Watermelon Slush

"fabulous and so easy.....add a shot of gin for the adults!!! "

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups diced watermelon
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1/2 cup water

PREPARATION

1. Blend watermelon, lime juice, sugar, ice and water in a blender until smooth.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 48 calories; 0 g fat ( 0 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 0 g fiber; 2 mg sodium; 137 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: A natural sports drink with vitamins A and C, potassium.

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1/2 fruit

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Quinoa Chili {Vegetarian}

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, diced (1 3/4 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups water (or chicken broth if not making vegetarian)
• 1 (7 oz) can diced green chiles
• 2 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I used one dark red, one light red)
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime

Directions

• Heat olive oil in a large enameled cast iron pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot add onion and saute until tender, about 4 minutes, adding in garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cooked quinoa, water (start with 1 1/2 cups then add more later if desired), green chiles, chili powder, cumin, cocoa, paprika, sugar, coriander, cayenne pepper and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover pot and allow to simmer 30 minutes.
• Add in all beans, corn, cilantro and lime and cook until heated through. Serve warm with optional toppings and sides (cheddar, sour cream, diced avocados, saltine crackers or tortilla chips).

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Minted Gin Sour

• a handful of mint leaves, divided
• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• lemon slices for garnish

 Place gin and mint in shaker. Muddle the mint.  Add lemon juice, and sugar and ice.  Shake well.  Strain over ice in a prechilled glass. Garnish with torn mint leaves and a slice of lemon.  Enjoy!

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Ginger Lime Daiquiri

Ginger Lime Daiquiri

Yield: 1 cocktail with plenty of simple syrup for several more drinks

Ingredients

Ginger Simple Syrup:
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup ginger, peeled and sliced
Ginger Lime Daiquiri (makes 1)
• 2 ounce golden rum
• 1 ounces lime juice
• 1 ounce ginger simple syrup
• Dash fresh ginger, grated with a microplane or fine zester

Instructions

1. Make the ginger simple syrup: Add water, sugar and ginger to a pan over medium-high heat. Stir continually until sugar has dissolved, remove from heat. Allow the ginger to steep until syrup has cooled to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Strain out the ginger and store simple syrup in a plastic squeeze bottle or jar in the fridge until ready to use (can be made up to a week ahead of time).
2. Make the Daiquiri: Add rum, lime juice and ginger simple syrup to a shaker full of ice. Shake gently for 15-30 seconds, strain into a cocktail glass. Grate fresh ginger into the glass.

Notes

Ginger simple syrup also makes a fantastic addition to watermelon margaritas

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Fresh Strawberry & Lime Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe

Memorial Day in the United States is just a week away and that can only mean one thing. That’s right, it’s grilling season! When I say “grilling”, I mean everything that comes along with it – backyard parties, kids running through the sprinklers, cocktails on the patio and long, warm summer evenings. That’s where this fresh take on a classic Tom Collins cocktail recipe comes into play.

To kick off the season, I’m pairing up with OXO, the fantastic company behind of at least half of the tools in my kitchen. Not only do I use their tools for everyday cooking andPortion Control for Weight Loss & Healthy Living, but I also re-designed my pantry forHow to: Organize Your Pantry. Well, it turns out that they have some equally awesome (read: functional, spiffy-looking and easy to use) cocktail tools.


Pictured: OXO Steel 7-Piece Barware Set

What better way to start off the backyard party season than with a cooling cocktail that highlights fresh fruit? A classic Tom Collins cocktail is a simple concoction of gin, simply syrup, lemon and club soda. Classic and perfect in every way.

However, this Tom Collins maker happened to have a heck of a lot of fresh strawberries sitting in her fridge. So, the classic cocktail got a little summertime makeover with a splash of an easy strawberry puree, slightly sweetened with agave nectar, and a squeeze of lime juice.

This cocktail is not overly sweet, nor is it overly berry-ish. If you’re hoping for a full-on hit of strawberry, reminiscent of a strawberry margarita, well…then I suggest making a margarita. But if you want something that’s subtly flavored, cold and perfectly refreshing, then this is your drink.

The recipe:

Place the strawberries and agave nectar in a blender, and puree until smooth.

Pictured: OXO’s citrus knife, included in the OXO Steel 7-Piece Barware Set

Using two Collins glasses, place a few ice cubes in each glass.

Pictured: OXO Steel Ice Bucket & Tongs Set

Divide the gin, lime juice and strawberry puree between the two glasses. Stir with a long spoon.

Pictured: Cocktail Mixing Spoon & Jigger, included in the OXO Steel 7-Piece Barware Set

Fill the glasses to the top with club soda. Stir again and garnish with lime wedges. Serve.

To stay updated on OXO’s newest tools and designs, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Other summertime cocktails:

Cookin’ Canuck’s Kicked-Up Avocado Margarita Recipe
Cookin’ Canuck’s Pink Grapefruit Greyhound Cocktail Recipe
Foodiecrush’s Hotel Inspired White Peach Sangria
The Boys Club’s The Rhubarb Sour
Inspired Taste’s Southside Cocktail

Fresh Strawberry & Lime Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 2 cocktails

Serving Size: 1 cocktail

Calories per serving: 161 cal

Fat per serving: Total Fat 0.2g / Saturated Fat 0g

From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com

Ingredients

• 10 oz. strawberries, hulled & quartered
• 1 tbsp agave nectar
• Ice cubes
• 3 oz. gin, divided
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice, divided
• Club soda
• Lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions

1. Place the strawberries and agave nectar in a blender, and puree until smooth.
2. Using two collins glasses, place a few ice cubes in each glass.
3. Divide the gin, lime juice and strawberry puree between the two glasses. Stir with a long spoon.
4. Fill the glasses to the top with club soda. Stir again and garnish with lime wedges. Serve.

Notes

Caloreis 161.2 / Total Fat 0.2g / Saturated Fat 0g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 14.3mg / Total Carbohydrates 13.8g / Fiber 1.2g / Sugars 11.0g / Protein 0.4g / WW (Old Points) 3 / WW (Points+) 1

Disclaimer: The OXO tools pictured were provided to me free of charge. In addition, I was compensated for this post. All opinions are mine. What can I say? I love OXO products!

Source: http://www.cookincanuck.com/2013/05/fresh-strawberry-lime-tom-collins-cocktail-recipe/

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