Friends, have NO doubt – SUMMER IS HERE!
And, the warmer temps have me craving deliciously cold cocktails and confections. After all, there’s no better way to celebrate summer than with a refreshing, fruity beverage – I can almost hear the patio calling me now! (“Leee-naaa!!!”)
To toast the beautiful season ahead, my good friends at Minute Maid have shared six of their most fabulous recipes for summer treats. The perfect complement for an outdoor party and a must-have for a Girls Night In, you’ll be the hostess-with-the mostess when you serve these fruity faves. Be sure to bookmark this post, and ENJOY!
BLACKBERRY SMASH PINK LEMONADE POPS
(16 pops with ¼ cup capacity molds)
3/4 cup fresh blackberries
1 can frozen Minute Maid Pink Lemonade Frozen concentrate
1 ¼ cups water
200mL – tetra Minute Maid Mixed Berry 100% juice
Place blackberries in large bowl and smash with wooden spoon. Add Minute Maid Pink Lemonade Frozen concentrate, water and mixed berry blend. Pour into popsicle molds leaving ½-cm room at top for expansion. Freeze until hard. (The blackberries will float to the top, so that when inverted, creates a beautiful blackberry base.)
Per serving (approx. 1/4 cup / 2 oz. per one pop): about 47 cal, 0 g pro, 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 13 g carb (1 g dietary fibre, 11 g sugar), 0 mg chol, 4 mg sodium, 11 mg potassium. % RDI: 8% vit C, 1% folate.
PUCKER-UP GRANITA
(makes 6 servings)
Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup chopped fresh mint
1 can Minute Maid Lemonade Frozen concentrate, mixed with 3 cans water
1 can Minute Maid Limeade Frozen concentrate, mixed with 3 cans water
Mint leaves for garnish
Simple syrup: In a small pot over medium-high heat, stir together water and sugar and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in mint; cover and keep on the side. Meanwhile, pour Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade into large, shallow glass baking dish and place in freezer overnight.
Strain mint from simple syrup. Stir simple syrup into Minute Maid Limeade, pour into large, shallow glass baking dish and place in freezer overnight.
Using fork, scrape surface of each mixture creating an icy snow. Layer lemonade and limeade in glass with chopped mint. Garnish with mint leaves.
Adult Option: Pour 1 oz. rum over layers and let sit 2 minutes (to create a mojito!) Stir to mix.
Per approx. 1 2/3 cups (15 oz.) serving: about 271 cal, 0 g pro, 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 72 g carb (0 g dietary fibre, 69 g sugar), 0mg chol, 19 mg sodium, 3 mg potassium. % RDI: 1% calcium
PEACHY SPARKLER
(Makes 10 servings)
1 can Minute Maid Peach Punch Frozen concentrate mixed with 1.5 cans water
2 cups Minutes Maid Original 100% chilled Orange Juice from concentrate
½ cup lime juice
5 cups Sprite beverage*
In large bowl or pitcher, stir together Minute Maid Frozen Peach Punch with Minute Maid 100% Orange Juice and lime juice.
To serve: Fill glass with frozen grapes and peaches. Fill halfway with juice, top up with Sprite. Alternately, skewer grapes and peach slices on a straw and freeze.
Per approx. 1 cup (9 oz.) serving: about 128 cal, 1 g pro, 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 34 g carb (0 g dietary fibre, 33 g sugar), 0 mg chol, 30 mg sodium, 12 mg potassium. % RDI: 67% vit C, 6% folate.
* Sprite Zero can be substituted if preferred
TROPICAL CITRUS GRANITA
(Makes 6 servings)
1 can Minute Maid Mango Punch frozen concentrate mixed with 2 cans water
2-200mL tetra Minute Maid Tropical Orange 100% Juice
Coconut Cream
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup water
1 ¼ cups coconut water
1 cup canned coconut cream
Stir together 100% Tropical Orange juice, Mango Punch and water. Pour into large shallow glass baking dish.
In small saucepan, (or in small bowl in microwave) heat water with sugar until dissolved. Whisk together with coconut water and coconut cream. Pour into shallow glass baking dish.
Place both dishes in the freezer for 2 hours. Remove from freezer, scrape edges and mix with a fork. Return to freezer, scraping every hour until no liquid remains, 6-7 hours total. Layer fruit granita on bottom of glass, followed by coconut mixture, and another layer of fruit granita on top. Garnish with tropical fruit.
Per approx. 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) serving: about 267 cal, 2 g pro, 9 g total fat (8 g sat. fat), 48 g carb (2 g dietary fibre, 45 g sugar), 0 mg chol, 91 mg sodium, 262 mg potassium. % RDI: 1% calcium, 3% iron, 115% vit C, 4% folate.
WATERMELON GRAPEFRUIT FIZZ
(Makes 16 servings)
8 cups cubed watermelon
1 can Minute Maid 100% Grapefruit Juice frozen concentrate mixed with 1.5 cans water
8 cups Sprite beverage *
Basil leaves for garnish
In batches, puree watermelon cubes in blender. In large bowl, stir together prepared Minute Maid 100% Grapefruit Juice with watermelon puree.
To serve: Fill glass with ice. Fill halfway with juice, top up with Sprite. Stir in torn basil leaves.
Per approx. 1 cup (8.5 oz.) serving: about 101 cal, 1 g pro, 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 26 g carb (0 g dietary fibre, 24 g sugar), 0 mg chol, 25 mg sodium, 84 mg potassium. % RDI: 1% calcium, 1% iron, 4% vit A, 52% vit C, 1% folate.
* Sprite Zero can be substituted if preferred
SUMMERTIME SANGRIA
(Makes 8 cups with fruit)
1 can Minute Maid Berry Punch Frozen concentrate
1 can Minute Maid Cranberry Punch Frozen concentrate
2-200mL tetra Minute Maid 100% Apple Grape Juice
2 oranges, segmented (see below)
1 red grapefruit, segmented (see below)
1 plum, sliced
1 apple, cut into ½-inch (1-cm) chunks
2 ½ cups Club Soda
In large bowl, stir together Minute Maid Berry Punch Frozen concentrate, Minute Maid Cranberry punch Frozen concentrate, 2 cans of water and Minute Maid 100% Apple Grape Juice.
To segment oranges and grapefruit:
Cut small piece from either end to make 2 flat sides. Place fruit on one cut end. Starting at top and cutting toward bottom, remove sections of peel and pith to reveal fruit. Continue, turning, until only fruit remains. Holding fruit in one hand, cut each segment free by cutting on either side of each membrane. Cut each segment in half.
Place all fruit into juice mixture. Cover and place in fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight. To serve, fill glass ¾ full with punch. Top with club soda.
Adult option: Omit club soda. Mix punch in equal parts with red wine. Let the fruit sit in the wine for 4-6 hours before serving.
Per approx. 1 1/2 (13 oz.) serving: about 210 cal, 1 g pro, 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 54 g carb (2 g dietary fibre, 50 g sugar), 0 mg chol, 28 mg sodium, 135 mg potassium. % RDI: 2% calcium, 1% iron, 5% vit A, 190% vit C, 7% folate.