About a year ago, I started talking about starting to think about starting to blog...about cooking. I enjoy trying new recipes, using local ingredients and making my family happy. So when I finally started to blog, of course it ended up being about fashion, professionalism and whatever superficial thoughts I have in my pretty little head. What the heck happened to cooking? Nonetheless, I do still like to cook.
One of our amazingly hard-working and professional and sweet and fun interns, K, told me about this website: Smitten Kitchen. I checked it today and ooh la la what should Ms. Smitten Kitchen be posting about but the traditional summer drink lemonade but kicked up a notch. Here's the recipe copied from her site (or go right to site).
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The Front Porch
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) gin (Hendricks is specified; Tanqueray was used)
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) Pimm’s liqueur
4 ounces (1/2 cup) homemade lemonade (recipe below)
7-Up or another lemon/lime soda
10 paper-thin half moon slices of cucumber (I used an “English”, unwaxed, cucumber)
Pour gin, Pimm’s and lemonade into tall Collins glass, then add a few ice cubes and a splash of 7-Up. Finish with cucumber slices.
Lemonade
1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 part simple syrup, or to taste (I will use perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 of a part next time, see Note above)
2 parts water
Make simple syrup: Simmer one part water with one part sugar until sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
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I'm to make a few of these this weekend. These would go great with something a little spicy for the appetizer (cream cheese with some good salsa mixed in and maybe with some minced local red peppers and green onions mixed in, spread on tortillas and rolled up and cut into rounds - so easy); and then something grilled and a salad (my salads ALWAYS have toasted nuts and dried fruit in addition to the fresh ingredients). Dessert? A pie from the local farm stand. Bring a container to the local soft-serve ice cream place and fill it up. Plop the soft serve on the warmed up pie.
You know...I think I'm going to make it through this week after all. Who wants to come over?
K is amazing!
Posted by: J | 07/07/2010 at 10:26 AM