Food styling angela boggiano | Styling sue rowlands | Recipes helen barker-benfield | Photograph craig robertson
HOME COOKING EVERYDAY
Long, cool drinks These any-time drinks are perfect thirst-quenchers for the hot days of summer. Watermelon crush
Pomegranate fizz
Refreshingly fruity – a real thirst-quencher.
Cartons of pomegranate juice can be found in the long-life juice aisle. Blueberries are an optional, and tasty, addition.
Serves 4
Slice 1/2 watermelon into thick slices, scoop out the pips and juice the flesh. Pour into tall tumblers, add a splash of elderflower or blackcurrant cordial and top up with water and lots of ice.
Serves 1
Pour pomegranate juice, a generous squeeze of orange juice and orange zest into a glass half-filled with ice cubes. Top with blueberries, if you have some to hand.
SUMMER
DRINKS KNOW-HOW
• Chill empty glasses in the fridge before filling, to keep drinks really cool. • Put the ice in first, then the liquid – this stops fizzy drinks overflowing and cools the liquid as it flows over the ice. • Don’t add ice to pre-made drinks until you’re ready to serve them, as it will dilute the flavours.
At home…
Ice-cool coffee If you can, use fresh ground coffee for the best flavour.
Ginger cooler This wonderfully light and tangy drink also has a refreshing hint of spice.
Serves 1 Serves 1
Make 2 short strong coffees – allow to cool. Stir in a heaped tsp of sugar, blitz with loads of ice and half a glass of chilled milk. Stir well and pour into a glass to serve. Give it a boozy twist.
Fill a glass 1/3 full of ice cubes, top up with ginger beer and serve with lime wedges.
• Use plastic glasses in the garden so you don’t have to worry about breakages. • Mix a big, clear plastic bucket of punch if you’re having a garden party for lots of people. It will save you time and cut down on the washing-up. • Drop a couple of blueberries or raspberries into ice cube trays filled with mineral water, then freeze to make pretty ice cubes. • To crush lots of ice, put the ice in a clean plastic carrier bag, wrap the bag in a dry tea towel to stop it splitting. Then, using a rolling pin, bash the ice until it’s crushed. For a party, you will need a 2-3kg bag for every four guests.
Fruity sparkler
On the move…
Strawberry cup
You will find jars of fruit coulis in the chiller cabinet or with the canned fruit.
Summer in a glass – full of fruit and mint.
Serves 1
• If you’re going on a picnic, a vacuum flask is a good way to keep drinks chilled. Simply rinse it out with chilled water first, then the drink will stay cold for longer. • Buy fresh smoothies and juices, they come ready-packaged and are easy to carry – we like the Innocent range. Individual cartons are easy to pack and transport, but buying a bigger bottle and decanting is more economical. • Slice limes and lemons, then freeze in a plastic bag. When you’re ready to go, add them to the drinks for that extra chill.
Serves 2
Stir together 1 tsp caster sugar and the juice 1 lemon. Half-fill two glasses with ice cubes, pour in the sugar and juice mix, then pour over sparkling lemonade and add lots of sliced strawberries, a slice of lemon and mint (or borage) leaves.
Pour about 1cm fruit coulis or fresh fruit juice into a tall tumbler. Add a few ice cubes then fill to the top with sparkling mineral water.
July 2015 BBC Good Food Middle East 49
Pg46-49 Refreshing drinks_Jul15.indd 49
6/22/15 12:26 PM