End of Summer Fruit Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 pears, cut into chunks and frozen
2 bananas, cut into slices and frozen
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 cups apple juice
Dash of nutmeg

Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Sprinkle with nutmeg and enjoy.

Sparkling Orange Lime Drink

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1 quart freshly squeezed orange juice
6 limes, juiced
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped
2 cups Club soda
8 to 10 sprigs fresh mint for garnish

Pour the orange juice and lime juice into a large pitcher, add the sugar and chopped mint and mix well, then put in refrigerator to chill.
To serve at picnic, put ice in tall glasses, add 1/4 cup Club soda in each glass, then pour in juice mixture.
Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

photo credit: bgottsab

Homemade Lemonade

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Few things refresh more on a hot summer’s day than a tall cool glass of lemonade! Avoid questionable ingredients and make your own for pennies a serving.

Homemade Lemonade

1 cup sweetener of choice (Sucanat or maple sugar are great)
1 cup water
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 to 4 cups cold water

Start by making a ‘simple syrup’ by combining the sweetener and water in a heavy saucepan, heat to boiling, then turn down and simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture looks ‘syrupy.’ If you use honey or brown rice syrup for your sweetener, you can skip this step, but you may find the mix dissolves more easily if you heat it.

Squeeze enough lemons to get 1 cup of juice (about 6 or so should do it.)
Pour the juice in a pitcher and add the syrup.
Pour in 3 cups cold water, taste and pour if more if desired.
Put in refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Transport to picnic in closed pitcher and bring ice to pour over in each glass.  Top with lemon slices for garnish if you wish.

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