Watermelon Margaritas

I have gotten behind on blogging again.  So, please scroll down to see a few of the recipes I've been making lately that I just back blogged.

This is a recipe that we made last week to take to a friend's house for the fourth of July.  These are super tasty and were a big hit!  I feel like we'll be making these again this summer!  We multiplied this recipe times three to make enough to take with us but didn't have enough limes, so we used some lemons and an orange to get enough citrus - it still tasted great.

Photo from:  wearenotmartha.com

Watermelon Margaritas (Serves 2):
From: wearenotmartha.com

1 1/2 C watermelon, chilled, seeded and cut into pieces
1/4 C lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 C silver (white) tequila
1/4 C Triple Sec (or Cointreau)
8 large ice cubes

Directions:
1.  Chop the watermelon into pieces.  Seedless watermelon will be much easier to work with!
2.  Put the watermelon pieces into the blender with the lime juice.
3.  Add the tequila, triple sec, and ice cubes.  Blend until you get a smooth consistency.
4.  Garnish with a lime!

Douglas Fir Sparkletini

I usually try recipes before I post them on my blog, but I wasn't sure if I'd get the chance to try this one this week - and I wanted to post it before New Years Eve.  It looks great and would be wonderful for any Christmas or New Years celebrations.  If you try it, let me know how it is!

Photo from Foodista

Douglas Fir Sparkletini
Recipe from Foodista.com
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces Douglas Fir–Infused Gin (recipe follows)
3/4 ounce white cranberry juice
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
Splash of brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine
1 5- to 6-inch sprig fresh-picked Douglas fir branch, rinsed

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Measure in the infused gin, cranberry and lemon juices, and simple syrup. Cap and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and top with a splash of Champagne. Garnish with a fir sprig and float a cranberry in the drink.

Douglas Fir–Infused Gin (Makes enough for about 16 drinks) Put the fir branch into the gin bottle, cap, and let sit 24 hours. (Do not let it infuse for more than 24 hours.) Remove the branch and discard. The infused gin can be stored at room temperature for up to one year.

Toomer's Lemonade (according to some)

Toomer's Drugs in Auburn is famous for their lemonade.  Kent found this recipe that claims to be the one that is used at Toomer's.  We're not sure if it is, but it's definitely good!  And this time of year, cold lemonade always sounds good!

Picture by: Deborah Ory

Toomer's Lemonade

Ingredients:

Lemons

Sugar

Water

Directions:

Put 5 lbs. sugar in a gallon jug and fill the jug with water. Stir or shake until sugar dissolves and solution is clear. (Hot water makes the sugar dissolve more quickly.)

To make 1 gallon of lemonade, pour 1 pint of lemon juice and 2 pints of simple syrup in a gallon container.  Finish filling the container with water and ice. Stir.

To make one large lemonade (16-oz.), squeeze the juice of one lemon into a 16-oz. cup, add 4-oz. of simple syrup and finish filling with water and ice. Stir.

**Kent says, If you'd just like to make a 1 gallon mixture, use  2.5 cups of sugar, 2 cups of lemon juice (from about 15 lemons), and fill the rest of the gallon jug with water.