Lemonade!

Soon it will be summer! Lemonade is a refreshing, sweet drink, perfect for summer, but are there different versions than classic lemonade? YES! This post will help you to make fresh, sweet, and sour lemonade that everyone will love!


Coconut Lemonade- This uses very little lemon and very little sugar, but tastes good all the same! FYI, I find it easier to make by the glasses, not in pitchers
You will need...

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2/3 a glass of coconut water (my family uses Zico)
• half a lemon

You make it almost like any other lemonade- you mix the coconut water and the sugar first. Then squeeze in as much lemon as you like! I found about 2 teaspoons is good, but you can do more (or less) lemon.

Pink Lemonade- I found this recipe in a book and tried it a while ago- it's pretty good! Instead of sugar, you use ripe strawberries to sweeten it and to make it pink!
You will need...

• glass of water
• half a lemon (although I don't use ALL the juice)
• 2 or 3 ripe strawberries

In a micorwave safe bowl, put the strawberries and a little bit of lemon juice in the micorwave for about 35 seconds; until they start to turn mushyish. Using a fork, mush and strain the juice out into the glass. Put more lemon juice in the glass with the water and strawberry juice. What to do with the extra strawberry mush? Put it in the refridgerator- it makes a great breakfast. 

Try this- plop a few strawberries in a bag and put them in the freezer for a couple hours. The juice will freeze, and you are left with strawberry ice cubes.

Homemade Naan Pizza

Totally yum! This is a pizza that my family has made for birthdays, movie nights, and more. You can choose what to put on, and they are soooooooo easy to make! My family always make our own special pizzas, on individual slices of naan.

You will need...

• an oven preheated to 350 degrees (Farenheight) 
• one piece of naan for each person (our family likes Whole Food's naan)
• tomato sauce, pesto OR olive oil with minced garlic
• toppings- my favorites are toasted pine nuts, sauteed mushrooms, carmelized onions, and goat cheese

Put the sauce and toppings on the naan (let every family member do their own!), and put the pizzas (you can do two at a time) into the oven on a cookie sheet. Toast until the cheese melts and the crust turns golden brown. Enjoy!

"Daddy Cookies"

These are defiantly a family favorite. Their actual name is "peanut fudge cookies" but we call them Daddy Cookies because my dad goes crazy for them. Actually, more like my whole family goes crazy for them. Anyway, NEVER have these around peanut allergy people. Peanuts, peanut butter and chocolate inhabit these tasty no-bake cookies.


You will need...

• 1/4 lb. butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups uncooked oats
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts (or use crunchy peanut butter)

Boil the butter, cocoa powder, milk and sugar for one minute. While hot, add peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla and oats. Fold over the mixture (it doesn't affect the taste or texture, but helps you combine) and stir.  

Drop by spoonfuls (notice I said SPOONfuls, it is very hot!) on to waxed paper and let it cool. Sometimes we just do it on our kitchen counter, and let it harden there (use a metal spatula to get it off). But always clean your work surface well to get rid of the peanut traces. 

Mexican hot chocolate cookies

These look like ginger molasses cookies, but they're not. These chocolate cookies are pretty basic, except you add some chile powder. It's not exactly spicy, but it has a "warmth" on your tongue.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies

Chocolate Banana Bread muffins

I LOVE this recipe. It is pretty simple, and they are quick to make. I made them with my friend, and she wasn't going to leave without one! You have to mash the bananas really well, or else there's chunks. And, if you overcook the muffins, they will get, well, overcooked. They are an awesome dessert, and can make a yummy breakfast. Happy baking!


5 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups mashed banana
3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 1/3 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl; in another bowl, combine eggs and oil. Stir in the bananas, then gently mix with the dry ingredients to combine. Fill a greased muffin tin (1/2 cup capacity) and bake at 350 til done. Nancy Silverton* likes to put chopped toasted pecans over the top.



*This is Nancy Silverton's recipe from La Brea Bakery

Okonomiyaki

This cabbage "Japanese Pizza" is relatively easy to make and is a great appetizer.

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/japanese-pizza-recipe.html