Thirsty Thursday-Lemondae Galore!

If you've read my blog before, you know that I do love lemonade.  Nothing beats hot southern summer day better than an ice cold glass of lemonade. But I am not the only one in the house that enjoys a good cup of lemonade.  Red does too!  Since tomorrow is her birthday, I thought I would use tonight to write about different  lemonade variations I have found.  We are definitely going to give the watermelon lemonade a try this weekend!  If you are looking for a plain lemonade recipe, you can find it here.

 

Watermelon Lemonade

 

 

Raspberry Lemonade

 

Coconut Lavender Lemonade

 

Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

 

This last one I can't wait to try!  I love Starbucks' Passion Tea Lemonade!!  I am hoping this one taste just like it.  It would definitely save me some trips to Starbucks.

 

Hugs y'all!

Melissa

 

 

Thirsty Thursday-Simple Strawberry Cocktail

             

 

We've made it through another busy week.  For the readers that are teachers in the state of Texas, congrats!!  You made it through another year of STAAR testing.  You deserve a break.  (If you want to know my opinion about the STAAR testing, check it out here.)  Today's drink is so super easy and can use up some of that vanilla vodka from the Easter cocktail.  That is if you still have any.  I would post the link but the recipe seems to have disappeared from the site.  So here it goes:

Ingredients include:
3oz.  Moscato
1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Strawberry soda
Optional-Strawberries for garnish

Combine moscato and vanilla vodka with ice in a shaker.  Shake and then pour into your favorite cocktail glass (or in my case, a mason jar) and top with strawberry soda.  Feel free to garnish with a strawberry.

Hope you get a chance today to relax and sip slowly on this sweet little cocktail!
Hugs y'all,
Melissa


 

Grilled Cheese Heaven

                  

  

I am just gonna put this out there:  if you don't like grilled cheese sandwiches, we can't be friends.  Seriously, what's not to love?  Bread-good.  Cheese-good.  Butter-good.

Grilled cheese sandwiches used to be just that; bread toasted with cheese in the middle and grilled to a gooey mess.  Now there's all these different ways to change it up.  I make my kids grilled cheese pizzas and they love them.  The simple grilled cheese has come a long way.  Today, I am bringing you a few of my new favorites that will be repeats on our family menu.  

Lasagna Grilled Cheese

Adult Grilled Cheese

Breakfast Grilled "Cheese"

I can't wait to try out some of these this weekend.  Red has basketball games on Saturday so the breakfast sandwich will be perfect as we head out the door!

Peace, Love and Grilled Cheese!

Hugs y'all,

Melissa

Texas Tuesday- Bluebonnets in the Spring

             

This is the best time of the year.  Easter has passed so that means spring is officially here.  The color blue is beginning to line our little country roads and big state highways.  I love it.  After feeling inspired by the beautiful drive this morning, I decided to dedicate today's post to bluebonnets!  Don't worry...I fought the urge to pull over and take selfie in a field of them this morning.

There are several family friendly festivals going on in the coming weeks.  I also found a map that combines bluebonnet sightings and wine tours!!!  Just click the links below for more info.

1.  Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival: April 11&12, 2015

2.  Ennis Bluebonnet Trail: April 1-30, 2015

3.   Ennis Bluebonnet Trail Festival: April 18&19, 2015

4.  Burnet Bluebonnet Festival: April 10-12, 2015

I also found a great website that reports bluebonnet sightings.  Go check out www.bluebonnetlove.com to report sightings near you or to find that great spot for pictures.  

Last but not least...  Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail

Wishing you all luck as you head out to find the perfect spot for bluebonnet pictures!

Hugs y'all!

Melissa

Thirsty Thursday-The Perfect Summer Lemonade

It's Thirsty Thursday again!!  I decided this week would be a non-alcoholic lemonade.  I was craving lemonade...but not the powder stuff...the real stuff!  Like "fresh from the lemon tree" lemonade.  So I checked out Pinterest to see what I could find.  I found some that were okay but I wanted JUST LEMONADE.  Not strawberry, not watermelon, just lemonade.  So I took my research to the lab (or my kitchen in this case).  I bought 6 BIG lemons...not those pansy ones that come in a bag.  The big ones that were 2 for $3 at my local grocery chain.  Then I bought a big bag of granulated sugar just to make sure I had enough.  I even bought a manual juicer!  I could not wait to get home and concoct the perfect lemonade.  When I was a kid, there was a corn dog place in the next town over that had the BEST lemonade.  Not too sweet but not too sour.  But like everything else good in the town, it is no longer there. 

I started off by boiling a cup of water and 1 1/2 cup of sugar.  You need the sugar to dissolve and make a clear syrup.  Once you have brought it to a boil, pour into a pitcher to chill.  I put mine in the fridge.   Then I heated my lemons in the microwave for 30 seconds.  I read several recipes that believes the heat releases the juices.  Whatever, I'm game!  Once heated, I took them out and rolled them between my palms and the counter.  Again, it helps release the juices.  After a few rolls, I put them on the cutting board and began cutting them in half.  Make sure to pick out the seeds!!  I juiced all 6 and got around a cup of lemon juice.  The ideal amount ranges from 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice.  I then removed my pitcher from the fridge and poured in the lemon juice.  Depending on your pitcher size, add 7-8 cups of water to fill the pitcher.  I used my cute Fiesta one and was able to fit 7 cups.

My daughter came in from working outside all day and she loved it!!!  Apparently I did not make enough.  It's almost gone between her two BIG glasses and mine.  The best part is it tasted like the corn dog stand from my childhood.

Here's your grocery list:

6-8 BIG lemons

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar

8-9 cups of water

Enjoy!!

Hugs y'all!

LSG