Raspberry Syrup and Raspberry Lime Rickey Recipes

Well, this Thursday Thirsty post is sponsored by the sale on raspberries at Harris Teeter last week. Haha! Not to mention I was looking for a way to make some Thirsty Thursday drinks and not have to start from scratch.

So I decided to make raspberry syrup and keep it in my fridge. This way I can add a tablespoon or two to my drinks or sparkling water. So refreshing and easy to do.

Raspberry Syrup Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup water
• 2/3 cup white sugar (I didn't say this was healthy!!)
• 1 cup raspberries (I used an entire pint!)

Instructions:

• Boil water and sugar in a sauce pan until sugar is dissolved (5-10 minutes)
• Take off heat and toss raspberries into the sauce pan, mash raspberries (I used a muddler), and let steep for 1 hour
• Drain mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a container, and seal
• Make sure to keep this refrigerated!

So now that we have some yummy raspberry syrup time to make some cocktails! I made a pitcher of the Raspberry Lime Rickey recipe found on Pinterest to share with everyone. However, you can also make them as individual drinks. I included both measurements below.

Raspberry Lime Rickey Ingredients: 

• 12 ounces of raspberry syrup/2 tablespoons for individual
• Juice of 8 large limes/3 tablespoons for individual
• 32 ounces of club soda/8ounces for individual
• Garnish with raspberries and lime slices
• Add vodka if desired (1 shot per glass!)

I love my new mason jar lid covers my mother-in-law bought me! Great way to take my drinks on the road (obviously not the ones with alcohol!)

So the question is what other drinks do I make with my leftover raspberry syrup? Let me know your ideas! 

Happy Pinning!!
By Jennifer Shelton

Passion Iced Tea Sparklers

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Nothing is better than Passion Iced Tea from Starbucks in the summer. However, now living in the suburbs I can no longer walk out my front door and grab an iced tea from Starbucks across the street. The other day I was at the grocery store and saw that TAZO came out with passion iced tea bags. What is great about these bags is that you only need one bag to make 4 quarts of iced tea.

Of course I couldn't just have plain iced tea, I had to spice it up a little to make it perfect for sitting on the back porch.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tazo Passion Iced Tea Bag
• 1/4 cup agave or honey
• Ice
• 2 cups sparkling sater or seltzer
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• Strawberries

Directions: 

• Boil water for iced tea and add agave or honey; once boiled add tea bag and steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on how strong you want your tea!). 
• Remove tea bag
• Fill glasses with ice and mint leaves
• Pour iced tea over ice filling half way
• Top iced tea with sparkling water and stir
• Garnish with strawberry

And most importantly enjoy!!

Happy Pinning!
By Jennifer Shelton

Coconut Lime Cilantro Cooler

Happy Thirsty Thursday! I just came back from my morning walk and it is going to be a hot one today. I decided I wanted to make something to drink that was refreshing and hydrating! So I found this recipe on Pinterest for a Coconut Lime Cilantro Cooler. I figure when it is a more appropriate hour to have adult beverages you can add vodka.

Adapted from Momontimeout.com

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Coconut Water - I used Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water
• 1/3 cup Club Soda (recipe calls for ginger ale or sparkling water, however ginger ale would take over the coconut taste, and sparkling water doesn't have enough fizz)
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice (recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, you can always add more but you want to make sure that the lime doesn't overpower the coconut water)
• 1 tsp chopped Cilantro

Directions: 

• Stir all ingredients together
• Pour into glass filled with ice
• Garnish with a slice of lime and cilantro

ENJOY!!! Also, you may have seen my metal straws in pictures. I am obsessed with them. They keep your drink cold. You can find them at William Sonoma or Crate and Barrel! I have both kinds and love them equally. The Crate and Barrel straws are great for smoothies or frozen drinks.

And I also have to call out that Rue La La has Lilly Pulitzer on sale too! If you are not a member you can sign up here.

Happy Pinning!!
By Jennifer Shelton