Saturday 2 June 2012

Minty Lemonade with Blossom Ice Cubes


When the sun comes out there's nothing like a refreshing cool drink to keep me happy. Homemade minty lemonade is just the thing. It's thirst quenchingly good, remarkably easy to make and looks especially delightful served with some frozen blossom ice cubes.






Recipe
Serves 4-6


for the blossom ice cubes:
small whole unsprayed edible flowers or petals (such as scented geraniums and roses)
water



1. To make these you'll need an empty ice cube tray. Gently quarter fill each cube hole with water.


2. Place a small flower or petal into the water of each cube hole.


3. Cover the cube holes with more water, being careful not to overfill and spill the tray.


4. Carefully place the filled icecube tray in the freezer and freeze for at least 3 hours until firmly set before serving with a cold drink such as the minty lemonade.






for the minty lemonade:
freshly squeezed juice of 4 lemons
85g caster sugar
1 litre of boiling water
4 mint leaves
lemon slices and blossom ice cubes, to serve


5. To make the lemonade, combine the lemon juice, sugar and boiling water in a large pan, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to check the sweetness, allow to cool and then carefully decant it into a large glass jug.


6. Crush the mint leaves roughly with your hands and stir into the lemonade. The longer you leave the mint to steep in the lemonade the more fresh flavour it will bring to the drink. Leave to chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.


7. Serve the lemonade in glasses topped with lemon slices and blossom ice cubes. Drink it outdoors, listening to birdsong and feeling the warm sun on your face.








The icecubes and lemonade were idly made while watching the classic film Some Like It Hot, Marilyn Monroe's finest work.
Here's the original trailer for your delectation: