Kyle's Mint Mojito Slushy

 

Hot summer days call for cool summer drinks.  The other night my husband came up with this drink  It is sort of a version of a mint mojito drink, without the alcohol, and lots of crushed ice.  We all loved it, and have had it several times since.  A friend we had over for dinner said that the mint just makes it "over the top!"

 

 

Before I go any further, I want to thank you for all the good wishes for my son.  He dropped using a walker this past week -- that is progress!   He is now using crutches.  He drove for the first time in over 5 weeks for a little bit -- more progress!!  Hopefully in about 3 weeks he will be off the everyday IV antibiotics.

 

 

 

 

So my husband's recipe is very simple. 

 

Kyle's Mint Mojito Slushy

 

1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade

Ice Cubes

Water

4 tablespoons sugar -- add more or less according to your taste

About 30 small mint leaves -- we used peppermint leaves

 

Add the can of frozen limeade to an Osterizer container.  Fill the container with ice.  Then fill up the spaces of the Osterizer container with water to the top of the container.  Then add sugar and peppermint leaves, starting with 10 and then tasting, adding 10 more leaves then tasting, until you reach desired flavor.  Don't even think of using dried leaves. Blend until mixture is completely incorporated and the ice has been crushed finely and mixture is smooth.    Note:  At our Sprout's market they sell Mojito Mint plants; this would also be great, but we just used the mint we had growing in a container on our deck.

 

 

 

I hope you make this!  We love it.  Enjoy your summer day.

 

Peach Smoothie

Today was sunny and warm with a breeze -- can life get any

better than this?  I made this and then took it out on my deck to bask in the sun
like a cat. Oh, how I have longed for the sun.
The smoothie tasted so fresh, delicious, and healthy.

As I am enjoying the sun, I am mindful of the terrible storms
that have wreaked havoc on the lives of those in the South.
May we keep them in our prayers.

Recipe for Peach Smoothie

3 cups frozen, slightly thawed, peach slices

1-1/2 cup peach nectar -- I used Jumex found at Wal-Mart

1 cup vanilla yogurt

Put in blender and swirl until completely mixed together.  Serve right away.  Serves about 4. 

Fresh peaches would also be good, but they are not to be found in my area right now.

I am playing along with Michael Lee West's

Foodie Friday today.  Her main character Teeny, in the book Gone

With a Handsomer Man, is from the south.  Today we

have been asked to make something for Foodie Friday

that would fit along with her new book; I haven't

read the book, so there is no review, just a fresh

and tasty Peach Smothie that any Southern gal
would like.

Warming Winter: Hot Chocolate Station and Christmas Light Parade

Hi and a Warm Winter Welcome to all my readers today.  I am linking up to my own party "It's Your Wonderful Life" and to Susan's Tablescape Thursday.  I would love to have you link up to my party.  I am hosting a $75 CSN Gift Certificate.  Click HERE for the party and to enter the drawing.  I want to shout out a big THANK YOU to those who participated! 

My youngest daughter loves hot chocolate.  On many days in the winter, she heads straight from the bus to make her own hot chocolate.  This year I set up a WONDERFUL hot chocolate station. 

I set out peppermint stirrer sticks, marshmallows, and individual packages of hot chocolate, along with spoons, mugs, and plates.

We have fallen for these yummy gingerbread flavored and shaped marshmallows.  I have bought several and gave several away.  We also love the Bob's soft candy cane rods -- it's a fun way to add peppermint flavor to your hot chocolate. 

I bought the snowmen mugs and plates years ago at Harmon's grocery store; I believe they were $1.00. They are my favorite salad and dessert plates in the winter.

I love this little red bird in the mug.  It adds a nice touch, don't you think?

Question:  Have you ever noticed how much better hot chocolate tastes when you cook it on your stove top --- rather than microwaving?  It's true!  I probably should have my husband think on this one!

I have included some pictures of a communitycelebration near us.  Each year they hold a Christmas light parade.  None of the vehicles in the parade use their headlights.  My son's high school band plays in the parade.  Last year it was so cold that the trombone players couldn't slide their trombones.  In comparison to last year's parade, this year's parade felt tropical.  The community sets up bleachers in the town for people to sit out on.  We watch the parade in the warmth of our car and drink, of course WONDERFUL hot chocolate.

My son plays the clarinet and can't wear gloves when he plays.  The Santa was so adorable and WONDERFUL!

Linked with the following parties:

It's Your Wonderful Life, Home for the Holidays, Feature Yourself Friday, Weekend Wrapup

Blueberry Tablescape/Blueberry Lemonade Slushie

Welcome to Day Three of Blueberry Week at Red Couch Recipes!  I am so happy that you decided to join me for Tablescape Thursday!  Today I have set my table around a blueberry theme.  We are loving blueberries right now!  My kids eat them by handfuls!  They taste so good and are so good for you!

Before we get started, please don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for Girard Dressing.  Five lucky people will each win four bottles of this premium dressing.  Please click HERE or on the top button on the left-hand side of my sidebar.

If there is one "foodie" thing that defines our family it would be the making of and eating "slushies."  The Red Couch Family LOVES their "slushies."  A slushie to us is just a can of frozen juice (usually 100 percent juice), water (about 2-1/2 cups), and ice enough to fill the blender leaving about 1-2 inches room at the top of the blender container.  Then grind in the blender until smooth.  Today I also threw in a few handfuls of fresh blueberries.  Please grab a glass and ENJOY!

The bowls are Pfaltzgraff, the salad plates are from Wal-Mart this year, the white plates are Gibson.

The centerpiece features blueberries in my apothecary jar.  The unbrella in the table makes it difficult to do a centerpiece.  The metal pitcher is from Wal-Mart from years ago.  We always use it when we have slushies.  It reminds me of the metal glasses I used to drink out of when I was a child.

  Here's full view of the table.

Here's a sideview of the table.  We are dining on the patio today.  The rain is coming in, hurry let's eat!

The napkins are from Wal-Mart this year.  The stylish and very versatile napkin ring holders are from the Style Sisters.  I use them frequently!

Thank you for coming and sitting on my Red Couch for a Spell!  Tomorrow we are having a Literary Feast at Red Couch Recipes.  If you have young children or grandchildren, check back and find a fun "Book and Cook" post...of course, it will have something to do with blueberries.

I am posting this with Susan at Between Naps at the Porch's Tablescape Thursday.

Watermelon Frappe

There isn't anything that says summer more than watermelons and around my neck of the woods people think Green River watermelons are the best!  If you are a watermelon lover, you will love this frappe!   Every post on Red Couch Recipes this week will be watermelon-related!  Try making this recipe for Watermelon Frappe; it will refresh you on a hot summer day!  Use the sweetest watermelon that you can find.  The girls in my home were fans of this frappe; the guys not so much! Tati, the blogger, said, "It's different, but I like it!"  I have had this recipe in my collection for years; unfortunately, I do not know the author of it.

Recipe for Watermelon Frappe

4 cups diced watermelon with no seeds
3-4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon rind
3 cups (24 ounces) ginger ale

Put watermelon, lemon juice and rind in blender and mix until frothy.  Pour mixture into a picher.  Add ginger ale and stir.  Pour into glassses filled with ice cubes.  Makes about six cups.  Note:  if your watermelon isn't very sweet, you may have to add a bit of sugar.  This recipe is totally adjustable!  If you like, you can add more ginger ale or lemon juice.  My son liked the frappe with more ginger ale.

Come take a break and have a sip on our deck with us!