You deserve a refreshing drink after a long week of hard work! The sweetness of the watermelon is beautifully balanced by the lime in this spritzer.

SERVES 4 // COOK TIME 10 min

INGREDIENTS
3 cups cubed watermelon, rind and seeds removed
2 limes (zest of 1, juice of 2)
2 cups crushed ice
1 cup soda water

METHOD
1. Place the watermelon, and lime zest and juice in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Divide the crushed ice between 4 glasses.
3. Pour the watermelon mixture over the ice. Top up with soda water and serve.

Hooray! It’s Friday and so close to beer o’clock! How does a refreshing ginger-beer shandy sound? Not a beer lover? You will be after tasting this.

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If you’re looking for a healthy drink for yourself, you’ll love them too! Upgrade everyone’s favourite treat by making one of our strawberry, chocolate or banana flavoured milks right at home.

1. Strawberry milk

MAKES 3 cups // COOKING TIME 20 min, plus chilling time

INGREDIENTS
1 cup strawberries, chopped
¼ cup water
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla essence
Pinch salt
3 cups milk

METHOD
1. Bring the strawberries, water, honey, vanilla and salt to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Blend the mixture until smooth, then strain it.
3. Stir the strawberry mixture into the milk. Pour the mixture into a jug and pop in the fridge to chill.
4. Pour into glasses, add some ice and drink up!

2. Banana milk

MAKES 3 cups // COOKING TIME 5 min, plus chilling time

INGREDIENTS
3 bananas
5 dates, pitted
¼ cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice
Pinch salt
3 cups milk

METHOD
1. Blend together the bananas, dates, water, lemon juice and salt until smooth, then strain.
2. Stir the banana mixture into the milk. Pour the mixture into a jug and pop in the fridge to chill.
3. Pour into glasses and serve with cookies.

3. Chocolate milk

MAKES 3 cups // COOKING TIME 10 min, plus chilling time

INGREDIENTS
3 cups milk
½ cup chopped dark chocolate
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp cocoa
Pinch salt

METHOD
1. Bring all the ingredients to the boil, mixing with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is combined.
2. Pour the mixture into a jug and pop in the fridge to chill.
3. Pour into glasses and serve

The post 3 healthy home-made flavoured milks your kids will love appeared first on MyKitchen.

Since its arrival on the foodie scene, coconut water has been hailed as nature’s own miracle drink. Its wild popularity has led many to question its supposed nutritional value, dismissing the flavoursome water as just another passing health trend. But don’t be fooled. Coconut water is wonderfully hydrating too. The clear liquid found inside young, green coconuts (not to be confused with coconut milk) contains five essential electrolytes: calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and potassium. You’ve probably heard the claims that this sweet water has anti-ageing, anti-carcinogenic and anti-thrombotic effects, but this hasn’t been proven yet.

What we do know is that a glass of coconut water is a good alternative to sugary, vividly coloured sports drinks. In fact, it may even do a better job of keeping athletes hydrated. It can be enjoyed on a hot summer’s day, as a post-workout beverage or to revive the body after a heavy night. Its high fibre content aids healthy digestion and supports weight loss, while its rich flavour will help keep you fuller for longer. If you love sweet drinks, sip on this alternative and maintain your smile during your weekly weigh-in.

And if you do decide to vamp up this punch with a tipple of rum, we aren’t going to tell on you.

SERVES 4 // COOKING TIME 5 mins

INGREDIENTS
1 cup cubed fresh mango
1 cup cubed fresh pineapple
3 cups coconut water
1 cup fresh beetroot juice
Coconut shavings, to garnish

Method
1. Place a handful of the fruit cubes in each glass.
2. Fill two thirds of each glass with coconut water. Top with a splash of beetroot juice.
3. Garnish with coconut shavings and enjoy!

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The Fresh Cool Old School lemonade stand at the I Heart Market in Durban, began as Gareth Henderson’s answer to how he could earn a few extra bucks. He shows us how to concoct the ultimate glass of refreshing lemonade, just in time for the scorching summer months!

MAKES 5L // COOKING TIME Overnight

INGREDIENTS
10 lemons
2 kg sugar

METHOD
1. Peel and juice the lemons.
2. Combine 2L boiling water with the lemon juice, lemon peel and sugar. Place in the fridge overnight.
3. Strain the liquid and pour into a sterilised bottle.
4. To serve, dilute ¼ cup of the lemonade concentrate with 1½ cups cold water. Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.

HERE’S HOW TO SWITCH IT UP

Indian summer
Combine the lemonade concentrate with some ice-cold soda water, lemon peel and a healthy pinch  of salt and cumin.

Afternoon tea
Dilute the lemonade concentrate with chilled rooibos tea.

Pretty in pink
Mix the concentrate with soda water and stir in some dried rosebuds. Pop in a cinnamon stick for added flavour.

Spanish
Dilute the lemonade concentrate with soda water and infuse with a few basil leaves.

The post Gareth Henderson’s old-school lemon concentrate appeared first on MyKitchen.

The mocktail has long been considered a responsible (albeit, less fun) treat for begrudging designated drivers, but these virginal drinks have recently evolved into something a lot more sophisticated.

By Roxy Greeff

Chefs – yes, chefs – are designing these faux cocktails with particular menu-pairings in mind. It has been discovered that these booze-free accompaniments are a wonderful way to enhance a paired dish, without overpowering the delicate flavours with the bite that often comes from hard spirits. We ask the question that sceptical foodies have on their lips; can a perfectly curated mocktail ever compete with the traditional wine and food coupling?

Like a Fine Wine

Much like wine, mocktails can be sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, fruity, chilled or dry – the descriptive list could go on and on. Despite the similarities, wine has traditionally been considered the ultimate accompaniment to a gournet meal. Why, you may ask? Firstly, the high alcohol content in wine is what gives it its acidity and its tannins, both of which help to cleanse the palate and prepare you for that next delicious bite. Secondly, well-made wine has a very delicate balance of sweet and tart flavours, making it the perfect companion to a savoury, or sweet, meal.

The Mocktail Memo

Despite our age-old penchant for wine, it is not hard to believe that pairing a mocktail with a meal, is a much easier endevour than selecting the perfect bottle of vino. One could spend hours pouring over the lengthy list of beautiful wines produced in South Africa, alone. When you are planning your mocktail menu, the only factor to truly consider, is the way you have cooked your food. Let us explain…

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

If you are serving fish to your lucky guests, think about what typically works well with a seafood meal – perhaps something acidic; a squeeze of lemon juice or a spoonful of tartar sauce? We suggest you create a mocktail directly inspired by these complimentary flavours. Toy with a bottle of unsweetened lemonade or freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Use infusing elements like herbs – similar to those you’d cook your fish with – like springs of thyme or mint leaves.

And what about a red meat pairing, for our carnivorous readers? The rule is simple. When you are serving something that is traditionally paired with a glass of red wine, swap it out for a mocktail with a cranberry juice base. Cranberry juice has just the right balance of sweet and tart flavours to compliment the depth and richness of a well-cooked steak. Once again, think about using infusing elements that you would have included in the meal itself – experiment with some freshly-plucked rosemary or, be truly adventurous, and add a dash of spice to the mix. Chilli, paprika or cumin will all work surprisingly well, paired with a meaty meal.

When it comes to dessert, the sugary, sweet and fruity options, are endless! A berry mocktail with a vanilla dessert makes for a delicately delightful flavour combination. If you’re serving something chocolately, we suggest adding a pinch of salt or chilli to your mocktail. These unusual additions will enhance the cocoa in the choclate, giving it a richer and more intense flavour.

The takeaway

I am an unashamed, die-hard lover of fine wine. In my opinion, there is nothing like the traditional pairing of a lovingly-crafted meal and a beautiful glass of wine. That being said, if I was looking to wow some friends with my cooking skills, I would definitely go for the mocktail option. There is so much fun to be had when creating a mocktail and food menu, so many favours and subtleties to experiment with. And besides, after-dinner shots are always an option…

The post Mocktails versus wine: Can they really face off in the food pairing game? appeared first on MyKitchen.