Quick and Simple Homemade Lemonade Recipes,10 Simple Ways to Sneak More Leafy Greens Into Your Diet,Benefits of Melon and Waterm
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Quick and Simple Homemade Lemonade Recipes Homemade lemonade is as American as apple pie on the Fourth of July, but so many of us out there opt for soda instead of this great American classic – but of course, soda is also pretty American too! Anyway, here at NetCost Market, we just love a good old glass of ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer’s day, which is why we’ve got some brilliant lemonade recipes that will get you hooked! The perfect classic lemonade Well, where else would you start? To make great lemonade you first need to know how to make the classic stuff before you go adding different fruits and spices. This recipe is quick, easy, and very, very tasty, so unless your grandma has a secret family recipe that she’s willing to give to you, we’d suggest you use it as a starting point! Recipe (6 servings) Ingredients: 1 cup white granulated sugar, 1 cup water and 2 to 3 cups water, 1 cup lemon juice, a handful of ice. How to make: Start by making a simple syrup – you’ll need to place the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves and then remove from the heat. Allow to cool. Juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of lemon juice. Mix together the lemon juice and syrup by pouring them into a pitcher. Then, add the rest of the water little by little, until it tastes just as sweet as you like. Place in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes, and then add ice before serving! All-natural strawberry-infused lemonade Okay, so we got the classic stuff out of the way, and if you perfected that you can now move on to the more advanced recipes! For those that love a nice pink drink with a sweet aftertaste, this is the perfect one for you! Recipe (6 servings) Ingredients: 4 large strawberries – cut in half, 1 tbsp. white sugar, 3 ½ cups water, ½ cup white sugar, 1 cup lemon juice, some ice cubes. How to make: Start by making the syrup seen in recipe 1. but with half the ingredients. Place the strawberries in a blender with the 1 tbsp. white sugar and pour over ½ cup water. Blend until juice is formed. In a large pitcher, combine the juice, syrup, and the remaining water. Stir until well mixed. Refrigerate for 45 minutes and add ice before serving. Brazilian lemonade Remember when we said that lemonade was totally American? Well, we lied – other countries also have their own versions! The Brazilian version is pretty tasty so it’s certainly worth a try, but it also doubles very well as an alcohol-free cocktail! Recipe (serves 4) Ingredients: 2 limes, ½ cup sugar, 3 tbsp. sweet condensed milk, 3 cups water, 2 cups crushed ice. How to make: Thoroughly wash the limes, cut the ends off, and then cut them into eighths. Add them to a blender with the sugar, condensed milk, water, and ice. Pulse the mixture 7 times, and then strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Serve over more crushed ice. Peach and basil lemonade slushy This recipe sounds a bit crazy, but you just need to open your mind and realize that basil is for so much more than just pasta and pizza! This is one of the tastiest drinks you’ll ever find in your hand! Recipe (12 servings) Ingredients: 2 cups sugar, 3 cups chopped and peeled peaches, ¾ ounce fresh basil leaves (about 20 large leaves), 4 cups water, 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice, 5 to 8 cups ice cubes, peach slices and fresh basil leaves for garnish. How to make: In a large saucepan, mix together sugar, 3 cups chopped peaches, basil leaves, and water. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 30 minutes. Once cool enough, pick out the basil leaves and discard them. Stir in the lemon juice and refrigerate until cool. Blend the peach mixture with ice – this may need to be done in batches if you don’t have a large blender. Pour the mixture into glasses and garnish with slices of peach and basil leaves! If you’re looking for ways to keep cool this summer, these recipes give you a great starting place! Why not impress your guests by offering them something a bit whacky this summer – peach and basil will surely get them talking! At NetCost Market, we stock some of the best quality fruits you can find, so why not head in store to get a bit experimental with your lemonade recipes this summer! 10 Simple Ways to Sneak More Leafy Greens into Your Diet Leafy greens are more than just space filler on a dinner plate! They’re an essential part of a healthy balanced diet, providing the body with vital vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as essential vitamins such as magnesium, calcium, and iron. But there’s always been a big fuss about eating these superfoods! Here at NetCost Market, we’ve got some great and easy ways for you to sneak more greens into your diet without compromising on enjoying your meals! 1. Put them in a smoothie! – If you’re not fond of greens, put them in a smoothie with sweet fruits like berries and coconut to mask their flavor. This way, your daily intake of greens can be over in seconds! 2. Get creative with some kale chips – Kale is super healthy, yet some people find it less than appealing. Try baking the leaves in the oven with a light brushing of vegetable oil and some salt to make crispy kale chips. They’re not quite like potato chips, but they certainly make a great compromise. 3. Leafy taco shells! – What? I hear you ask! This tactic is a great way to increase the amount of leafy greens you’re ingesting while reducing the amount of complex carbohydrates in your meal! Try it with taco beef or spicy chicken to make the perfect high protein, low carb feast! 4. Add them to soup – We all love some tasty croutons in soup, but the truth is they’re made from fried pieces of bread! For a healthier option, why not chop some leafy greens into bite- sized pieces and add them to a nice winter soup? They’ll add to the texture while also giving you that green boost your body so badly needs! Homemade creamy leek soup 5. Go green with a stir-fry – Believe it or not, leafy greens are actually brilliant in a stir-fry! Try adding kale or pak choi next time you’re cooking up a feast! They only need a quick flash in the pan, but the added benefits will add to the vitamin richness of this already healthy meal. 6. Breakfast Greens! – Not a fan of greens? Why not get them out the way during a super healthy breakfast so that you can enjoy an indulgent (less green) dinner? Poached eggs go great with raw spinach on sourdough bread for a super healthy start to the day. 7. Hide your greens in a sandwich – It’s an obvious one, but you’ll be surprised how often people leave out lettuce or other leafy greens when it comes to sandwiches! Just a few leaves added to your pastrami sandwich, that bagel with cream cheese or even that salami sub could have major health benefits without you even noticing that you’re eating anything green! Sandwich with cheese, tomatoes and greens 8. Unleash the benefits of fresh herbs – Herbs such as fresh parsley and cilantro are packed with vitamins and minerals but are often forgotten about when it comes to making fresh salads. Keep a bunch in the fridge ready for when you’re in need of a salad with an extra punch of flavor! 9. Grow your own! – If you grow it, you’ll love it! It sounds crazy but it’s true! Growing your own lettuce, spinach, or kale is a great way to fall in love with leafy greens. What’s more, they’re easy to grow and care for, and of course, you’ll even save some money in the process! 10. Pack it into a pesto – Pesto is usually made with basil, but it can, in fact, be made with any leafy green! Blending your greens together with toasted nuts, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and some salt and pepper will make it burst with flavor! It’s perfect for adding to pasta dishes or as a healthy spread for toast! Next time you turn your nose up at some leafy greens, consult this list to see if you can get yourself into eating vitamin- rich, healthy, and tasty green leaf alternatives! NetCost Market specializes in fresh produce, so we’re the place to find the freshest, tastiest leafy greens around! Benefits of Melon and Watermelon One of our favorite food items during the summer months is the melon! What’s not to love about this sweet, juicy and versatile piece of fruit (or vegetable, depending on which variety you are talking about!) Summer is the season of the melon and you’ll find them in abundance across the months of May to September. Whether you are a fan of the classic red and green watermelon, the bright orange flesh of the cantaloupe melon, the sweet flavors of the honeydew or one of the much lesser known types such as the Hami, Korean or yes, even the comically named, Santa Claus Melon, there are so many reasons and benefits to make this fruit your go-to snack this summer! Hydrate with fruit! If you’re struggling to drink more water, substitute your water intake by reaching out for a piece of melon! With a water percentage of approximately 92%, it’s an easy way to feel a little more refreshed and hydrated! Boost your vitamin and mineral intake! There’s more to the melon than you think! With each delicious bite you’re one step closer to reaching your RDI goals of Vitamins A, B1, B5, B6 and C, not forgetting the potassium and magnesium! This low-calorie snack is packed with antioxidants to help you keep healthy from the inside out.