The following story and recipe is submitted by Loretta Friedrich. Over the years Loretta has been a regular contributor to the Fabulous@50 communtiy and blog so we are thrilled to have her on board now offering us beautiful ways to reconnect with the food that nurishes us.
Today's feature is a wonder fresh herby fruity drink ... a perfect drink to relax to on a warm summers day.
I have made this recipe and variations of it over the past number of years with much success. A whole lot of people love it too! You just cannot go wrong mixing herbs and fruit with lemons in a drink. It is like summertime in every sip! And the nutrition is not too shabby either providing nutrients like vitamin C and other minerals.
Depending on where you live, use local Saskatoons, strawberries, blueberries, Nanking cherries, or Evans cherries (sour or tart cherries). You may find them in the wild, at a u-pick, at the market, or in your backyard! The Evans cherries are more specific to the Edmonton region but if you cannot find them, you certainly can use any tart or sour cherry.
What really brings out the flavour – that is more unique to a drink that say just mint – is the addition of basil. You just do not want to use too much of it since it can become overpowering. I encourage you to experiment with different fruits and herbs to your taste preference.
For your next celebration or any day, consider making this drink as a family-friendly beverage that cools, offers nutrition, and tastes great! Cheers.
Herby Berry Lemonade
Get ready for a serious taste sensation. Use ice cubes that have berries frozen in them for an extra special touch. Enjoy the nutrition in every sip!
Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients
- 2 cups water or sparkling water
- 2 cups freshly squeezed lemons (about 12 to 15 lemons)
- 2 cups herbed berry syrup (see below)
- berry ice
Berry Syrup
- 1 ½ cups still or sparkling water
- 3 cups berries and/or cherries
- ½ cup fresh basil (do not stuff them into the cup or it will be too strong)
- ½ cup fresh mint
- 1 ½ cups raw honey
Instructions
Place water, berries, basil, and mint in a pot and simmer for 15 minutes. Off heat, stir in the honey until melted. Set aside to cool. Strain out the berries and herbs, pressing on them to remove all syrup. Store herby berry syrup in the fridge until ready to use.
To serve: put water, lemon juice, and syrup in a pitcher, stir, and pour over ice in glasses.
Submitted by:
Loretta Friedrich is a food lover, educator, speaker, writer, author, recipe developer, foodie tour host, and award-winning business owner. She is certified in holistic nutrition and has appeared in numerous magazines and on local TV. Loretta enjoys seeing canola fields in bloom, gardening, getting vegetable stains on her hands, and the smell of humus-rich soil! You'll often find her chatting with farmers and producers at local markets.