Blackberry Lemonade

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Blackberry Lemonade

Blackberry Lemonade

I've disappeared for the last few days to enjoy the long labor day weekend. Spent with family and friends, it was good to step away from the kitchen and step outside for a change. The weekend weather couldn't be any more beautiful, with a sun that wouldn't stop shining, bringing warmth to the last few days of t-shirt weather.

Winter comes quickly to the plains of North Dakota.

Blackberry Lemonade Blackberry Lemonade

The past couple days I've tried to breathe in the last few days of summer. To hold it in my lungs before the brisk fall air snatches it away, leaving me breathless. With the sun setting earlier each evening and a cool breeze blowing in at dusk, fall is slowly creeping its way back into its rightful time slot. I wish I could hold tightly on to summer, to the warm weather and sunlit nights. But, like a child clinging tightly on to a balloon, sooner or later the string slips from grasp and the balloon floats away high into the clouds before disappearing from sight completely.

I can't prevent fall from coming any more than you can, but I can keep summer alive for a few more days with this blackberry lemonade.

Blackberry Lemonade

As a bit of a side note, I want to share a different kind of story with you.

I spent Saturday in Minot, ND. Recently devastated by record flooding (imagine homes up to the roofs in water), it is a town in a state of rebuild. It may be a small town of only 40,000 people, but the people have some of the biggest hearts I've ever seen, including actor Josh Duhamel who calls Minot his hometown. Josh, hearing the news of the devastation, brought none other than his wife Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas to play a benefit concert in Minot, with all proceeds going towards the flood victims. At $100 a ticket, corporate sponsorships, and a sold out venue, over $1.2 million dollars were raised for the cause.

I'm telling you this because I think it's important to know what kind of people your favorite artists and actors truly are. I want to share what the generosity of a few people—Josh Duhamel and the Black Eyed Peas—can do for the spirits and pocketbooks of a flood ravaged community. No one expected to see the Black Eyed Peas in Minot in a million years, much less playing a full concert (and I don't think anyone ever anticipated will.i.am rapping about how awesome North Dakota is).

These people have earned my respect and I hope, by sharing this with you, they can earn yours too.

Blackberry Lemonade Blackberry Lemonade

This Blackberry Lemonade is sweet the second it hits your tongue, but tart the moment you swallow. Both the lemon and blackberries work together to create this balanced drink where both flavors shine equally. The lemonade is as refreshing as its color is bold. I hope this blackberry lemonade can help prolong the final weeks of summer for you, too.

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Butterbeer

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Butterbeer

Butterbeer

This is part III in a mini-series of Harry Potter snacks from the books brought to life (part I is on Honeydukes treats, part II is all about the cauldron cakes, and part IV showcases decadent butterbeer cupcakes).

Last August, my family made the two thousand mile journey to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Orlando has always been one of my family's favorite vacation destinations. Add in my love (and obsession) with Harry Potter and we all knew that once the park officially opened I couldn't be kept away for long.

On the big day, we woke up at an obscene hour to a bright dawn. While the rest of my family was dragging their feet and speaking in yawns, I was too excited to dwell on my lack of sleep and tired eyes. I had been waiting for this day for years. I was running on sheer adrenaline.

This was my moment.

Wizarding World of Harry PotterWizarding World of Harry Potter Wizarding World of Harry Potter

When I entered the park, I was immediately swept away by the architecture and the detail. The park truly has the atmosphere, look and feel, and sights and sounds (well, if you don't count the occasional woosh from the rollercoasters) of the world of Harry Potter I had imagined. I could have spent hours walking up and down the cobblestone streets simply admiring the tremendous amount of detail that was put into creating this world. Even the subtlest objects, mentioned only briefly in the books, were now here in front of me, fully imagined.

I'm pretty sure I had a grin on my face a mile wide.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Believe it or not, "window shopping" was one of my favorite sights in the park. There were dozens of little shop fronts with windows that each lead into a tiny world. The level of detail was so unbelievable, it was almost overwhelming. I didn't know where to look next. However, I did notice that, like any good wizarding shop, many objects would move of their own volition (but only if you took the time to spot it!).

Cauldron shops, music stores, clothing boutiques—I just wish they had all been real.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

After riding the attractions, it was time to sample everything Hogsmeade had to offer. First on the menu, Butterbeers. My family decided that we each wanted one to ourselves (when you stare at them while waiting in line for an hour, you tend to get a bit greedy). Since it was a hot day, we opted for the frozen version. Were the Butterbeers what I had imagined? Not quite. Was it delicious? Absolutely. My sister and I both found them a little too sweet for our liking (that fact that it was nine in the morning may have played into it a bit), but I still managed to drink mine down to the bottom of the glass.

The recipe for Butterbeers I've posted here features a less sweet version than you'll find at the park.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We came back to the park later in the evening to see how the look and feel would change after the sun had set. With all the lights dimmed to nothing but a soft glow, the park felt truly magical. Despite the hustle and bustle of busy crowds, for the first time I didn't feel like I was at a theme park anymore. I had been completely transported to the world I could only dream about before.

Wizarding World of Harry PotterWizarding World of Harry Potter

The castle, lit up in all its glory, was simply breathtaking. Hogwarts almost looked like a painting, with all the gorgeous colors and shadowing of the towers and turrets. If only I could walk across that bridge...

I think these photos tell the story better than I ever could.

This was the perfect ending to what I can only call a perfect day.

Butterbeer ButterbeerButterbeer

These Butterbeers are rich, fun, and fizzy. Your favorite drink from the Harry Potter series is now available to muggles like you! The Butterbeers are created by mixing a butterscotch/caramel syrup into cream soda and then topping it with a healthy dollop of butterscotch infused whipped cream. When taking a sip from the mug, you will get a whipped cream mustache. Trust me, it's all a part of the novelty. Fair warning, these drinks are on the sweeter side, so make sure to bring your sweet tooth along (not that it has ever been a problem for me!).

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Tropical Vacation Cocktail

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Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail

This summer I decided to take a break from working full-time in the kitchen and find a job where I could spend a little more time outside in the bright sunshine. I love the kitchen, but I'm still young and not yet tied down by that scary beast called a career. I've decided the kitchen can wait a few more months so I can have a little fun; it isn't going anywhere. But the warmer weather and summer breeze is something that will fade all too quickly.

My wish was granted and I was hired as a day camp counselor for the summer. Honestly, I couldn't be happier. I spend my days outside working with dozens of elementary aged children. This is the type of camp where television is strictly forbidden and "rain" is a 4-letter word. I love my job. Where else am I going to get paid to hike, swim, play games, and do arts and crafts?

Exactly.

Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail

While my days are usually a blast, a few moments sneak in there that test my patience. When one of the campers is having a rough day, a mini meltdown or two is to be expected. But when everyone is having a rough day at exactly the same time? Well, that only leads to trouble. Big trouble.

I had a bad day yesterday. A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was the sort of day where I was so frustrated, so furious, so emotionally drained from conflict after conflict after conflict, that I wished I could be put in time out just so I could have a moment's peace. It was the kind of day where I had to be reassured more than once that all children weren't terrible little monsters with sharp teeth and a good set of lungs.

It was the exactly the sort of day where the only thing that could possibly make it seem a little brighter was a cocktail.

So cheers to you, my friend, for the arrival of a much needed weekend, for cocktails, and the dreams of tropical vacations (even if they are only in your glass).

Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail

This Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail is like taking a mini-tropical vacation. If you close your eyes, lean back in your chair, and take a sip, you can almost smell the salty sea breeze and feel the sand between your toes. This cocktail combines pineapple juice, coconut rum, and a splash of triple sec to give it a tropical flair. The drink does not taste particularly strong, but it is deliciously fruity and gets the job done. Garnish with fresh fruit and serve in chilled glasses to make it extra special.

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