Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda Pop

Now, I'm from the South, and I just can't say "pop." Or even "soda" for that matter. It's all Coke to me. Still, this recipe is delicious--refreshing and, while sweet, doesn't have any high fructose corn syrup! Let the kids make it with you--that's part of the experience! (Incidentally, this is a terrific recipe since it's the quantities for only one cup at a time; one of my twins does NOT like carbonation, so I make his with plain water and he's thrilled.)

~From Pretend Soup

• 2 T. fresh lemon juice
• 1 T. fresh lime juice
• 1/4 c. + 2 T. apple juice concentrate (thawed)
• 3 ice cubes
• 1 c. soda water

 Squeeze juice from a lemon and measure 2 tablespoons into a glass. Squeeze juice from a lime and add 1 tablespoon to the glass.

Add everything else and stir. Drink with a straw or slurp from a spoon.

Makes 1 serving (can make more easily!!)

Mulling Spices

This is my new go to gift when I need to whip up a bunch of Christmas gifts (well, this and the Chai Concentrate Spice Mix). Together, they make a terrific (and inexpensive) little gift. Try natural foods stores for the resealable tea bags. You'll want to find tea pot sized ones for this. They are simple to reseal with a hot iron. You'll be able to find the spice ingredients easily at any whole foods store as well. I haven't tried the mulled wine version yet, but it's yummy sounding!

~Recipe from about.com

• approximately 14 resealable tea bags (or a tea ball if you're going to make just one serving)
• 3 ounces whole cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole nutmegs (1 ounce)
• 1/3 c. chopped dried orange peel
• 1/3 c. chopped dried lemon peel (I didn't use b/c my store didn't have)
• 1/4 c. allspice berries
• 1/4 c. whole cloves
• 2 T. finely chopped, crystallized ginger (1 ounce)

1. Place cinnamon sticks and nutmegs into a heavy freezer bag or leftover cereal or cracker bag. Hit the spices with the bottom of small heavy skillet or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to break them into small pieces. Place in a bowl and stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Place about 2 tablespoons mix into each tea bag. Seal up with a hot iron.
3. If giving as a gift, include the directions below.

Yield: 14 bags apple mulling spice mix (each will spice a 750 ml bottle of red wine - 3-1/4 cups wine or 1/2 gallon - 8 cups apple cider)

Mulled Wine Recipe Instructions

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
3-1/4 cups (750 ml bottle) red wine
1 mulling spice bag

Combine water and sugar in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add wine and spice bag. Heat very slowly over low heat, only until small bubbles form around the edge and wine is very hot. Do not boil. Discard spice bag and serve hot.

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe Instructions

8 cups (1/2 gallon) apple cider
1 mulling spice bag

Place apple cider in a 3-quart saucepan and add spice bag. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Discard spice bag and serve hot.

Christmas Wassail

One of the family recipes! (from my husband's side...)This makes A LOT; it also keeps for a few days, so you can make it ahead of time for a big party. It will make your house smell wonderful while it's simmering. Perfect for those holiday gatherings ahead.

• 2 (46-oz) apple juice
• 2 (46-oz) pineapple juice
• 2 c. orange juice
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 t. whole cloves
• 1 qt. water
• 1 c. lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick

Bring water, sugar, and spices to a boil, and boil for a few minutes. Strain. Add juices and refrigerate. That's it!

Heat on the stove in a large stockpot if serving for a party. Otherwise, you can heat it by the cup. Mmm...

Karen's Mint Juleps

For our Derby Day Tradition, my former neighbor Karen always made the mint juleps. Here's her recipe (and these are way too drinkable!).

3 c. water

2 c. sugar

1 package of mint

Bring the sugar and water to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves. Pour over mint leaves and steep until ready to serve!

Mint Juleps: a 1-to-1 ratio of mint syrup and bourbon. Fill a glass with ice and pour half bourbon/half syrup over. Enjoy

Spiced Tea Mix

This was my all-time favorite "hot tea" growing up. Of course, it's mostly sugar and flavorings, but it still hits the spot on a cold day. My daughter loves it, too, and we have our tea parties with it. I use a slightly different recipe than my mother's mostly because it's hard to find the specific tea hers called for (why do they keep changing products?).

From Cooks.com

• 1 c. lemon flavored iced tea mix
• 1 c. Tang orange flavored drink mix
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. cloves

Mix well and store in a tightly covered container. To make tea, use 3 teaspoons per cup of hot water (or however much you like!)

Orange Julius

Another gem of a recipe from my friend Rachel. This is a perfect treat on a hot day!

• 1 (6-oz.) can of frozen, concentrated orange juice
• 1 c. milk
• 4-6 T. sugar
• 2 capfuls vanilla
• ~16 ice cubes

Mix ice cubes in blender first, then add remaining ingredients. Blend together. Serve immediately with a straw!

Makes 3 generous servings

Wassail

Have this ready in your crock pot or simmering on your stovetop at your next cold weather party or gathering. It's wonderful and very "seasonal." Recipe is from my friend Rachel.

• 1 c. fresh orange juice
  
• 4 sticks cinnamon
  
• 1 whole allspice
  
• 4 cloves
  
• 8 1/2 cups apple cider or juice
  
• 2 1/8 cups dark rum*
  
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice*
  

*May substitute pineapple juice for these two ingredients.

Bring all ingredients to a boil, then quickly turn heat off and let steep for 4 hours. Serve hot (reheat before serving or keep warm in a crock pot turned to "low" setting while steeping).

Makes more than a half gallon

Sparkling Punch

Delicious and refreshing!

1 (6-oz.) can frozen lemonade, thawed

1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 (10-oz.) package frozen strawberries, thawed, undrained

3 quarts Ginger Ale, chilled

Combine all ingredients except Ginger Ale in blender. Blend at high speed 3o seconds or until smooth. Just before serving, stir in Ginger Ale.

Makes 4 quarts