Strawberry Lemonade

 I adapted this recipe from Tammy Price's recipe found here (where she cans the lemonade concentrate into quart jars for later).  I only "can" what is absolutely necessary because of all the work.  So instead I froze my strawberries for later use.  I just love this refreshing drink! 

2 cups strawberries  - I like to use frozen but you can use fresh, also
1 cup lemon juice (just from the concentrate you buy from the store) - mine wasn't fresh
1 cup sugar
5 cups water

Blend berries with lemon juice and 1 cup of the water.  Then dump this mixture into a pitcher and add the sugar and remaining four cups of water.  If you use frozen berries, then your drink is already chilled and ready to drink!

Cranberry Wassail

Every holiday season I frantically search for this recipe (from allrecipes.com).  It's delicious!


1 (12 ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries
11 cups water, divided
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup red-hot candies
10 whole cloves
1 cup orange juice
2/3 cup lemon juice

1. In a saucepan, combine the cranberries and 4 cups water. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Press through a strainer; discard skins. Set cranberry mixture aside.
2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, red-hots, cloves, orange juice, lemon juice and 4 cups water. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and red-hots are melted. Stir in cranberry mixture. Add enough remaining water to achieve desired concentration; heat through. Discard cloves before serving.

 Tiff's Tips:  keep warm in a crockpot.  Younger children may not enjoy this drink.

Strawberry-Watermelon Slushie

Recipe from Taste of Home featured on Our Best Bites.

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved (I actually used a little less than a pint. Maybe 3/4 of it)
1/3 C sugar
1/3 C fresh lemon juice
2-4 C ice cubes
In a blender, combine the watermelon, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice; cover and process on high until smooth. With blender running, gradually add ice cubes until desired consistency is reached. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Yield: 5-7 cups

Tiff's Tips: This is a new family favorite! You can also use frozen strawberries, and then just add water instead of ice cubes.

Homemade Root Beer

I got this recipe from Keith. It's super easy and delicious.

1 - 2 ounce bottle of Root Beer Concentrate
9 1/2 cups sugar
4 1/2 gallons water
5 lbs. dry ice

Mix the first three ingredients in large water cooler, then carefully add the dry ice. Remember to not screw on the lid or you will have a huge explosion. The dry ice needs to vent!

This makes a lot of Root Beer!