Beverages

Directions:

Combine sugar and water in medium saucepan and bring to full boil over High heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow sugar syrup to cool completely. Pour into large pitcher or beverage container. Puree berries in food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Pour berry mixture into sugar syrup. Add lemon juice and water and stir until completely dissolved. Serve in chilled glasses decorated with a sprig of mint, if desired.

Mint Iced Tea

Ingredients:

• 1 quart water
• 4 family size tea bags (recommended Luzzienne)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 bunch mint leaves
• 1 lemon, slices for garnish

Directions:

In a large pot bring the water to a boil. Remove pot from heat, add the tea bags, cover with a lid and allow tea to steep in water for 20 minutes. Take a 1 gallon jug and pour the sugar into the jug and cover with some hot tap water. Stir thesugar around to dissolve with the tea is steeping. Once the tea has steeped, remove the lid and the tea bags. Pour the tea into the jug with the sugar and place the tea bags back into the jug. Stir the tea well, making sure the sugar dissolves. Fill the jug with cold water to yield 1 gallon. Garnish with lemon, if desired.

Golden Lime Punch

Ingredients:

• 1 can (46oz) pineapple juice
• 1 can (12oz) frozen limeade, undiluted
• 2 cups water
• 1 liter carbonated lemon-lime soda

Directions:

In a punch bowl or large container, combine all ingredients. Makes about 25 (4oz each) servings.

Fruit Spritzer

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiling water
• 6 orange herb tea bags
• 1 can (6oz) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed and undiluted
• 2 cups apricot nectar
• 1 liter lime-flavored soda, chilled
• Lemon slices, optional

Directions:

Pour boiling water over tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stir in lemonade concentrate and nectar. Chill thoroughly. Stir in soda just before serving. Serve over ice. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired. Makes 8 cups.

Sunrise Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 carton (8oz) vanilla or coffee flavored yogurt
• ¾ cup orange juice, chilled
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 ice cubes

Directions:

Combine first 3 ingredients in blender container. With blender on high, add ice cubes, one at a time, processing until smooth after each addition. Serve immediately. Makes about 2 cups.

Wild Grape Slush

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups seedless grapes
• 8 oz orange juice concentrate, thawed or fruit juice
• 3 cups crushed ice

Directions:

In a blender, combine all the ingredients and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve. Makes 4 servings

Triple Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 8 oz apple-cranberry juice
• 1 ½ cup applesauce
• 1 small banana, sliced
• 2 to 4 oz low-fat vanilla flavored soy or ice milk or 2% milk

Directions:

In a blender, combine all the ingredients and puree until smooth and thick. Pour into glasses and serve. Makes 2 servings

Watermelon Strawberry Shake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups seeded and cubed watermelon
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled, plus 4 whole strawberries, for garnish
• 1 medium banana, sliced
• 1 container (8oz) fat-free lemon yogurt

Directions:

In a blender or food processor, combine the watermelon, strawberries, banana, and yogurt and puree until smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses and garnish with whole strawberries. Makes 4 servings.

Banana Orange Milkshake

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup plain fat-free yogurt
• ½ cup cold unsweetened orange juice
• ¼ cup SLENDA Granular
• 1 cup (1 med) banana

Directions:

In a blender container, combine yogurt, orange juice and SPLENDA. Cover and process on blend for 10 seconds. Add banana. Re-cover and process on blend for 15-20 seconds or until mixture is smooth. Serve at once. Serves 2

Hot Weather Thirst Quenchers: · For a subtle citrus flavor in ice water, add slices of lemon, lime or orange. Or add fruited ice cubes: freeze fruit juice in your ice cube trays · Combine one 6-oz can of grapefruit juice concentrate with two 12-oz bottles of chilled club soda. Serve with a sprig of fresh mint. Serves 4. · Make a fruity slush: In a blender, puree berries, pineapple chunks, and frozen limeade concentrate. Perhaps add a little fresh mint. · Create your own shakes: In a blender, puree melon chunks or peach slices with buttermilk, crushed ice, and a touch of ginger or cinnamon until smooth