Icy, Fruity, Kid-Friendly and Boozy Summer Sippers
Cold, icy, fruity kid-friendly and adults-only beverages are refreshingly welcome on sweltering, hot summer days – and we’ve already had a few! So, roll up your sleeves and scroll through all the ways you can enjoy farmer’s market bounty in a glass!
For Kids and Teetotaling Adults
Blogger Tracey at The Kitchen is My Playground took her favorite cocktail slush and turned it kid-friendly. Who doesn’t love watermelon in warm weather? Just cube the watermelon and blitz it in the blender then add sugar, fresh lemon juice and freeze.
That’s it!
When it’s time for the barbecue or summer party, scoop a little slush into a glass and top with something bubbly like 7-Up® or Sprite®. It’s a watermelon slushie – and you can start with a straw, but you may need a spoon!
Lemonade is a hands-down warm-weather favorite for any age and Tracey’s recipe – using lemons sugar and water – is so easy, we’re ready to squeeze a glass, right now!
For a fruity mash-up check out these varieties: Cherry Lemonade from Clean and Scentsible, Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade from Chelsea’s Messy Apron and this Strawberry-Limeade Slushie from Alyssia at Mind Over Munch can be turned into a popsicles, too. Strawberries are high in anti-oxidants which have the potential to prevent heart disease and reduce chronic inflammation.
This sweet surprise combo, Mango Raspberry Punch with 7-Up®, is a low-calorie drink that kids will be asking for all summer, maybe well into fall.
And while Sober Julie’s teetotaler recipe for a super simple non-alcoholic version of a mojito may appeal to a more mature palate, it’s also super tasty with simple syrup, limes and mint leaves. Or you can go pineapple wild with juice from the prickly fruit and a few white grapes.
Icy Quench-Your-Thirst Cocktails
The Kitchen is My Playground also has a variety of slushie meets spirits recipes, starting with a Watermelon-Moscato Slush, and continuing the theme with Watermelon Rum Slush.
This recipe for Lemon Mint Bourbon Sparklers uses a make-ahead lemon-mint syrup plus club soda and bourbon.
Credit: Parker Feierbach
And if you’re after more of a tequila taste sensation, try margarita’s sassy sister, the Pink Señorita. The salt-rimmed glass is still a necessity, but for margarita lovers, this sweet and sour (and salty!) drink, is the perfect thirst-quenching concoction.
Alternative Summer Sippers
Coconut Lavender Lemonade looks exotic and tastes out of this world. A simple lavender syrup is the secret to this drink that you can boil up and chill beforehand, thanks to the mother-daughter duo at Jen Around the World.
Like grapefruit? It’s sort of an acquired taste, right? Same goes for rosemary, so this Grapefruit and Rosemary Mocktail from The Casual Craftlete might be for discriminating palates only! The recipe calls for pink grapefruit juice, sparkling water and simple rosemary syrup.
The Ginger Basil Grapefruit Mimosa is another grapefruit drink, again probably an acquired taste, and can easily be transformed into a sangria with a little white wine.
If you like Thai iced tea at $3-$4 a glass, you’re going to love knowing how to DIY. White on Rice Couple offers up a video tutorial noting the different options for the creamy layer. Choose from half-and-half, whole milk, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk and even low-fat milk.
For more summer drinks to refresh your backyard barbeqcues – with and without alcohol – check out these additional 30 recipes from Better Homes and Gardens!
Cool Off at Crystal Valley’s Pinnacle Pool!
Residents of the master-planned community of Crystal Valley spend lots of time at Pinnacle Park’s many recreational attractions – especially the neighborhood pool! Come and explore the new homes surrounded by nature minutes from the town of Castle Rock. With 10+ decorated models from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes, Century Communities and D.R. Horton, the thoughtfully designed ranch or two-story models – are priced from the $400s.
