Blood Orange Lemonade

I think I've finally found the perfect drink. 

Seriously, if you like lemonade and oranges, you will absolutely love this. The best part is that it only takes about 10 minutes to make start to clean up. 

On this nice sunny Sunday morning, I wish I had more of it to enjoy with my blood orange scone (coming soon). In fact I think I'll go make some more right now...

Blood Orange Lemonade

(from Food Network Magazine) 

1c sugar

1c blood orange juice

1c lemon juice

1 lemon

1/2c water

3c club soda

1 blood orange

Make a simple syrup: Mix the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

Mix orange and lemon juices, simple syrup, and club soda in a pitcher.

Slice the lemon and orange into rounds and put in the pitcher with the lemonade.

Serve over ice with another splash of club soda.

Starbucks Berry Chai Infusion

A few years ago, Starbucks sold a drink called the Berry Chai Infusion. I was obsessed and got one at least 3 times a week (all thanks to giftcards from Christmas). Sadly they discontinued it at some point... I never really noticed when since all my giftcards ran out and I stopped going to Starbucks so much. Recently I've been craving one and found a recipe online that's a pretty good copy. Next time I make this, I'll add more Chai to it for a spicier drink and try a different type of juice. It would be good hot or cold, and a touch of cinnamon would really spice it up.

Berry Chai Infusion

8-10c water

3 bags black Chai tea

3 bags Wild Berry tea

8 packets Splenda

Pomegranate juice

Boil water in a pot. Remove from heat and add tea bags and Splenda.

Steep to taste. Remove tea bags using a slotted spoon.

Fill rest of mug with tea.

(I used Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger and Stash Chai Spice teas.)

Heat in microwave until steaming.

Blackberry Lemonade

Blackberry Lemonade

2c blackberries

1 1/2c sugar

2c fresh lemon juice

Make simple syrup:

Bring 1 1/2c sugar and 1 1/2c water to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Let cool.

Make lemonade:

Muddle 2c blackberries with 2c simple syrup in a pitcher. Stir in 2c lemon juice and 2c water. Add ice and lemon slices before serving.

Summery Drinks

I recently decided to try making Sangria. After trying multiple recipes and not being satisfied with any of them, I combined a few to make my own.

Red Sangria

1 bottle red wine, any variety depending on taste

3 shots brandy

1.5 shots Bacardi Dragonberry rum

1 shot cranberry liqueur

ginger ale

orange + other fruits

Mix red wine, brandy, rum, and cranberry liqueur in pitcher. (Any sweet flavored rum or vodka can be substituted for the dragonberry rum.) Cut 3/4 of orange into slices and add to mixture. Squeeze remaining 1/4 of orange into mixture. Add slices of apples, apricots, or any other fruit desired. Chill.

To serve, fill glass 3/4 with wine mixture and fruit. Fill remaining 1/4 of glass with ginger ale.