The Mango Lassie
Mango is the flavour of the season and your non-alcoholic cocktails can be just as tasty. Jamie Oliver swears by this recipe and claims it’s even better than beer for cooling off your palate on a hot summer’s day. Makes a great accompaniment for curries too.
2 large ripe mangoes
250g natural yogurt
2/3 cup milk
zest and juice of 1 lime
honey
sprigs of fresh mint for garnish
Dice the mango and add to blender or food processor, along with any left-over juice from your chopping board. Add yoghurt, milk and lime and give it a good blend. Sweeten to taste and chill in the fridge until serving. Garnish with mint leaves.
The Cranberry Crave
This mocktail is your answer to the cosmopolitan. Since some of us have apparently had just about enough of the Sex and the City girls and their cocktail of choice (truth be known, I’m not one of them!), here’s a stylish and healthy berry alternative.
4 oz cranberry juice
1 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp grenadine
1 tsp honey
splash of soda
cranberries for garnish
Mix all of your ingredients in a cocktail shaker and pour into a chilled martini glass. Add a little bit of crushed ice to keep things cool and garnish with a couple of cranberries.
The Pina Colada
Okay, so maybe this cocktail isn’t quite as easy on the calories, but a quick survey among friends confirmed it’s a drink we can’t get through summer without. So grab a pack of those colourful corny umbrella garnishes and head for a blender. Because you can, and you should!
1 cup ice
4 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
2 oz. cream of coconut (or 6 oz. pina colada mix)
pineapple for garnish
Blend all of your ingredients until slushy and pour into your drinking glass of choice. Garnish with an umbrella and a slice of pineapple
Luscious Lemonade
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a glass of homemade lemonade. No chemicals and none of that artificial stuff. Here’s a refreshing recipe to quench everyone’s summer thirst. Tennis anyone?
1 litre water
1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
3-4 tbsp sugar
sprigs of fresh mint
thinly sliced lemon slices
This is a great recipe to make beforehand and keep chilled in the refrigerator all day long. Boil the sugar and water for 2 minutes until dissolved and then let cool. Add lemon juice and pour into a large glass pitcher along with desired amount of lemon slices and mint.
