Take A Bite

When I was little, the Sam's size Country Time powered lemonade mix was a staple in our pantry. It was perfect to mix up on summer days or for impromptu lemonade stands. Lemonade is something that has sort of escaped my radar, it's super underrated I just always forget about it.

My lavender cupcakes sent me on a lavender high. While running into a friend the other day she told me how she likes to make lavender lemonade and even went to a lavender festival out in the boondocks of Oklahoma once! Lavender lemonade struck my taste buds and I knew I needed to search for a recipe. Little did I know, a recipe was right under my nose.

My newest blogging for books cookbook came in a few weeks ago. This time I selected Pure Food written by the founder of Pure Bars, Veronica Bosgraaf. Veronica cooks clean, plant-based food in a simple way that anyone can enjoy. I love how she splits the cookbook up by each month. This recipe for homemade lemonade was found in the June section! I love how this lavender lemonade turned out and I promise it's as easy as the powder stuff minus all the additives!

Lavender Lemonade from Pure Food

Ingredients:
6 cups cold water
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar, blended
3 sprigs of lavender

Directions:
In a pitcher combine cold water and lemon juice. In a food processor or blender, process your sugar for just a few seconds to get it superfine. This will allow it to dissolve easier. Take your lavender and roll it on a cutting board to get the aromas activated. Chop the sprigs roughly and add to the pitcher. Let all the flavors combine and chill in the fridge.

Serve your lemonade over ice with a sprig of lavender and a lemon wedge!

I easily found my lavender at Whole Foods, just look next to the other fresh herbs. I have a feeling a pitcher of this lavender lemonade is going to be a new staple in my fridge this summer! Take a sip!

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. If you are also a blogger make sure to check out their site on how you too can start Blogging for Books!

"What's your flavor? Tell me what's your flavor?" Time for the second installment of my "Favorite Things" series. (Here is the first post about my favorite movies). Today I'm talking about my favorite flavors. I have very specific flavors that I love and you can guarantee I will order if one of them is included on a menu. I'm also posting a link for a recipe including each flavor!

1. Almond: Almond extract, almond butter, almond milk, actual almonds, I love it all. A few local coffee shops have almond syrup and almond milk for coffee drinks and it makes for the best latte. I'm just waiting for Starbucks to jump on board. I was first introduced to almond extract when I started making my sugar cookies. You use the extract in the icing and I promise it's the flavor that sends them over the edge. I add almond extract in addition to vanilla to almost everything. (It's really good in granola, especially when almonds are in the mix)

Recipe: I just discovered the food blog The View from Great Island. I spent about an hour going through her archives and now these white chocolate almond butter bars are high on my baking list. I'm also a lover of white chocolate.

2. Coffee/Espresso: Coffee is magical by itself, but I love coffee flavored things. I used to be able to finish a pint of coffee Haagen Dazs ice cream as an after school snack. Coffee or mocha flavored cupcakes are usually my go to and I love adding coffee to any chocolate recipe.

Recipe: These coffee bacon sandwiches, I can't even. My sister and I made them a few years ago and I can't believe we haven't made them since. They are the most interesting amazing thing in the world. Such a good way to incorporate coffee.

3. Vanilla: A skinny vanilla latte is always a go to order if I can't decide what to get. And when using vanilla extract I always double or triple the amount the recipe calls for. Vanilla scented candles, vanilla body lotion, mmmm I love it!

Recipe: Been dying to try chia seed pudding and this one uses almond milk and almond extract.

4. Ginger: This is a new favorite, but I feel like it hasn't been used much until recently. I love putting fresh ginger in my smoothies and ginger cookies have always been wonderful. I recently had a peach and ginger scone that was insanely good.

Recipe: Shameless plug for my ginger cookies!

5. Lemon: Lemon squares, lemon cupcakes, lemon chicken etc. Once the weather gets warm I like lemon in all forms! I've recently been having the largest craving for lemon squares.

Recipe: My good friend pinned this recipe for skinny lemon bars that seem just perfect enough to feed my craving!