Lemon and fresh mint - ice slush

With the zingyness of freshly squeezed lemon and invigorating fresh mint - all brought together with smooth shards of blended ice - this non alcoholic drink is the perfect refresher for a hot summer day

Here's what you'll need:
1 large handful of washed, fresh mint leaves (or more - or less - depending on taste. I used more mint than required for the accompanying photos)
juice of 3 lemons 
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon citric acid (this helps preserve the colour and flavour) 
ice cubes


Here's how you make it:
Place all the ingredients in a blender, filling up to the top with ice cubes
- make sure the lid is on -
turn the machine on and watch as the magic unfolds...
the mint should be finely chopped and the ice a mushy slush
serve immediately with a sprig of mint as garnish.

Lemon and fresh mint ice slush

to avoid brain freeze - it's quite ok to use a thick milkshake straw for slurping

there you have it - a nice invigorating summer drink - enjoy



Lemon and fresh mint ice slush

How to make a Vanilla Vodka and Passionfruit cocktail

Here's an interesting cocktail with Vanilla Vodka and Passionfruit Liqueur as the main ingredients 

Passions Perfect in Love cocktail

Vanilla Vodka and Passionfruit cocktail with Parfait Amour and triple sec

What you will need:
* a cocktail shaker  - Used to mix ingredients that stirring will not blend properly. 
* cocktail/Martini glass
* a Tot measure

home-Bar cocktail utensils

* Vanilla vodka - I bought the one that was on special
* Parfait Armour - This is a purple coloured liqueur made from oranges, with vanilla and plant extracts
* Cointreau - a clear liqueur made from oranges - otherwise known as triple sec
* Passionfruit Liqueur - it's important to get a good quality (thick/syrupy) liqueur

Passions Perfect in Love cocktail ingredients

(Pete's note): If you haven't already got all of these ingredients, it can be an expensive 'exercise'. So buy the bottles of booze as you can afford it - then enjoy the anticipation until your lips finally taste the Passion...

Passions Perfect in Love is a Martini style drink - very strong in alcohol content - designed to be sipped - 

So if you're drinking - REMEMBER... drink responsibly

Drink responsibly, don't be a bloody idiot

How to make Passions Perfect in Love:

1) get a Martini/cocktail glass and chill it down by placing ice in it 

2) fill your cobbler shaker with ice (broken ice cubes are fine). You'll notice the outside forming condensation - perfect for chilled cocktails

3) pour over: 60ml Vanilla Vodka

                   20ml Parfait Amour

                   10ml Cointreau

4) give it all a good QUICK shake
This is how you use a Cocktail Shaker:

Once loaded with ice and ingredients, hold top and bottom of shaker, move the wrist and forearm together, shake sharply for a few seconds - about eight sharp shakes

5) empty the ice out of the Martini glass

6) strain what you've just shaken into the Martini glass

7) drizzle 10ml Passionfruit Liqueur down the inside of the glass and let it settle  

Passions Perfect in Love cocktail_side view

and/OR...    place a maraschino cherry in the bottom of the glass as garnish

Don't drink it with a straw. 

chilled

unchilled

Drink it from the top (dry) 

to the bottom (sweet). 

Enjoy

If you've tried it and liked it, please feel free to leave a comment