Archive for the ‘Drinks’ Category
Agua fresca is a fresh fruit-based drink that is very popular in Mexico. They’re typically made by mashing or pureeing fruit such as strawberries or melon and then thinning the mixture out with juice or water until it has a light, drinkable consistency and is easy to sip through a straw. They’re lightly sweetened, both to highlight the sweetness of the fruit to ensure that the drink is a nice contrast for the spicy, savory food that it is usually served with. I like them because they’re very refreshing and because there is a lot of variety, from strawberries to hibiscus to tamarind.
This watermelon agua fresca is my spin on one of my favorite types of agua fresca. Watermelon seems even more refreshing to me than many other fruits, simply because it contains so much water to begin with. For this drink, I blend watermelon and a few strawberries with just enough water to puree them easily, then pour the mixture into a tall serving glass where I’ve muddled a little bit of sugar and mint. The mint is not traditional for this type of drink, but it works beautifully with the berries and the watermelon, making the drink seem even more refreshing. I chill the fruits before making this drink and serve it straight after I’ve prepared it. If you want it colder, chill the mixture for an hour or so before serving. Don’t add ice to the blender – or you’ll have to call your drink a smoothie!
If you strawberries and watermelon are sweet enough, you will probably only want to add a little bit of sugar to this drink, as I did. If they’re not quite as sweet as you’d like, add an extra tablespoon or two of sugar when blending the fruits together. And if you’re looking for a grownup finish to this drink, cut back on the water to make the puree a little bit thicker and spike your finished product with a splash of rum.
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I’m definitely awash in strawberries this summer – but I’m not going to complain about that any time soon. I love eating strawberries when they’re at their peak, and I also love the opportunity to incorporate them into all kinds of different recipes. With more strawberries than I knew what to do with in my kitchen then other day, I decided to give a Homemade Strawberry Julius a try.
Orange Julius is a light, frothy orange drink that tastes a lot like a creamsicle – only better. They were a favorite of mine as a kid, when I used to come across Orange Julius store locations all over the place. These days, I don’t see them as often, but I’ve been making Homemade Orange Julius‘s at home for a while now, using freshly squeezed orange juice. A Strawberry Julius is the same concept, only the drink uses fresh strawberries instead of orange juice.
The recipe is very simple: strawberries, water, sugar, egg white, vanilla and ice. It sounds like it might be watery based on the ingredient list, but it is very flavorful and very refreshing, with a great creamy/fluffy consistency. The egg white is really the key to the drink, so don’t leave it out. Use pasteurized egg whites (this is what I use) or even a pasteurized egg white product (the whites-only variety, not anything yellow) in this recipe to substitute for the egg white when you’re mixing it up. It has a fantastic berry flavor and is one of my favorite summertime drinks.
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I usually keep my milkshakes nice and simple. Ice cream, milk, and a few extra fruits or syrups for flavoring, depending on what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes, however, I feel like making something a bit more decadent and I’ll use heavy cream instead of milk. I wouldn’t do it if I had a milkshake every day (unless I really needed the extra calories), but for a treat it’s a great way to go.
Adding heavy cream to a milkshake changes the consistency entirely from a shake made with milk alone. Heavy cream whips up easily into whipped cream with a whisk, and it does the same thing when you put it into the blender. Using roughly equal parts whipping cream and ice cream gives the finished shake a very mouse-like consistency that is light, but still tastes rich enough to be very satisfying.
This particular chocolate shake is made with Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream, whipping cream and chocolate syrup. It is light, fluffy and oh-so-smooth when you drink it. I think that the ice cream has a nice chocolate flavor, so I only put about 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup in my drink, but feel free to go crazy if you’re really in the mood for something dark. And don’t forget the whipped cream on top!
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It doesn’t take much to put me in the mood to make some smoothies. A warm day and the motivation to pull out the blender are all I really need – and the warmer the day, the more likely I am to want to pull out that blender! Once it’s out, of course, you still need to figure out what to throw in there. Fortunately, almost any fruit will do.I gave this smoothie a tropical twist. I started with ripe bananas, fresh pineapple and shredded coconut. I added some plain yogurt and coconut milk to give it a creamy texture, and the coconut milk enhanced the flavor of the shredded coconut. I ended up blending in a little bit of sugar, as well, but the smoothie has a nice natural sweetness on its own.
It’s light and refreshing, and definitely a tropical start to the day if you make one of these with breakfast. You just need a little umbrella (and maybe a plane ticket!) and you’re ready for a little escape – at least, I know I was!
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Around Christmas time, I tend to have a surplus of peppermint candy canes lying around. They also last well into the new year because they keep very well (and go on sale after the holidays!). I like this about candy canes because if you’re a fan of peppermint, they make fantastic coffee stirs and it’s nice to have them around to infuse a little flavor into an otherwise plain cup of coffee.
This Double Chocolate Peppermint Mocha – inspired by the various peppermint-infused drinks I’ve had from coffee shops this season – is far from plain, however. It is a rich, creamy hot chocolate made with both dark and white chocolate. Milky white chocolate really adds a creaminess to the drink, while the dark chocolate makes for a very deep chocolate flavor. Truthfully, I rarely measure out any of the ingredients when I’m going to make up a batch of this drink. I just add a bit of white chocolate, a bit of dark chocolate and add more if I feel I need to. I recommend adopting the same strategy so you can make this at a moment’s notice, but use the recipe below as a jumping off point. Don’t forget to use the candy cane as a stirring stick to really infuse that peppermint flavor. It also adds some extra sweetness to the mocha, and most candy canes have a better flavor than simply adding in peppermint extract.
I garnish this with whipped cream and crushed peppermint, but a candy cane alone is a nice touch. A mini candy cane makes a cute garnish as well, especially if you want to double or triple the recipe for a bigger crowd.
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