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How to Make Lemonade Cocktails and Mixers

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What better way to cool down in those hot summer days with a delicious homemade lemonade? What you might not know is the fact that you can actually make several alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails using lemonade.

How to make homemade lemonade? Well, it’s actually very easy. The basic ingredients are water, lemon or lime juice (why not both?) and sugar. You can adjust the parts of the ingredients to you own taste. If you want to really feel the kick of lemon taste through your taste buds you can actually ditch the water completely and just sweeten up some lemon juice. If you don’t want your lemonade to be sweet at all but you are not actually a fan of the strong sour taste of pure lemon juice just use water to dilute it.

How to make lemonade

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Many other different tastes and flavors can be used to spice up an old lemonade recipe, such as strawberry, mint, ginger or even lavender. There are also different processes that your lemonade can go through to make it extra appealing.

How to make fresh lemonade?

To answer your question about how to make fresh lemonade, you can find one of the best recipes here.  This recipe actually answers the question about how to make lemonade with lemon juice, if you want to use lime juice or both the juice from fresh lemons or limes simply substitute the lemon juice in this recipe.

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

Sugar

Water

Lemon or Lime juice

If you want to know how to make frozen lemonade, follow the recipe here. This simply and ingenious idea is perfect for hot summer days when you really need something chill to keep your body temperature as close to normal as possible. Frozen lemonade can also be referred to as a slushie. You can also freeze up lemonade if you want to do lemonade popsicles! Pretty cool, huh?

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

1 thinly sliced lemon

1 2/3 cups superfine sugar

3 cups cold water

1 1/4 cups lemon juice

4 cups ice

As I mentioned before, you can add several fruits or herbs to spice up your lemonade so if you are looking for a recipe on how to make strawberry lemonade click here.

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

1 cup fresh lemon juice

1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

2 cups cold sparkling water or club soda

Ice

Mint sprigs, garnish

Whole strawberries, garnish

You can also try making lemonade out of lemon concentrate but of course it is not going to be as good as a lemonade made out of freshly squeezed lemons.

A question that has also been bugging a lot of people is how to make pink lemonade? Well, the easiest way of coloring your plain lemonade pink is to use juices made out of red fruits along your lemon juice, such as cranberry or watermelon juice. For a delicious recipe of pink lemonade, click here.

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

8 lemons, plus extra slices to serve

200g caster sugar, plus extra to taste

140g raspberries, plus extra to serve

ice, to serve

All the recipes presented above are kids friendly have one thing in common (besides lemon juice, of course): the lack of alcohol! If you are looking for a way to enjoy your favorite drink while kind of staying hydrated at the same time you could just use lemonade as a way to make a delicious cocktail.

5 Awesome Recipes for Alcoholic Lemonade Cocktails and Mixers

Check out these 5 amazing lemonade cocktails and mixers recipes that put that old fashioned lemonade recipe to some good use. Adults only!

Thyme and Lime Vodka Cocktail

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

10 fresh thyme sprigs, plus sprigs for serving

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

3 cups store-bought lemonade or Classic Lemonade

3/4 cup vodka

Full recipe here.

Spicy Cayenne Beer Cocktail

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 lemon wedge

2 12-ounce bottles lager beer

1 cup store-bought lemonade or Classic Lemonade

Full recipe here.

Cement Mixer

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Lime or Lemon Juice

Full recipe here.

Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg Lemonade

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7

Triple Sec

Sour mix

Lemon-lime Soda

Full recipe here.

Jack Honey Lemonade

How to make lemonade

Ingredients

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee

Lemonade

Full recipe here.

 

Moreover if you want to make a good deed during summer and offer people a cold drink follow this link to check out how to make a lemonade stand.

Be careful! Even though a freshly squeezed lemonade can be consider a diet drink if you don’t use a lot of sugar, it will not do any justice to your body if you drink a whole gallon of it.

Don’t be afraid to try and mix and match! You can easily substitute ingredients and create the best lemonade recipe ever! For example, instead of using strawberry to color your lemonade pink or red, use blackberry. Always remember that lemons can be used in a variety of recipes and lemonade is almost just as versatile. Did you know that you can actually make lemonade cupcakes? If you don’t believe me, check out this recipe.

 

By now you should already have the answer to the question “How do you make lemonade?” so there is nothing holding you back anymore. Have fun, experiment and enjoy a delicious simple lemonade or an outstanding lemonade cocktail!

The Tea vs Coffee Debate – What Science has to Say

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In a rivalry as old as brewed drinks themselves, the medical proprieties of the coffee bean and the leaf and their corresponding brews are highly debated, with each one being championed by their fans as the either’s healthier alternative. So how does the scientific analysis of kettle’s content stand up to these claims, and is any of them really so much better than the other? Next we’re embarking in making the old tea vs coffee debate a little less harsh.

1. They both help reduce the heart diseases risk

Tea vs Coffee

To begin with, they both share a trait that makes them advantageous to the old ticker. A team of researchers from the Netherlands showed that high and moderate consumption of tea and moderate consumption of coffee are both linked with reduced heart disease. Those who drink six or more cups of tea per day were shown to be 36 percent less likely to develop heart disease than those who drank less than one. Alternatively, those who drank three to six cups of coffee per day were 45 percent less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who drank less than one.

The study does list as limitations to their research the lack of more specific information on the subtypes of brews, such as green tea vs. iced coffee, but it should be remembered that 78% of all tea drank in Netherlands is black tea. 

2. Caffeine improves thinking skills and memory

Tea vs Coffee

At this point, it’s not tea vs coffee, but both these fine brews vs human cognitive faults. Caffeine can be considered a bona-fide miracle substance. Not only does it perk you up immediately after the cup is consumed, but it has also been shown to have beneficial long-term effects on the human body. Found both in coffee and in tea, particularly black tea – which is often used as a replacement for the former, caffeine has been shown to help in maintaining memory and thinking skills with age, feat done by its ability to blocks receptors for a chemical called adenosine, which normally prevents the release of stimulant brain chemicals.

3. The caffeine in coffee and tea helps alleviating the effects of Alzheimer’s in women

Tea vs Coffee

Women drinking three cups of coffee or six cups of tea per day have brains that lost less white matter in old age, a study of the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore has shown. White matter is an important part of the way information is transmitted in the brain and is usually diminishing after the age of 50, a process that caffeine fights against. The reason why the substance doesn’t have the same effect on men is considered to be linked to hormones, but is not entirely understood.

4. Coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson’s, more so in men

Tea vs Coffee

It’s not just your mind that is helped by having a pitcher of brew per day, but your body as well. A team of Portuguese researchers have shown a clear connection between coffee intake and the chance of developing Parkinson’s. A moderate consumption of coffee, estimated at two to three cups per day, may lead to a 25% reduction in the risk of developing the degenerative disease, but, in a gender reversal, that number is only 14% in the case of women.

5. Both coffee and tea contain antioxidants and nutrients

Tea vs Coffee

Regardless of your love for either a bag of beans or one of leaves, rest assured that whichever hot brew you order off the menu will be beneficial. For one, both contain antioxidants, which bond with free radicals, unpaired particles that damage cell tissue, leading to less oxidative damage, one of the main causes of physical aging. Furthermore, antioxidants are also at the forefront of your body’s fight against cancer. 

6. Caffeinated drinks allegedly reduce the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes.

tea vs coffee

Although the levels of blood sugar rise in the short term after the consumption of caffeine, research has shown that this is easily made up for by the antioxidants present in brews which may improve insulin sensitivity and, consequently, lower the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in the long run. Of course, this all depends on how much sugar you like to add to your cup, an addition that can disrupt any nutritional calculation in the tea vs coffee debate.

All You Need to Know about the Bulletproof Coffee

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Bulletproof coffee. You may have heard about it or you may be among the enthusiasts. The new beverage is nothing more than a combination between several common ingredients. The coffee goes in the blender with a couple of teaspoons of grass-fed butter and a special oil. The result is something that tastes great and has a couple of advantages, at least this is what the inventor, David Asprey, claims. But is bulletproof coffee more than a nicely wrapped story? Here are the basic facts and opinions on the new phenomenon.

All You Need to Know about the Bulletproof Coffee3

Asprey, pictured above, describes how he visited Tibet and learned about the “power of butter” and how he was “rejuvenated by a creamy cup of yak butter tea” while travelling in the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to California and started researching the combination, but he ended up chosing coffee instead of tea.

So how do you make it? Asprey says that one cup of freshly brewed coffee combined with one or two table spoons of unsalted grass-fed butter and the same amount of MCT oil. Blend all for 20 to 30 seconds and there you have it.

All You Need to Know about the Bulletproof Coffee2

That is how Bulletproof coffee is done, but Asprey talks about the important characteristics of each ingredient. Obviously, he recommends his own Bulletproof® Coffee Beans. His “Upgraded Coffee” is allegedly mold-free because it has low-mycotoxins. However, most coffee on the market should already be mold-free, so while you try your own Bulletproof coffee, you can choose your favorite.

The medium-chain triglycerides oil is necessary in the official combination. One kit containing the special coffee and Brain Octane, the special oil made out of coconut and palm kernels, costs $37.99.

The grass-fed butter should by of the highest quality, not just any organic butter. And is crucial to use a non-salted butter. People recommend Kerrygold unsalted butter, which should be around $5.

So the Bulletprrof coffee ain’t cheap. But is it worth it? Aspray claims that he uses the blend as a breakfast replacement. The mix helps him get the adrenalin rush he seeks, but without the burned-out effect that soon after kicks in. Allegedly, the Bulletproof coffee will help you stay active for at least 6 hours. Moreover, the special coffee will give you an increased “mental clarity”. Dave Aspray claims that he gained at least 20 IQ points since he drinks the Bulletproof coffee.

All You Need to Know about the Bulletproof Coffee1

Is it healthy? Well, that’s when the story gets tricky. The buttered coffee may taste great, but drinking it instead of eating a regular breakfast raises some questions. The drink contains more than 400 calories, but most of the nutrients are gone. You’ll get no fiber and almost no proteins.

Moreover, saturated fats are beneficial to the organism, but not when you eat a lot of it. As in most other areas, moderation is key to a healthy life. The mix will reduce your appetite, which is great if you want to lose weight, but is postponing your first solid meal until 1 or 2 PM healthy? Your cholesterol level may be affected by the buttery drink, but there is no solid evidence that the level of “bad” cholesterol will really drop.

So if you try the famous Bulletproof coffee and think that it’s right for you, talk to your doctor about it. Regular blood analyses should complement your visit to the doctor.

“If people drink this and don’t change the rest of their diet, they’re getting extra calories,” said Nadolsky, DO Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, Med Page Today reported. “I think they’re giving themselves a bomb of not-so-great long chain saturated fatty acids.”

8 of the Weirdest Drinks in the World

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Weird foods or weird food combinations are more debated subjects, but when it comes to drinks, a whole new universe unveils. Because drinks are so various, strange combinations are likely to arise on every given occasion. This is where imagination reaches its peak, that’s for sure. So here are 8 of the weirdest drinks in the world.

1. Coquetier

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The ingredients for this drink include rum, chocolate and cinnamon, and the great part about it is that it is served in an eggshell. We have to thank Antoine Amédée Peychaud for this one, who was an apothecary known for the brandy toddies he served out of eggcups at New Orleans Masonic gatherings in the 18th century.

2. Smoker’s Cough

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world2

You’ll need some Jagermeister and mayonnaise for this one. Yes, mayonnaise! It is reportedly very delicious, although its name doesn’t seem to really underline this taste detail. You’ll just have to taste it yourself. I’d advise you to do the tasting at home, where the toilet is clean and free, rather than in an obscure bar.

3. Gilpin Family Whisky

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world3

You’ll never guess what this one is made of. So it’s whisky all right, but with a special touch of urine for elderly diabetics. Urine, I tell you. According to Gilpin’s own explanation, he takes the urine of two diabetic patients daily, extracts the high sugar content, and then uses that sugar in the fermentation of whisky production.

4. Duck Fart

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world4

Sorry for this name, please. I wasn’t the inventor, but some guys from Alaska are behind the whole scheme, which isn’t so disastrous if you ask me about it. The Duck Fart is made by pouring different liquors on layer-by-layer and not mixing them together. It’s usually made with Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream and Crown Royal, and can be drunk like a shot. This sounds like a great dessert. But what’s the fart got to do with the combination? Not to mention the duck…

5. Baby Mice Wine

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world5

Baby mice wine is a traditional Chinese and Korean “health tonic,” which apparently tastes like raw gasoline. Little mice, eyes still closed, are plucked from their loving mothers and stuffed, while still alive, into a bottle of rice wine. They are left to ferment and so this terrible wine is born.

6. Magic Mojito

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world6

This friendly little one is made up of Rum, bitters, lime, mint and cotton candy. Very girly, indeed, but it’s a well-deserved breath of fresh air after the atrocities mentioned above. Little pink of white cotton candy floating in your cocktail glass… Dear childhood, Scooby-dooby-doo, where are you?

7. Gunpowder Plot

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world7

Gunpowder flavours could mean a lot of things, that’s why I’m not really sure what to pick, but this gin-based cocktail is infused with this flavour. Then they shake the gin with Fernet Branca, which is a traditional herbal digestive, and an egg white. By doing this they create a thick layer of froth on the top. When the cloche is closed and smoke is added the froth is infused with a smoky, wooden flavour giving the drink a completely new edge. This smoking technique takes the drink to a whole other level. It comes served in a smoking cloche amid a pile of twigs and oak-scented fog. Very manly, indeed!

8. Snake Bile Wine

8 of the weirdest drinks in the world8

This one is served at specialty restaurants all over Vietnam. This “delicacy” is prepared tableside by a handler who slices open a live cobra’s gallbladder and afterwards blends its bile with rice wine. Traditionally, the greenish-black mixture is served as an invigorating aperitif to subsequent courses made from the remaining parts of the snake. Men are strongly advised to ingest the drink, which allegedly endows virility and a host of other health benefits. A snake’s got to do what a snake’s got to do.

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World

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Beer is among the most refreshing beverages around the world. But there’s a real tradition not only when it comes to producing it, but when it comes to drinking it as well. This post is meant to help you drink beer wisely, as to get to tell the difference between types and flavours. Here are the 3 major types of beer from around the world.

LAGERS or Bottom Fermenting

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World1

Lagers are probably the most common type of beer consumed worldwide and it is known for its crisp taste. They are of Central European origin. It involves “bottom-fermenting yeast,” or yeasts that tend to settle on the bottom of the fermenter. This is due to the fact that lager beers ferment at lower temperatures, from about 45°F to 59°F. As a result of these lower temperatures, the fermentation process takes much longer. In addition, lagers go through a low-temperature aging process known as “lagering.” This helps mellow the beer to create a smoother taste.

Types of Lagers

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World2

Dunkel – the most popular type of German lager beer. It is dark in color with a modest alcoholic strength and tastes often suggestive of chocolate, coffee and licorice.

Bock and DoppleBock – It is a tasty, dark lager with origins in Germany. Bocks do vary from malty-flavored lagers to darker, hoppy-flavored bocks, popularly referred to as Helles bocks. Two common examples of bocks are Shiner Bock and Michelob Amber Bock. The latter is a stronger version of the first, usually dark.

Pale Lager – they are straw-colored beverages that contain a malty taste besides being filtered and crisp. They are very carbonated though lacking high alcohol content. Pilsner lagers are prime examples of pale lager.

Munich Dark Pale – a dark lager with fiery blend of malt and coffee taste that comes from Munich, of course.

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World3

Pilsner – a type of lager beer. It was developed in the city of Pilsen (Czech Republic) and is distinguished from other lagers by a more prominent hop character. It’s a clear, golden beer that caused a huge sensation. Its style was soon widely imitated all over Europe.

ALES or Top Fermenting

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World4

Ales are fermented at hotter temperatures 65-75°F. As far as the form of yeast applied in the fermentation method is concerned, Ales typically makes use of top fermenting yeast that floats to the beer surface for the initial couple of days and then settles at the base. Ales are sweet, tasty beers. They come in different color shades ranging from pale gold to shady, rich brown color based on the grains applied in the brewing procedure.

Types of Ale

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World5

Amber Ale / Belgian Ale – are sweeter beers due to their excess malt. Additionally, they are dark in color thus their first name ‘amber’. Popular types of amber ales include Fat Tire Amber Ale and Budweiser American Ale.

Pale Ale – it is a light-colored alcoholic drink that is full of malt and hops. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a popular example of pale Ale.

Porter – a type of ale that has a malting aroma and hop bitterness. It is generally strong and dark and brewed with soft rather than hard water.

3 Major Types of Beer from Around the World6

Stout – dark beer made using roasted malts and is a variant of porter beer. It differs from porter in being darker and richer through the use of more roasted malt. As such, the two beers are considered distinct.

LAMBIC

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Lambic is the third major type of beer, although it is far less popular than Ales or Lagers. Lambic uses wild yeast for fermentation. Lambics are brewed only in parts of Belgium. The lambics are often flavoured using fruits such as cherries. They are unusual because, like beers brewed in ancient times, they are spontaneously fermented with wild, naturally occurring yeast and bacteria. The yeast and bacteria reside in the air as well as in the brewery equipment The specific, ideal microbial profile that exist in the Senne Valley in Belgium enables the creation of true lambic beer that cannot be reproduced elsewhere.

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