing. Cooking time: 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

For the blueberry lemon sauce:

½ cup (125 mL) water

1 cup (250 mL) Minute Maid Light Lemonade

1 cup (200 g) sugar

2 cups fresh blueberries

2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water, in a small cup

For the frozen yogurt:

½ cup (125 mL) water

¼ cup (50 g) sugar

2 cup plain Greek yogurt

To make:

The blueberry lemon sauce:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add wate, Minute Maid Light Lemonade and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the blueberries, increase heat to high and bring ot a boil. Reduce heat back to medium, add cornstarch/water mixture and stir until mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

The lemon yogurt:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Once cool, fold in the plain yogurt until combined.

To assemble your pops:

In a frozen ice pop mould, fill the moulds ¼ the way up with the lemon yogurt mixture. Fill the next ¼ with blueberry lemon sauce and then repeat layers one more time. Freeze the pops for 4-5 hours or overnight.

Adult Option:

When making the lemon yogurt, replace ¼ cup (65 mL) water with ¼ cup (65 mL) Italian lemon liqueur and follow the same directions. Remember to drink responsibly.

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Toasted Coconut Orange Macarooni

*Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

3 oz Minute Maid Light Orange Juice

2 oz Zico Pure Premuim Coconut Water

1 oz Light Coconut Milk

Ice

Garnish (enough for 3-4 drinks)

1 cup of toasted shredded unsweetened coconut flakes

¼ cup (65 mL) Minute Maid Light Orange Juice

Orange wheels

Pineapple triangles

To make:

The toasted coconut:

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup of coconut flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the flakes are mostly golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool.

To rim the glass:

Put ¼ (65 mL) Minute Maid Light Orange Juice in a shallow bowl or saucer. Put the cooled coconut flakes into another shallow bowl or saucer. Turn a chilled martini glass upside down and dip the rim of the glass first into the orange juice and then into the coconut flakes.

The cocktail:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the Minute Maid Light Orange Juice, Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water and coconut milk. Shake and strain into an orange-coconut rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a wheel of orange, triangle or pineapple and enjoy!

Adult Option:

Add 1.5 oz of coconut flavoured rum into the cocktail shaker and continue with the directions. Remember to please drink responsibly.

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Lemon Ginger Punch

*Makes 9 ½ cups (2.25 L)

Ingredients:

½ English cucumber, cut into thin rounds

Small handful of fresh mint leaves

1 lemon cut into thin rounds

7 cups (1.75 mL) Minute Maid Light Lemonade

2 ½ cups (625 mL) Ginger-Ale

Crushed ice

Garnish:

Thin rounds of English cucumber

Fresh mint leaves

Thin rounds of fresh lemon slices

To make:

In a large pitcher or punch bowl, add the cucumber, mint and lemons, reserving some for garnish. Add the Minute Maid Light Lemonade and using a wooden spoon, stir until combined. (Note: you can make this in advance and refrigerate for a few hours allowing the fruits and vegetables to infuse the liquid.) Just before serving, add the Ginger-Ale and stir. To serve, fill a tall glass with crushed ice and pour mixture over top. Garnish individual glasses with a sprig of mint, cucumber round and lemon round.

Adult Option:

Add 2 cups (500 mL) of Gin based liqueur when you add the Minute Maid Light Lemonade. Stir and continue with recipe. Remember to drink responsibly.

Looking for some more delicious ways to enjoy Minute Maid Light? How about baked sweet potato fries with orange curry dip or fruit salad ice pops? Click through for the recipes!

Don’t forget to share with us your favourite summer mocktail or cocktail in the comment section.

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Rack-A-Thon

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On Saturday, January 26, I will be participating in an urban triathlon benefitting Rethink Breast Cancer.  The Rack-A-Thon is a three-hour fitness challenge: one hour of spinning, intense circuit training and yoga.

Rethink Breast Cancer is a charity dedicated to raising awareness and offering resources and assistance to young families affected by the disease.  Founded in 2001, Rethink uses its savvy marketing to inspire a new generation of philanthropy and activism.

A friend had posted the Rack-A-Thon link on her Facebook and on a whim, I clicked on the pink icon to learn more.  It was impulsive but I made the commitment . . .  and now that it’s only a few weeks away, I am starting to wonder, do I have what it takes or will this Rack make me a wreck?

In an effort to be successful (and procrastinate from my training) I Googled tips to completing fitness goals and I found this list.

1.    Make it part of your routine

Check.  I can do this.   I have almost two hours in the morning when all three kids are at school.

So long as no one has an episode of explosive diarrhea, projectile vomiting, a raging fever, croup, chronic nighttime cough, or develop some weird and unexplainable rash that would prevent them from going to school, I can use this time to train.

I should be able to log a solid three or four mornings over the five weeks.

2.    Give yourself permission to spend time on you

Check.  I give myself permission to spend time on myself all of the time – it’s the little people in my life who aren’t on board!

3.    Set realistic goals

5 weeks to train for an hour of spin, yoga and circuit.  That sounds realistic, right?

4.    Buddy-up

Check.  It took little convincing to get my fitness-junkie sister-in-law on board.  She is always game for a good butt kickin’ and her enthusiasm is good motivation.

5.    Keep your eyes on the prize

Check.  Thinking about the many women and their families who benefit from Rethink make my sweat seem paltry in comparison to their bravery.

6.    Make it convenient

Is anything convenient when you have three kids?

7.    Fit in work-outs even in your off days

Check.  I have three live-in personal trainers who ensure that I never sit for more than a few minutes.

8.    Keep it fun

Cardio = Just Dance 4 = Fun

9.    Support your goal by getting sleep and eating well

Check.   I can do this.

So long as no one has an episode of explosive diarrhea, projectile vomiting, a raging fever, croup, chronic nighttime cough, or develop some weird and unexplainable rash that would prevent them from sleeping, I can use this time to catch up on my z’s.

With our recent track record, I am sure that getting adequate sleep will prove no problem at all. *

*Said dripping with sarcasm and rolling eye

10. Reward yourself

The reward will be completing the challenge and knowing that the funds I have helped to raise will go towards Rethink Breast Cancer’s education, support and research programs.

Check back or follow us on Twitter on Saturday, January 26 for a play-by-play of how I am faring!  Do you want to join me and participate in the Rack-A-Thon?  Check out Rethink Breast Cancer for more information.

Wish me luck!