Minted Blood Orange Pomegranate Punch

Hubby doesn’t drink any alcohol so I try to make drinks or cocktails when we have invited friends over, that he can enjoy without feeling left out! I start out with a non-alcoholic base, and then add alcohol. So at times it means getting really creative.

Photography by Heaven on Hearth

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Watermelon and Mint Limeade

Watermelons are a great summer fruit. They are sweet, juicy and are known to cool you down on a hot summer day or night. I remember running around as a child in our garden and when I was finished playing, there was this big plate of watermelon slices that my grandma had waiting for me. I remember biting into the big juicy slices, having the heavenly sweet pink colored juice running down my arms. Now that I am older, I still love watermelon and the heavenly sweet juice. Experimenting with the juice in so many different ways has been fun. This is a drink that my family just loves.

Photography by Robert Demetrius

3½ cups watermelon juice (3 pounds watermelon)

3 ounces lime juice

4 ounces Minty Mint Simple Syrup

mint leaves

ice

Peel watermelon, cutting it into cubes and push through a juicer. Strain again, so that you have no pulp. If you don’t have a juicer, put the cubes in a blender with the lime juice and liquefy for a few minutes, ensuring no lumps are visible and that the watermelon has been completely broken down. Strain through a sieve.

In a large jug, mix watermelon juice, lime juice and minty mint syrup and a few mint leaves, just for effect. Add ice and serve. Voilà! It’s truly a refreshing drink. The subtle taste of the watermelon is brought out even more once the lime juice is added. You can even add some melon balls or small melon cubes to the glass, for decoration. If you are making this drink ahead of time, remember to stir before serving.

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Blueberry Mint Mojito and Blueberry Mint Fizz

Cool drinks are key for everyone, young and old when entertaining during summer. Keeps the party alive and kicking. I have added my Minty Mint Simple Syrup and Very Berry Blueberry Simple Syrup to give the drinks an even bolder flavor and color.

Photography by Robert Demetrius

2 ounces of white rum (like Bacardi Superior or Havana Club)

juice of ½ a lime

2 tablespoons of Minty Mint Flavored Simple Syrup

1 tablespoon of Very Berry Blueberry Flavored Simple Syrup

2 ounces club soda 

5 leaves of mint and 1 sprig for decoration

8 – 10 blueberries

In a long drink glass, squeeze juice of ½ lime, 2 tablespoons of Minty Mint Flavored Simple Syrup, 1 tablespoon of Very Berry Blueberry Flavored Simple Syrup along with 5 mint leaves and about 5 blueberries and muddle until the mint leaves are bruised and the blueberries are a bit crushed. Then pour 2 ounces of rum into the glass, fill with ice cubes, top with 2 ounces of soda and the remaining blueberries and stir. Add a sprig of mint as a decoration and Voilà! A refreshing long drink to start the party.

Blueberry Mint Fizz

For those that do not drink any alcohol, I have just modified the recipe a tad, just so that you don’t feel left out.

juice of ½ a lime

2 tablespoons of Minty Mint Flavored Simple Syrup

1 tablespoon of Very Berry Blueberry Flavored Simple Syrup

6 ounces club soda or lime flavored sparkling water

5 leaves of mint and 1 sprig for decoration

8 – 10 blueberries

In a long drink glass, squeeze juice of ½ lime, 2 tablespoons of Minty Mint Flavored Simple Syrup, 1 tablespoon of Very Berry Blueberry Flavored Simple Syrup along with 5 mint leaves and about 5 blueberries and muddle until the mint leaves are bruised and the blueberries are a bit crushed. Fill the glass with ice cubes, top with 6 ounces of soda or lime flavored sparkling water and the remaining blueberries and stir. Add a sprig of mint as a decoration and Voilà! How easy was that? Everyone gets to enjoy a long drink. Cheers!

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Fabulously Summery Flavored Simple Syrups (Minty Mint, Very Berry Blueberry and Aromatic Rosemary)

Summer has arrived and the heat is on! The time has come to enjoy the fabulous rays of summer sun, while sipping on a chilled drink, lounging by the pool, a lake or at the beach. Soaking in all the goodness that summer has to bring. Sit back relax and enjoy a nice cold beverage packed with flavor and it doesn’t take long at all.

Simple syrup is such a quick and easy thing to do. It’s an easy way to sweeten and flavor your drinks.

Photography by Heaven on Hearth

Minty Mint Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 cup mint leaves

Sugar and Mint

In a saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Stir to ensure that all the sugar has melted. Remove from the heat and add 1 cup of mint leaves. I also like to add the stems, since they too are very flavorful. Let steep for 10 minutes before straining, then just leave to cool. When cooled, pour in a glass bottle and keep refrigerated. Use when needed. This makes 1 cup of minty mint simple syrup.

This is great in my Blueberry Mint Mojito and Blueberry Mint Fizz.

Very Berry Blueberry Simple Syrup

Very Berry Blueberry Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

½ cup blueberries, crushed

Blueberries and Sugar

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Stir to ensure that all the sugar has melted. Add ½ cup blueberries that you crush before adding to the boiling syrup. I find crushing the blueberries before adding to the boiling syrup gives the syrup that beautiful bold color. Boil for another 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and leave in the hot liquid for another 5 minutes before straining, then just leave to cool. When cooled, pour in a glass bottle and keep refrigerated. Use when needed. This makes 1 cup of very berry blueberry simple syrup.

This is great in my Blueberry Mint Mojito and Blueberry Mint Fizz.

Aromatic Rosemary Flavored Simple Syrup

Aromatic Rosemary Flavored Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 heaping tablespoon rosemary leaves

Rosemary and Sugar

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Stir to ensure that all the sugar has melted. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of rosemary leaves. Boil for another 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and leave in the hot liquid for another 5 minutes before straining, then just leave to cool. When cooled, pour in a glass bottle and keep refrigerated. Use when needed. Voilà! It’s done! This makes 1 cup of aromatic rosemary simple syrup.

This is great in my Strawberry Rosemary Mojito and Strawberry Rosemary Cooler

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