Refreshing Summer Drinks

Strawberry Limeade:
Lemonade is one of the most popular summer drinks (and I do have a mint lemonade I love), but I like limeade even more!
I find the flavor of lime to be a bit brighter, and to pair with the strawberries beautifully. It’s a classic enjoyed by pretty much everyone.

Strawberry Limeade
Ingredients

1/2 cup lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 lb sliced strawberries
20-30 mint leaves
2 cups cold water

Instructions

To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, and cook over medium high heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear.
In a large mason jar or a pitcher, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, strawberries, mint, and water. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Summer Melon Sorbet Floats:
Root beer floats are the most popular float drink, but you can go lighter with fresh melon balls, fruit sorbet, and seltzer.

Melon Sorbet Float

Ingredients

assorted melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc)
2 scoops lemon, raspberry, or other fruity sorbet
fresh mint leaves
seltzer water

Instructions

Freeze the melon balls for at least three hours until frozen.
To make the drink, put the sorbet into the bottom of a glass, then top with the frozen melon balls. Drop in as much fresh mint as you'd like (anywhere from a couple leaves to a handful), then top with seltzer water.
Let the sorbet melt to sweeten and flavor the drink. Enjoy!

Homemade Raspberry Vanilla Soda Recipe:
No storebought soda can compare to a fresh soda made at home, using real fruit syrup cooked from scratch.

Here I make a raspberry vanilla simple syrup, but you could also do other flavors using Strawberry Simple Syrup or the Peach Simple Syrup from this Sparkling Peach Iced Tea.

Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18

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Raspberry Vanilla Soda in a glass with straw

Raspberry Vanilla Soda
Ingredients

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
seltzer water
ice

Instructions

In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and raspberries. Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbling away and the sugar is dissolved. Stir and cook this mixture for another 5 minutes, until the raspberries have cooked down.
Set a fine mesh strainer over a measuring cup or bowl and strain the saucepan mixture, pressing down on the raspberry pulp to squeeze out all the juice. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract, and let this chill in the refrigerator.
To serve, fill a glass with ice and add 2-3 tbsp of the raspberry syrup. Add about a cup of seltzer on top, and enjoy!

Cantaloupe Mint Agua Fresca Recipe:
Agua frescas are great for truly appreciating the flavor of the fruit, and while this recipe uses cantaloupe, honeydew melon is another great option.