Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade

Mid summer in Alaska means you and your neighbors probably have rhubarb coming out your ears. I never know what to do with rhubarb other than make a pie or crumble, which I don't actually love. Yesterday my friend brought over some rhubarb syrup and I suddenly had a delicious idea.  I'd been wondering what to do with the wild strawberries I picked earlier this weekend and again wasn't into the pie or crumble idea.

Strawberry rhubarb lemonade was born!

It's tangy, sweet and perfect for a sunny day.

Here's what you'll need:

• 12 oz. chopped rhubarb (by weight)
• about 1.5 cups water
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 thingie of frozen lemonade, pink or regular, prepared according to package instructions
• fresh, ripe strawberries
• lemon slices for garnish

So I actually started this recipe by squeezing my own lemons, but after about three lemons and only a half a cup of lemon juice, I remembered I had some frozen lemonade so I went that route (still using the lemon juice I already squeezed).

To make the rhubarb syrup, place the chopped rhubarb in a small saucepan and fill the pan with water till rhubarb is just covered. Add the baking soda and sugar and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Let cool and pour through a strainer, pushing on the rhubarb with a spoon to get all the liquid out. This stuff should store in a jar for about a week or so in the fridge.

Place a few strawberries in a glass and muddle them with the back of a wooden spoon. Add ice and pour 2/3 up with lemonade. Top off with rhubarb syrup. Add lemon slice for garnish.

If you wanted this drink to be fizzy, you could add some sprite to the mix. It's delightful!

Sangria on the Lawn

It was a priceless Alaskan summer today. One of those days where you feel guilty if you're inside. So naturally it was sangria time. Kelly and I made jewelry all evening while drinking this stuff.

Ingredients:
1 bottle of white wine
2 cans of ginger ale
1 bag of frozen peaches
1 container of raspberries
1 container of blackberries
2 tsp. splenda or sugar
ice

Directions:
In a 2-litre pitcher combine the fruit, sugar and wine. Set out in the sun while you lie out there and tan. After a while, pour in the ginger ale and mix with a wooden spoon. Ladle out some fruit into a glass then pour in the sangria.

Summertime Mocktail

I hung out with my friend Ashley last night and helped her sew some curtains. She had had a small party the night before and needed me to clear away some left overs. No problem! In addition to halibut chowder and cheesy bread, I downed about five glasses of this deeeelightful concoction:

And here is her recipe for it:

1 bag of frozen strawberries
some lemon slices
2 cans lemon San Pellegrino
2 cups of Sprite
2 cups of lemonade

Check out Ashley's fun photos at her blog.

Lemon Fizz

It was our first really sunny day this month, so I thought I'd celebrate with this:

Ingredients:

• 1 shot glass of vodka
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ultra fine sugar or Splenda
• club soda
• ice
• lemon slice, for garnish

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka, lemon juice, sugar and top off with club soda. Stir, add lemon garnish and enjoy!

The DevinMint Patty

In honor of my long time friend Devin whom I hadn't seen in ages, I created a really girly cocktail and named it after him. Behold, the Devinmint Patty:

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
chocolate syrup
1/2 shotglass of vodka
1/2 shotglass of kaluha
dash of peppermint schnapps
Ice

Directions:
Pour the milk and syrup into a shaker and stir with a spoon. Add the other ingredients and shake vigorously. Pour into a glass and serve with a straw. Grown up chocolate milk!