Black Raspberry Ginger Lemonade with Mint

It feels like 105 degrees today and yet I still managed to spend some time outside.  I was only out for an hour, and when I got back inside I felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of water over my head from sweating so much, as the dewpoint is at 79%.  Why do I live in Minnesota again? Despite the humidity, my time outdoors was worth it.  I went berry picking.  Beautiful wild black raspberries to be specific! 

 

They are like little delicious deep purple jewels of goodness!  I actually prefer the flavor of the black ones to the red, they are sweeter and the flavor is more concentrated.  I wish I could have a large bush of them growing in my back yard, but I have to settle for going elsewere to find them.  That is ok though, it is more interesting that way. 

 

So today when I came home all hot and sweaty, full of bug bites and scratches from the raspberry bushes and I needed something cold and refreshing to drink to cool off.  I decided a black raspberry ginger lemonade with mint.  I figured I might as well make something featuring the delicious harvest I had just gathered.  It hit the spot and cooled me off.  The drink was sweet and tart, refreshing and cooling, perfect for curing the effects of the nasty humidity!  Hope it is cooler where you are, but if not, make one for yourself and enjoy!

 

 

Black Raspberry Ginger Lemonade with Mint

Makes 1

6 fresh mint leaves

about 6 ice cubes

1/3 cup black raspberries

2 Tbsp ginger syrup* or to taste

1/3 cup lemon juice

ice cubes
ice water

In a large glass, muddle mint with ice until mint is crushed up, then add berries and mush a bit to release juices.  Add ginger syrup, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and a few ice cubes, along with enough cold water to fill the glass and stir until blended. 

 

*Ginger Syrup

1 inch piece of ginger

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup agave nectar

 

Combine all ingredients in a clean jar and stir to dissolve agave nectar.  Place in the fridge and let sit overnight, or a few days before using.  Remove ginger and use to sweeten drinks with a kick!

 

Gingerbread Martini

Gingerbread has a special place in my heart around the holidays.  It is the warming spicy sweet flavor, along with the wonderful aroma and memories that go along with it that I love.  But oddly enough this year I didn't make any around Christmas!  But I found a way to still fit it in this year, just in different form...the gingerbread martini!  My Mom and I usually spend Christmas day together, opening gifts, enjoying delicious baked goods, and having a nice dinner, enjoying a cocktail...

So this year it was the gingerbread martini.  I combined Domaine De Canton ginger Liqueur, Bernheim, some spices, vanilla extract and a dash of molasses to keep it like the cookie.  I even rimmed the glass with colorful nonpareils for effect.  It really tasted like drinking the cookie!  It had all the same sweetness, zip and spice!  I missed the actual making of gingerbread cookies this year and having fun with the frosting, but I didn't miss eating the cookies with this fabulous drink!

Gingerbread Martini

Makes 1

2 Tbsp small nonpareils

1 Tbsp agave nectar

1 Tbsp water

1 tsp molassess

2 tsp maple syrup

4-6 large ice cubes
2 oz Bernheim bourbon (or your favorite bourbon)

2 oz Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves

To make sugar rim, Spread nonpareils out on a small plate. Coat the rim of the martini glass with the agave syrup by dipping it into it on a plate, then dip the agave coated rim into the nonpareils and set aside. In a small dish, dissolve molasses and agave in 1 Tbsp water.  In a martini shaker add the ice, bourbon, vanilla, ginger liqueur, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and place top on shaker. Shake until well blended. Pour into a chilled martini glass and serve!