I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am ready for spring! I am ready for the snow to go away and for all the plants to start blooming. Well to make you feel a bit more sunny, I decided to share these fun spring/summer drink recipes! I found them in Better Homes and Gardens & Martha Stewart a while back- I absolutely love all these things; green tea, yogurt, honey, lemon juice, fresh fruit, and sparkling flavored water so I figured these would be tasty treats to sip on. They’re also very colorful! Hope you like them too!

Homemade Green Tea Soda
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
8 bags green tea
4 cups boiling water
3 Tbs. honey or sweetner of your choice
4 cups fruit (nectarines, lemons/limes or any kind of berry)
1 liter of chilled plain or flavored water (raspberry, strawberry or peach)
2 Tbs. snipped fresh mint or 8-10 mint sprigs (optional)

Directions
1. Add tea bags to boiling water and let stand for 2-3 minutes, remove and discard tea bags. Cover and chill brewed tea.
2. Before serving, add honey or sugar to chilled tea. Divide tea mixture between eight to ten 12 oz glasses. Add fruit to each glass. NOTE: You can also puree the fruit instead of using whole pieces. Last, fill the glasses with sparkling water. Top with fresh mint.

Homemade Fruit Smoothie
Serves 2-4 (This one is part Martha, part Caroline… I changed some things. It’s much Better now!)
Ingredients
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 (8 ounces) can crushed pineapple in juice
1 banana, (6 ounces)
1 container (6 ounces) nonfat yogurt, any flavor
1/2 cup ice cubes

Directions
In a blender, combine berries, pineapple in juice, banana, yogurt, and ice. Puree until smooth. Serve immediately.

Fruit Spritzers
Serves 8
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
Fresh seasonal fruit, such as 8 cups cubed seedless watermelon, 6 cups cubed honeydew melon, 6 cups cubed cantaloupe, 6 cups cubed mango, or 1 cup raspberries
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of coarse salt (optional)
Sparkling water, or club soda

Directions
1.Put sugar and 1 cup water into a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
2.Puree fruit, syrup, lemon juice, and salt in a blender. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes (up to 2 days).
3. To serve, fill 8 medium glasses with ice; pour 1/2 cup puree into each glass, and top off with sparkling water. Stir to combine. Serve immediately.

1. Any Holiday Punch
Serves 6-8

Ingredients
4-5 large scoops of sherbet (any flavor)
2 liters of Ginger Ale
2-3 cups of ice
Limes, lemons or strawberries, sliced for garnish

Directions
1. Place scoops of sherbet in punch bowl, pour ice over top.
2. Slowly pour ginger ale down the side of the punch bowl.
3. Gently swirl the bowl to mix. Lay fruit slices on top.

2. Hot Mocha Chocolate Milk
Serves 6

Ingredients
5 cups milk
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups strong Coffee
Sugar to taste
Whipped Cream to Top

Directions
1. Bring milk to simmering. Add Chocolate, stirring until melted.
2. Stir in coffee and sugar.
3. Pour into cups, dollop with whipped cream and Serve!

3. Banana Colada
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 banana, sliced
1 1/4 cups ice cubes
1 1/4 cups pineapple juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk

Directions
1. In an electric blender, blend banana, ice, pineapple juice, cream and coconut milk.
2. Blend until smooth and serve!

4. Warm Cinnamon Tea
Serves 6-8

Ingredients
6 cups water
6 cinnamon sticks
6 tea bags (regular, black, or chai)
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 cups milk

Directions
1. Place water and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan. Bring water to boil; reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Add in the tea bags and simmer an additional 2 minutes.
3. Remove the cinnamon sticks and tea bags, and discard.
4. Add brown sugar and stir until all is dissolved. (should only take a minute)
5. Stir in milk, heat until milk is piping hot and serve immediately. YUM!

5. Apple Cider
Serves a lot

Ingredients
1 Gallon Apple Cider
1 qt cranberry Juice
1 tall 46-48 oz can orange juice or Hi-C
2-3 fresh cinnamon sticks (add more to taste)

Directions
Heat together in Crock pot or Large pan and serve.

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