drink: strawberry rhubarb italian soda

Rhubarb is plentiful at my parent's place (I'm garden-sitting) so I decided to make strawberry rhubarb simple syrup. It's delicious and only requires two steps - you just need to prepare some fruity simple syrup and have some sparkling water on hand. It couldn't be simpler, promise! And it's a fantastic way to use up rhubarb.

Strawberry Rhubarb Simple Syrup (adapted from Eat, Live, Run)

Ingredients
3 large stalks rhubarb, chopped
16 oz fresh strawberries, sliced
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
Sparkling water for serving

Combine rhubarb, strawberries, water and sugar in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken up. Strain the syrup twice - once through a colander and once through a sifter. You can keep the strained fruit to top pancakes or yogurt for breakfast - it's delish, too.

Place the strained syrup in a jar and let it chill thoroughly.

To assemble sodas, fill a glass with ice and sparkling water. Add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of simple syrup to the glass, depending on how sweet you like it. Enjoy!

Other great uses for this syrup would be to use it to make Strawberry Rhubarb Mojitos! Just add in about two ounces of this syrup to your rum along with some lime juice, mint and ice. Perfect summer time sipping!

I'm so inspired I'm going to try a rosemary-infused simple syrup next.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Dajana

drink: watermelon juice

The weather in Edmonton is hot (record-setting!) and sunny, and it finally feels like summer.

I survived the sweltering heat this weekend by mixing up a batch of watermelon juice. It’s the perfect thirst quencher, is a great way to use up overripe watermelon, and is super easy to make.

In a food processor or blender, puree three cups of chilled cubed seedless watermelon and 1 tbsp. or so of lemon juice. Serve garnished with a piece of watermelon.

For a more bubbly beverage, fill your glass halfway with watermelon juice and then top up with sparkling water or prosecco.

Easy peasy and so refreshing!

Dajana

drink: silver screen punch

And the Oscar for best punch goes to...



{via}

 

Happy Sunday, friends! I hope your weekend has been fantastic, so far.

Are you watching the Oscar's tonight? I'm most looking forward to seeing who's wearing what on the red carpet. As for the Best Picture nominees, I've seen and enjoyed The Descendants, The Help and Midnight in Paris (which I reviewed here). I'm hoping to add The Artist to the list when I see it with my ladyfriends, next month.

Although I'm not throwing an Oscar viewing party, I am hosting my Literary Ladies book club today. In honour of the Academy Awards, I'm going to mix the ladies up a bowl of Silver Screen Punch - a fruity concoction the stars will be indulging in at the Governor's Ball following the awards ceremony. Cheers to drinking like a celebrity!

Silver Screen Punch

Ingredients:
1 (6 ounce) can pink lemonade concentrate
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ teaspoon grated ginger
1 cup vodka
1 bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine
1 pineapple, cut into rings and frozen

Instructions:
In a blender, combine pink lemonade concentrate, pineapple juice, strawberries, and ginger. Blend until smooth. Pour into a punch bowl. Add vodka and stir to combine. Just before serving, pour in Champagne or sparkling wine.

Tip: To avoid watering down the punch, use frozen pineapple slices instead of ice cubes. Once the pineapple slices melt, they'll just add more juice to the mix!

Recipe found here.

drink: lychee slush cocktail

In the mood for a tasty & exotic treat, friends? Why not celebrate the start of the weekend with a refreshing lychee drink you can make at home in just a matter of minutes. The combination of lychee and lime is divine! This is one of my favourite summertime cocktails.


{via chatelaine}

Lychee slush

- 1/2 540 mL can lychees

- 2/3 cup lychee syrup

- 3/4 cup ginger ale

- 1/2 cup apple juice

- 1/3 cup lychee liqueur such as Soho (or plain vodka)

- 2 tbsp lime juice

- 2 cups ice

- lime wedges and raspberries for garnish

Directions:

1. Puree 1/2 540-mL can lychees with 2/3 cup lychee syrup (from can), 3/4 cup ginger ale, 1/2 cup apple juice, 1/3 cup lychee liqueur (or plain vodka) and 2 tbsp lime juice in a blender until smooth.

2. Add 2 cups ice. Crush until slushy. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh raspberries. Serves 6.

Pregnant ladies can still indulge - just leave out the spirits and add an equivalent amount of ginger ale.

Živjeli to the weekend!

Dajana 

p.s. I also like this simple version from Martha Stewart.

drink: lady beer

Recently, a friend mentioned a drink she had enjoyed at the Bothy Wine & Whisky Bar.  The bevy was a mix of Crabbie's Ginger beer and Castle Lager.  This was music to my ears since Crabbie's is one of my choice drinks of the summer!  Mind you, I'm not a beer drinker at all.  Mojitos, bellinis and martinis are more up my libation alley.  Yes, I'm a wuss when it comes to alcohol. 
 
I added Scottish-made Crabbie's to my bevy roster (John Crabbie began the company in 1801 with his Original Scottish Green Ginger Wine) because it`s so refreshing, especially when served chilled with lemon. It's got a crisp gingery-spiciness. If you like ginger, this is a must-try!

This got me thinking about two of my other favourite lady beers - those I dream of enjoying outside on a balmy sunshine-filled day...which may be a long, long wait for us here in Alberta. For now, my living room will just have to do.

First up is, Liefmans Fruit Beer. It's a light, fresh Belgian beer made with strawberry, raspberry, cherry, billberry (similar to a blueberry but smaller) and elderberry juices. 

It's a highly drinkable little brew with a delightfully sweet aroma and taste. A rich dark chocolate dessert would be its perfect partner in crime.

And lastly is, Früli - a Belgian white beer blended with strawberry juice.

Früli is liquid strawberry jam. A delectable dessert beer. A tangy taste sensation. It`s good drinking.

Did you know that Früli received a gold medal at the International Beer Competition 2004? And that it took the title of Best Fruit Beer at the 2009 World Beer Awards?  We got ourselves a real winner here.

I purchased all three of these beers at the amazing Sherbrooke Liquor Store - which boasts (and actually has) the biggest and best beer selection in the city. Over 900 kinds!

And if it's a hot day, they'll let you bring your dog in to the store instead of having to leave them in the car to swelter. These are my kind of people.

Have you tried any of these three bevies? If so, which is your favourite? And if not, what's on your beverage roster? I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Happy Friday friends!

Dajana  :)

loving: korean tea

Meet Willa. She's my frolleague. Friend + colleague = frolleague. And a very sweet one at that.

Willa is holding something I've been loving lately and which she introduced me to... Korean tea.

Don't know what that is? That's okay, I didn't either until recently.

Korean tea is definitely not your Orange Pekoe.  It's a thick, marmalade-like syrup and is considered a tisane. The idea is to mix a few tablespoons into a cup of hot water. Easy peasy and delish!

On the left is citron and on the right, pear ginger. In Korean: yujacha and saenggang cha (cha meaning tea).

And no, citron is not a fancy-schmancy way of saying citrus - which is what I thought at first. Heh. It's actually a tangerine-sized citrus fruit found in east Asia.  It's also called yuzu, or yuja in Korean, hence the name of the tea, yujacha. I love learning about new fruits. 

  

Yuzu isn't usually eaten whole because it's quite sour. Instead, it's used like a lemon and
can be found as juice, vinegar, paste, powder (dehydrated rind) and of course, as Korean tea.

While reading about yuzu, I learned that during winter solstice in Japan, people throw in a bunch of whole yuzu into the bath so it releases its lovely aroma, which in turn, is believed to bring about a sense of wellbeing. I just love the Japanese. What a super idea! Got extra lemons in the house? Throw them into your bath peeps!

And I'm not sure if you noticed but my frolleague has the cutest lil' baby bump hidden underneath that awesome Anthropologie Southward Stop Dress she's wearing. Yes, she's with child! Yay! :)

Lately, Willa's been really digging the pear ginger tea, because it eases, as she calls it, her "morning, afternoon and evening sickness."  Poor lady.

Y'know, Willa isn't just cute, in the pudding club and my frolleague. The girl is also really flippin' talented.

Check out her knit veggies. The eggplant rocks my world.

Wanna read more about Willa and her crafty skills? Take a gander at her blog, the disheveled designer.

And if you're looking to try Korean tea, don't take my word for it, head on down to your local Asian supermarket to taste it for yourself. If you live in Edmonton, try T&T Supermarket, 99 Supermarket (99 St. & 107 Ave) or Lucky 97 (97 St. & 107 Ave).

Happy cha time, friends! Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Dajana