Ice cream - quick and easy recipes - page 3

Most Mojito recipes are served with tragically mashed mint leaves, guaranteeing two problems: bitter flavors from over-zealously crushed mint, and soggy leaves that get stuck in your teeth or straw. Make your Mojito the right way by gently pressing on the mint leaves to just release their oils, then straining them out to ensure an unencumbered sipping experience. Game plan: You’ll need to make the Simple Syrup before you begin.

In this quick and easy punch, rosé wine is the star. A little fresh lime juice, some muddled blackberries, and vodka are added to the wine, making this a refreshing libation for your next summer soiree. Game plan: You’ll need to make the Simple Syrup before you begin.

There’s something homey and relaxing about a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade that sugary store-bought versions can’t quite deliver. Whether it conjures visions of a summer lemonade stand or rocking on a porch swing, grab some lemons and squeeze up a batch yourself. For more, see our Pink Lemonade recipe.

Berry cobbler can be thrown together in minutes if you start with a store-bought pie crust. Any combination of berries, with the exception of strawberries (too watery), will work, so use what’s in season and ripe. Pair the cobbler with some vanilla ice cream, and an easy summer dessert is ready for the table. If you’d like to make your own Basic Pie Dough, roll it out into a 10-inch round approximately 1/3 inch thick.

Agua fresca means “fresh water” in Spanish, and that’s exactly what this drink is: a refreshing water-based beverage. Made up of little more than fresh fruit, citrus juice, and water, aguas frescas are the perfect way to cool down when it’s hot outside. Pair it with a Horchata for your Cinco de Mayo menu. What to buy: Look for the ripest melons available in the produce section—the riper the melons, the less sugar you’ll have to add to the recipe.

The flesh-and-blood Roy Rogers led an all-American life as a popular cowboy and country music singer. With his trusty palomino, Trigger, by his side, he conquered movies, television, and even was immortalized in a namesake fast-food chain. Today, young lads everywhere raise a grenadine-flavored cola in reverence to the King of Cowboys. Cheers to you, Roy!

According to urban legend, the Shirley Temple was created by a bartender at Chasen’s, a Beverly Hills restaurant popular with the entertainment set in the 1930s. Rumor has it that a pint-sized regular liked to belly up with this grenadine-spiked soda. Chasen’s was shuttered in 1995, but here’s a refreshing homemade version of Shirley’s namesake drink for all you teetotalers and youngsters out there.

CHOW’s former food editor Aida Mollenkamp turned me on to the Black Manhattan, a variation on the traditional whiskey and sweet vermouth drink made with amaro, which she first discovered at San Francisco’s Alembic. In this version, I throw back in a little of the sweet vermouth, as well as a touch of deep, dark nocino, an Italian green walnut liqueur, which gives the whole drink a smooth, nutty finish. Don’t forget, this recipe makes enough to serve you and a friend!

Inspired by the idea of making a camping cocktail, we thought it’d be novel to use a little pine liqueur to bring the taste of the great outdoors to the canteen. We found the punchy, herbal liqueur a little tricky to mix with, but ultimately we were able to balance it out with some dark rum and a little pineapple juice. This recipe is scaled to fit into a canteen, and serves four.

Mango lassis are commonly served at Indian restaurants, but their thick consistency and sweet flavor can be like drinking a milk shake with your meal. This savory and refreshing version of the yogurt drink from Chef Susan Feniger of Street restaurant in Los Angeles is flavored with fresh mint and cumin, and lightened by the addition of sparkling water. What to buy: Indian black salt, also known as kala namak, is a sulfurous-tasting salt used in Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

This autumn-inspired drink uses sweet maple-flavored liqueur with apple brandy, sparkling apple cider, and a bit of lemon juice to balance it all out. What to buy: We like Sortilège maple liqueur for its smooth and not-too-sweet blending of whisky and maple syrup.

Deep in the heart of San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin neighborhood is the creative bar Rye. When a few folks from the CHOW staff made a trip there, they fell in love with this light, bubbly cocktail made with elderflower liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse, and Prosecco.

Tart kiwis are an excellent fruit to muddle into a cocktail, especially when offset with a sweet, fruity liqueur like peach. Gently crush the kiwis to release their juice, add the rest of the ingredients, strain into a glass, and top with sparkling wine.

Angèle in Northern California’s Napa Valley is where locals go for satisfying French fare, but the restaurant’s creative cocktails.

This light and fruity cocktail was created for the CHOW launch party by master mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout. The sweet combination of sliced strawberries, strawberry syrup, and rosé wine is balanced by the herbal complexity.

Rosa Mexicano’s perfectly balanced La Pinela cocktail is made with pineapple juice, cinnamon syrup, lime juice, and tequila. What to buy: Licor 43 Cuarenta y Tres is a Spanish liqueur with great spiced notes and a vanilla flavor that’s often served on the rocks. It can be found at high-end liquor stores and online.