ADULT LEMONADE - The Kitchy Kitchen

I always serve a cocktail parties, and that usually means I end up hiding out in the kitchen, fussing over individual cocktails for each guest, emerging at least partially covered in spilled booze. It’s not great, but the cocktails are actually tasty. During the summer, I’m over it. I want to socialize, I want to stay dry, I want a damn drink myself! Enter lemonade. You know it, right? It’s not only refreshing and naturally alcohol free, but with one quick addition it becomes a cocktail. These are two of my favorite options, one tropical and light, the other one floral and zippy.

INGREDIENTS (COCONUT LIMEADE):

1 1/4 cup lime juice, fresh squeezed

1 cup sweet coconut flakes, packed

2 1/2 cups hot water, plus 1 1/2 cups cool water

1/4 cup simple syrup

1/2 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla paste)

1/2 cup white rum

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly toast the coconut on a baking sheet, thinly spread out, for about 5-7 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Juice the limes and put all of the used halves into a bowl, along with the coconut and vanilla bean (or vanilla paste), and cover with 2 cups of hot water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. The hot water pulls all of the natural oils out of the lime skins and adds so much flavor. Strain into a bowl and add the water, lime juice, and sim. Blend until just incorporated. Pour into a pitcher and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Let guests top off with rum or vodka.

INGREDIENTS (LAVENDER LEMONADE):

1 1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed

2 1/2 cups hot water, plus 1 1/2 cups cool water

1/4 cup lavender simple syrup (below)

1/2 cup gin

DIRECTIONS:

Juice the lemons and put all of the used halves into a bowl, and cover with 2 cups of hot water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. The hot water pulls all of the natural oils out of the lemon skins and adds so much flavor. Strain into a bowl and add the water, lemon juice, and simple. Pour into a pitcher and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Let guests top off with gin or vodka.