Watermelon & Rosemary Agua Fresca

My daughters and I LOVE farmer's markets. We love to go see what people have grown, made, etc. We usually hit a fruit stand first things, each of us get a clam dish of berries and eat them while we peruse the market.

Last year, we decided it was going to be the "Year of the Beverage" at the farmer's markets we visited. If we saw something we haven't tried - we would buy one and try it! Fun to get our picky eater to try new combinations.

We tried a watermelon & rosemary Agua Fresca and we were instantly in love. 

One of my daughters had an End of the School Year party/sleepover at our house. We planned ahead for brunch the following morning, I asked what she wanted to drink and she gasped and said "do you remember the watermelon Agua Fresca?" Both our mouths started watering.

Watermelon & Rosemary Agua Fresca
2 cups water
¾ cup white sugar
1 sprig rosemary
12 cups cubed seeded watermelon, divided
2 cups lemon juice, divided


Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Stir in rosemary; set aside to steep for 1 hour.

Place 6 cups watermelon, and 1 cup lemon juice in a blender. Strain rosemary syrup through a mesh strainer into the blender. Purée until smooth. Transfer to a large pitcher.

Purée remaining 6 cups watermelon, and remaining 1 cup lemon juice. Stir into the pitcher. Serve over ice.

Butter Beer

I'm hosting a little End of the School Year party for my youngest and her friends. We're doing an ice cream bar and a soda bar. I scoured this blog for my Butter Beer recipe to no avail!!! I have made it several times for parties from my High School daughter's Halloween Dance to my youngest daughter's Hocus Pocus themed parties every year.

Guess I need to get it down!!

Butter Beer
2 liters cream soda, chilled
1/4 tsp caramel extract
1/4 tsp butter extract

For the Topping
1 c heavy whipping cream
1/2 c butterscotch topping
1/4 c powdered sugar


*For Halloween themed parties we made ghosts on the side of clear plastic cups with marshmallow fluff and a sharpie

Thanksgiving Drink

Making this note for me and my old, forgetful brain!!!

A couple years ago, I made a "Thanksgiving drink" and I have ZERO recollection what it was, what it tasted like, drawing a total blank. As Thanksgiving approaches, the kids have been talking about it and asking if I was making it again this year. As I have no recollection of even making it (LOL) I've been asking everyone if they remembered what was in it - what it looked like, what it tasted like...

My son came home from school and told me EXACTLY what was in it because he loved it so much he made it for himself and his friends last year for Friendsgiving.

Thanksgiving Drink
Cranberry Sprite
Limes
Lemons
Whole cranberries

Pour Cranberry Sprite into your best punch bowl. Slice the fruit into rounds. Float the rounds on top, add cranberries and serve!!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

It's March 2nd and all our hopes and dreams of Spring right around the corner have been dashed. It is snowing right now and it's accumulating at an alarming rate! We decided to stay in and watch movies until the storm passed. I decided to make hot cocoa - as it may be our last cold and snowy day for a while (here's hoping!!)

I found this recipe online but tweaked it a little to suit our tastes and it turned out delicious! Honestly, the best hot chocolate I've ever had!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

6 cups milk
12 oz can sweetened evaporated milk  
1/4 cup heavy cream 
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder

In a medium sized bowl whisk together sugar and cocoa. Slowly whisk in evaporated milk - get it as incorporated as you can. 

In a large saucepan, heat milk and heavy cream over medium heat, stirring often. When it starts to bubble around the edges, slowly add cocoa mixture about 1/3 at a time whisking to combine. Stir constantly to prevent scorching until mixture is hot and slightly thickened. Serve with whipping cream

Mulled Spiced Cider

2 of my kids LOVE hot cider. I just got this recipe off the box - the key is to let it steep for at least a good hour.

Mulled Spiced Cider
4 packets Alpine brand Spiced Apple Cider (original)
3 c water
1/2 c pineapple juice
3 whole cloves or equal amount of ground cloves
3-4 cinnamon sticks

Add everything together in a medium saucepan and cook low and slow.