Refreshing fruit drink recipes!--Dianne

I just received the latest Urban Farm magazine, and it has a big article on blackberries in it.. It also has a recipe for making blackberry cordial, which rang a bell for me.  Come on, all you romantic novel-reading girls out there, remember in Ann of Green Gables, the incident with the cordial?   Well, I thought it would be a hoot to try to make some.  I looked for the magazine just now, of course it's not to be found, but I found these recipes in the mean time.   Anyone can make these, garden or not.  I'm providing alcoholic, and non-alcoholic, whichever is your style, or both!

This recipe is from the Anne of Green Gables cookbook by Kate MacDonald. "Diana poured herself out a tumblerful, looked at it's bright-red hue admiringly, and then sipped it daintily. "That's awfully nice raspberry cordial, Anne," she said. "I didn't know raspberry cordial was so nice." " Anne of Green Gables chapter 26

This one uses frozen raspberries, sugar, water, and lemon slices.
http://www.food.com/recipe/Anne-of-Green-Gables-Raspberry-Cordial-61879


Here's one with vodka.  It's basically the same one as the Urban Farm article, but it said to let it sit for 2-8 weeks, the longer the better.
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/12268/blackberry+vodka+cordial

• 900g fresh or frozen blackberries (2 lbs)
• 450g (2 cups) sugar (1 lb.)
• 375ml bottle vodka
• Chilled soda water, to serve

• Place the blackberries, sugar and vodka into a large clean glass jar. Seal and invert to combine. Set aside in a cool place, turning occasionally, for 24 hours or until the sugar dissolves.

• Pour the blackberry mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl or jug. Use the back of a spoon to press firmly to extract the liquid. Discard the pulp. Transfer the blackberry cordial to a clean bottle or jar and place in the fridge until serving. serve the blackberry vodka cordial with chilled soda water

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4777290_making-blackberry-cordial.html  This one says you may use brandy instead of vodka....

• Raspberry Swirl  Frappe

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/27301/raspberry+swirl+frappe

• 2 cups frozen raspberries
• 1 1/4 cups apple juice
• 1/2 cup plain Greek-style yoghurt

1. Blend raspberries and apple juice together until smooth. Place 1/4 cup yoghurt in the bottom of each of 2 large chilled glasses. Top with raspberry mixture. Using a spoon, swirl yoghurt through raspberry mixture. Serve.

Call me if you make that one, I'll be right over!!


 Other ideas  for cool, refreshing summer drinks

Use  berry-flavored teabags to brew a tea to which  you add ice, sugar, and some fresh berries.  Maybe even rim pretty glasses with sugar, (a la Margarita) before you serve. 

Make a fruit drink, freeze, and use as slushies instead of store bought popsicles or slushies.  You could customize with different flavors of Kool-Aid. 

I'm sure some of you could add some frappes or smoothies, or whatever. If you have a great idea for one, add it on.  I'm not experienced with smoothies, but I probably should be. 
Does anyone make them with just ice, no ice cream?  or with yogurt? 

Back to gardening....
We have not had a decent rain in weeks.  The grass is crunchy.  The church yard, which my son mows, looks shaggy, but I'm afraid to mow, in case it gets really dried up.  Maybe a run around the edges with the blades on high to knock down the weeds.  My own yard is just covered in clover, which is nice,  the white flowers take away from the fact that the grass is yellowing.

Remember, water deeply, less frequently. 

Dianne, waiting on rain...