Blueberry Mint Lime Fizz

Pin It

I'm one of those people that really likes to chuck all kinds of different ingredients into a bowl and call it salad - or into a pot and call it soup, or curry, or what have you. My general rule of thumb is The More The Merrier, and if it clears those veggies-that-really-need-to-get-used-but-I-just-haven't- found-a-place-for-elsewhere, then all the better! For the most part this turns into a delicious experimentation, occasionally it goes awry, but I'll keep those disasters far from this blog, never fear.

One area I don't really experiment with very much is the beverage category. Yes, I've made some delicious cocktails and mocktails in the past, but on a day to day basis I drink water and that's about it (and truth be told not nearly enough of it). It can get a little boring after awhile especially since I don't appreciate super sugary sodas like I used to. I'm certain there was a time in my teenage years where I was sustained on that junk almost entirely, but I just can't handle them too much any more. And so, what's a gal to do when her water's a bit boring and her soda is making her feel sick? Chuck a bunch of ingredients into a glass and sip away, naturally.

Inspired by this iced tea I made last summer (which is delicious and wonderful and you should totally go make some), I decided to play with the mint and lime flavours again. By the way, mint and lime is always a recommended combination! 

Wanting an alternative to water that wasn't soda but was still fizzy so that it seemed more exciting, I started with a base of soda water. Because I could just throw in the lime and mint and leave at that, I decided to jazz it up a bit more with some fresh blueberries. The result was a fizzy, slightly sweet (thanks to the amazing blueberries), and super refreshing - exactly what I needed. 

What do you do when you need to mix up your hydration habit? I'd love some tips and ideas, please share!

Keep reading for the recipe!

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream Float

Pin It

Fridays seem like such a great day to indulge in an extra special treat, don't you think?

It's the end of the working week. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, you've made it.

You've met with that pesky client and came out with clear objectives. Well done!

You've read and marked 56 short stories, of which only one made any grammatical sense. Bravo!

You've successfully avoided your boss long enough so they can't reasonably ask you to work this weekend. You're a champ!

What a great/long/productive/exhausting week it's been. No matter which adjective you choose to use, you deserve a treat. So let's do this!

To break this down for you we've got ice cubes made out of coffee, almond milk, pumpkin spice syrup, coffee, and vanilla ice cream. All of these a great things to have individually, but when you put them together ... that's when the magic happens.

Bitter coffee with sweet ice cream. Spicey pumpkin syrup with cool ice cubes. Just the right amount of creaminess from the almond milk. There's a lot going on, and it's fantastic.

Keep reading for the recipe!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Pin It

I should probably just start a new feature called "pie for breakfast" because with this smoothie, and these Apple Pie Breakfast Bars, I am well on my to proving how much I like to mask everything so it tastes like dessert. I can see it now... pecan pie overnight oats, lemon meringue pancakes. Really, the possibilities are endless.

Until I run out of pies. Which would happen in approximately 11 days. Because I cannot name more than 11 pies. How sad.

Oh well, at least I've got this smoothie.

Smoothies are a daily consumption in this household and while I have my go to mix-ins, I am trying to broaden my horizons a bit. And since it's all-pumpkin-all-the-time these days, the move to adding pumpkin in my morning smoothie was only a matter of time.

Pumpkin is fairly dense in smoothies and can sometimes create a semi-gelatenous texture - not something I'm a personal fan of - so to combat this I've added more liquid than I normally would in other smoothies. Though this is personal preference.

To make this morning mixture even more nutritionally satisfying I've added some goodies like ground chia seeds, hemp hearts, and flax seeds. If you don't have these don't worry about it. They don't alter the flavour but they do add a recommended boost and can assist in keeping you feel full longer.

Keeping reading for the recipe!

Scotch and Ginger Beer Cocktail

Pin It

You know what's awesome about summer time? It seems to come with a built in excuse to soak up the warm rays (will full factor SPF of course!) and experiment with boozy drinks. Is that included in your definition of summer? Because if it's not, it totally should be. 

A simple Scotch on the rocks is one of my favourite drinks, it's easy, the flavours are rich, and it forces me to sip slowly so I don't turn into one of those weird booze guzzlers (which is precisely what happens when I drink fruity-boozy things that taste like juice … oh boy). However, a drink like that has a time and a place, and rereading the Harry Potter series for the 10th time super intellectual summer blockbuster is not it. So it was time to mix it up. 

This cocktail was whipped up in about 30 seconds flat and has a real juxtaposition of flavours. The scotch gives it a rich, deep flavour, but the ginger beer balances it out and makes it zippy and fun - which basically means you can serve this to anyone and everyone (of legal drinking age… I'm not promoting any wrong doing here). 

While we're here, let's talk about Ginger Beer for a second. Have you tried it? Do you know what it is? I'm discovering the many from North American are not privy to the delight that is this spicy/lively non-alcoholic beverage. Think of it as a less sweet, more gingery Ginger Ale and you're just about there. It's can pack a bit of a punch, so if this is your first time trying it, sip small at first but guaranteed you'll be back again and again!

Served over ice and with a twist of lime if you have it this would be the perfect drink to accompany some lime roasted cashews or a snack of sweet potato fries. yum!

Keep reading for the recipe!

Mint Lime Iced Tea with Simple Syrup

Pin It

There is nothing like summer in Canada. More specifically, there is nothing like summer in Ontario.  Our summers are sunny, hot, and filled with endless shades of green and blue. Quite frankly, it's stunning. It's the type of weather that makes you want to sit back, put up your feet, and sip on something gold and refreshing - and that's exactly what we're going to do today!

This recipe was inspired by a meal I had well over a year ago on our trip to Cambodia.  We dined at Friends restaurant (which remains one of the best meals I've had) and I ordered this drink in hopes of finding a thirst quencher that would help me beat the heat.  It did, and I've been wanting to drink it again ever since. Well, I finally got around to making it, and of course it was about the simplest thing ever, which means it's likely to become a refrigerator regular.  Huzzah!

The base of this recipe is a simple unsweetened iced tea (read: cold black tea), but the mint and lime combine to make it oh-so-refreshing, and the simple syrup served on the side lets you adjust the sweetness to your tastes and makes it seem extra fancy - everybody wins!

This would be a great addition to your next BBQ, girls-day-at-the-beach session, or anytime you want to sip on something yummy and refreshing.

Enjoy, and keep reading for the recipe!

Ginger Lime Elderflower Refresher

Pin It

I'm not really one for mixing drinks. Don't get me wrong, I love a good mixer, but much like sandwiches, I usually find drinks taste best when made by someone else.  There always seems to be a je ne c'est quoi about drinks and sandwiches alike that taste fine when made by me, but are other worldly when made by others. So, usually, I leave it to the pros. 

This little drink on the other hand is a whole other story.  This is a refreshing mix dreamt up as our winter switched to summer in no time flat and left us stunned and covered in a thin dew of sweat (so appealing). The combination of lime and elderflower is the perfect fusion of sweet and tart, and the ginger background ensures a nice kick off the top. Yum!

This is a keeper of a recipe, if you can call it that - it's almost too simple.  It can be whipped up in a snap as the temperatures rise, the sun dips, or any time feeling strikes.   

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Pin It

Living in China, there are many things I miss about home.  I'm more than positive I've lamented about missing certain events and foods before.  But there is nothing quite like the arrival of Autumn, and living in the subtropics it's an occasion that I can only mark by a date on the calendar and pictures on Facebook of beautiful foliage, cozy sweaters and friends sipping their beloved pumpkin spice lattes. Correction: my beloved pumpkin spice latte.  You see, there are Starbucks galore in this country, even a nice smattering of my sometimes preferred Costa Coffee, but there are NO pumpkin spice lattes. It's just not a thing here and it's one of the most heartbreaking truths of my reality (ugh, such first world problems!).

Since the thought of another whole pumpkin spice season without the cozy flavoured goodness that it is was just too much to bare, I decided it was time to roll up my sleeves and do something about it. So I made my own!

This came together soooo easily, and so quickly, I wonder if I'll ever buy the famously overpriced version again.  I used some pumpkin I had leftover from a pie I made for our staff Thanksgiving feast (I'm not the only one that misses the seasons!), and it is the perfect recipe when you have an awkwardly small amount of puree leftover.

I also subbed in agave syrup for the sugar because I get jittery enough from the coffee, I don't also need the sugar high at 7:30 in the morning. Plus it's one of the few treasts I can find in this country so I'm determined to use it (ignore the fact that I have to take a 20 minute taxi ride to a Costco-like store to find it).

If you crave the pumpkin spice flavour this time of year, I strongly encourage you to try whipping up a batch of your own. You'll thank me later, so you're welcome now.

NOTE: pumpkin pie spice is not a thing here either, nor are ground cloves and nutmeg to make my own, so this recipe features the simple combination of cinnamon and ginger.  If you want even more of an autumnal spice kick, I recommend adding approximately 1/4 tsp of each.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

4-6 Tbsp pumpkin puree (canned or homemade, whatever works)
1/2 cup agave syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 - 1 tsp ground ginger 
1 cup water

1. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally so as not burn any of the pumpkin
2. Once you reach a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until you reach a nice syrup-y consistency
3. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before transferring to an airtight container, store in the fridge and enjoy!