“L” my Recipe is Lime Cranberry Fizz … (and I’m Going on a Picnic!)
Louise from Months of Edible Celebrations has organized a picnic and I’m invited!
Do you remember the old children’s alphabet game? The one I used to play goes like this: “A my name is Alice, I live in Atlanta, my husband is an Architect and I love to eat Artichokes.” The next person takes “B” and you go in a circle until all the letters are gone.
Well the picnic theme is similar (“I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing Apple Pie”)– and I got the letter “L”. Ok, it’s a virtual picnic, but I did develop a new drink recipe… just for the occasion.
What I’m Not Bringing
But first a little background on my choice of letters. About a year ago I had an almost out-of-body experience with an amazing Lemon Lavender cupcake from the Wild Tomato in Fish Creek, WI. To deal with my lavender fixation I decided to search out the next great lavender recipe–if I could just get the letter “L”. I (literally) staked out Louise’s blog waiting for my chance and I emerged… victorious!
With my prize (that would be the letter “L”) in hand , I first tried a Lavender Lemon Pudding Cake—ummm, nope, too lemony. Next I went the beverage route with Lavender Lemonade—nuh-uh again, bland (though a lovely pink), and finally Lavender Mint tea—just, plain, eeeuuuwww.
I even went so far as to make lavender soap. Yes, I realize this doesn’t help.
Approach Revisited
Picnic date approaching, I decided to change direction and go with another idea—could I turn cranberry juice into a zippier, lower calorie summer beverage? Cranberries are great nutritionally with phytonutrients that may provide benefits such as better cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. And they have a wonderful sweet/tart flavor. But with180 calories in a 12 oz glass, it can kill your beach figure fast.
The first try was a charm and here is my answer: lime cranberry fizz with about 70 calories per 12+ oz serving and so tasty my kids used up the whole bag of limes.
Lime Cranberry Fizz
Ingredients
- 1 lime
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1 packet stevia or 2 t sugar
- 1 c club soda
Directions
1. Cut lime in half and squeeze juice into a tall glass. Save one of the lime peel halves (for the cup later).
2. Add sugar or stevia to the juice and stir until blended
3. Add cranberry juice and stir again to make sure sweetener is dissolved.
4. Top with club soda & retained lime peel. Serve over ice.
Tip: If you don’t have club soda, plain ordinary water works fine and delivers a beverage that is fresh and tasty—just less fizzy.
Now later in the day I decided to do an alcoholic variation and added some Cointreau (orange flavored liqueur) to keep with the citrus theme. As I googled the combo, I discovered that this is almost a cosmopolitan which–can you believe–I have never had before (ok, since I recently confessed to never cooking with rhubarb, you probably would believe this). No complaints on the alcoholic version either. Err, other than maybe that beach figure issue!
And here is the picnic list so far!
I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing:
A – Apricot Cobbler
E- Emeril’s Strawberry Lemonade
F – Fingerling Potato Salad with Honey Thyme Vinagrette
H – Honey Graham Rollups
I – Incredible Rabbit Pineapple Tarts
J – Jam Jewels
K – Kirschmichel
L – Lime Cranberry Fizz
Don’t eat too much!!
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (in Under an Hour)
- Soooo Easy Freezer Sorbet
I like this….cranberry juice with lime! What a super drink that would make.
Wasn’t the picnic fun?
The picnic was great fun–I can’t wait to start trying recipes!
Refreshing and perfect for a picnic! I love cranberry drinks. I have to try Stevia, either packaged or fresh. I recently heard about it when I visited a fainting goat farm – yes, that’s right! The owner had stevia plants, looks like mint, and let us try it. So sweet!
I usually use the packaged variety, but one year I grew it in a pot. That was perfect for sweetening things, like tea, that you steep. Mmmm, I really should try it again!
Super addition to the picnic basket! Nice and tart!
Thanks–I am very excited to start trying more of these recipes!
Pingback: The Picnic Day Game! « Yummy Chunklet
I remember playing that game at camp…probably more fun in retrospect. That looks really good. I don’t even like cranberry juice and I want that. Is it sweeter than normal cranberry juice?
I would use the phrase less intense or perhaps lighter and fresher. And of course lower in calories, a big win!
Oh Inger, I am so pleased you are “coming” to the picnic and bringing your puckering Lime Cranberry Fizz! It sure sounds like my kinda drink. Indeed, so refreshing. (with or without alcohol:)
I couldn’t help giggling when I read you were staking out my blog, lol. You sure did go through a lot of gyrations to choose the perfect letter and beverage. We really do appreciate it.
It’s going to be a memorable picnic, Inger. Just wait until you feast your eyes on all the delectable goodies, I plan on stuffing myself silly!!!
Thanks for organizing this, Louise!
Looks refreshing! I’ll have my letter post up later this week!
I’ll be looking for it–almost as much fun as a real picnic!