Wind Down Wednesday

Summer is almost officially here and the days are not only getting longer but hotter too. I often find myself daydreaming of being poolside or of cocktails awaiting me on my patio when I get home from work. After a bit of browsing on the internet for some inspiring new recipes I found this fabulous one for Blackberry Mint Lemonade at Savory Sweet Life. While the recipe doesn't initially call for alcohol you can easily add a shot of vodka or rum to turn into the perfect summer cockatail! Enjoy!

Blackberry Mint Lemonade

Author: Savory Sweet Life

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 8

A refreshing blackberry lemonade infused with mint.

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 18 mint leaves, torn
• 2 cups frozen/fresh blackberries
• ice
• 3 mint sprigs
• 4 cups natural store-bought lemonade
• mint sprigs

Instructions

1. Bring the water and sugar to boil in a small pot. Stir the water/sugar mixture until the sugar is dissolved then turn off the heat. Add the torn mint leave and give the pot a stir. Allow the simple syrup to cool.
2. Add the blackberries to a blender. Place a strainer over the mouth of the blender and pour the mint simple syrup into the container. Discard the mint leaves. Blend the simple syrup and the blackberries on low speed for just a few seconds at a time, just enough to break the berries apart but not enough to puree them.
3. Fill a juice pitcher halfway with ice and add the mint sprigs. Pour the lemonade and the blackberry mixture over the ice. Stir the blackberry mint lemonade and add more ice if necessary before serving.

recipe found here