I am so punished behind how hot it is outside. We have been having temps in the high 80’s lately and it’s just a little too much for this former Florida girl to handle. I choose to cool off with some refreshing treats, of course.
I whipped up a batch of Cherry Limeade I found from Pioneer Woman. It was good, but add more cherry juice and don’t let your limes just sit in the pitcher of limeade. It makes it very bitter. Can you guess how I discovered this? *pucker*
Bottoms up Cherry Limeade
From Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman
INGREDIENTS
- 3/4 cup lime juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 liters lime-flavored soda water, chilled
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 8 maraschino cherries, with stems
- 8 lime slices
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine lime juice and sugar. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, stir carbonated water into lime juice mixture. For each serving, place 1 tablespoon cherry juice in a glass. Add crushed ice and about 1 cup of lime juice mixture. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a lime slice.
Is there any snack that says summer more than Guacamole? I think not. Fresh and fast, this is an awesome one:
Guacamole
Ingredients
- 3 ripe Avocados, medium sized
- 1 -2 jalapeno, seeded, stemmed and finely chopped
- 1/2 medium white onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 medium tomato, cored, seeded and diced
directions
Cut avocado in quarters, discard pit and peel. Place in mixing bowl and mash minimally with a potato masher. Add remaining ingredients. Mix just until combined. Serve immediately, or store in fridge with pit in bowl to prevent browning.
Another treat that I equate with summer is Cream Cheese Olive Spread. Make ahead and pull out with crackers for a cool creamy treat while you are sitting by the lake watching then sunset with a glass of wine.
Cream Cheese-Olive Spread
Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pimiento-stuffed Spanish olives
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
directions
Stir together cream cheese, Spanish olives, and 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise. Shape cream cheese mixture into 2 (6-inch) logs; wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 30 minutes, or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 2 days.
Place pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan. Bake pecans at 350° for 8 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring occasionally. Let cool 30 minutes or until completely cool.
Roll cream cheese log in chopped chives and toasted pecans just before serving.
barenakedchefsaidso.com 