drink recipes

Unexpected, Delicious Drinks You Can Make at Home

Meg Favreau — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:36:42 +0000

We frugal types appear to be a drink-obsessed people. We're constantly rambling on and on about lattes, cocktails, and soda, and how much one can save by avoiding these wallet-draining beverages — "Avoid the coffee shop! Don't get a drink with dinner!" we cry.

But we all have our indulgences — drinks we enjoy that we only have when we're out, or that we think are simply too difficult to prepare on our own. The truth is, many of these beverages are inexpensive and easy (or at least fun) to make at home. Here are 10 tasty beverages to try. (See also: 8 Natural Ways to Make Water More Flavorful)

1. Boba Tea

Also known as bubble tea, this drink, originally from Taiwan, features tapioca pearls mixed with some combination of milk, juice, and/or iced tea. The Kitchn has a recipe for how to make boba tea, and you can buy the tapioca pearls inexpensively on Amazon or at Asian markets.

2. Mango Lassi

These sweet mango-yogurt smoothies are a staple at Indian restaurants. When I discovered in high school that I could make them at home, I went on an absolute tear of lassi drinking. Simply Recipes has a lovely mango lassi recipe.

3. Frappuccino

Over at Squakfox, Kerry has a recipe for making a Starbucks-style Frappuccino — for a mere $.32 a serving!

4. Infused Liquor

With their house-infused blood-orange bourbon and lavender simple syrup, the recipes from fancy cocktail bars can seem more than a little intimidating. But most of these precious ingredients are actually quite easy to make. Check out my guide to infusing alcohol, About.com's infused simple syrup recipes, or this Chow's maraschino cherries recipe.

5. Agua Fresca

My favorite fish taco place always has a big, delicious vat of agua fresca on the weekends — last time I went, it was cucumber-spinach. These sweet, refreshing Mexican drinks are super simple to make on your own. Try this basic watermelon or cantaloupe agua fresca, a cucumber-lime-mint agua fresca, or this agua de tamarindo.

6. Chai

I'm not talking about buying a box of that coffeehouse-mimicing stuff (as delicious as it may be), I'm talking about making your own chai tea from scratch. The Kitchn has a nice chai recipe.

7. Soda

There are several ways to make soda or soda-like drinks, ranging from the fast and healthy (when I was a kid, my mom often served "healthy soda" — a 50/50 mix of orange juice and sparkling water), to concoctions that require fermenting yeast (and, yeah, a heaping helping of sugar). Check out my article on making your own soda for all the details.

8. Espresso

OK, I'm not suggesting that you get a home espresso machine (although if you drink a lot of it, that can be a frugal choice). But a stovetop espresso maker might be just what you need. The coffee isn't exactly the same as coffee shop espresso, but this is an easy and inexpensive way to make a strong brew.

9. Thai Iced Tea and Coffee

Caffeinated, sweet, and oh-so-delicious, I love getting one of these drinks when I go out for Thai food. You can, however, totally make 'em at home. Try this recipe for easy Thai iced coffee or Thai tea.

10. Horchata

Thinking about this tasty, rice-based Mexican beverage always gets that darn Vampire Weekend song stuck in my head. I don't even know the whole song, just the phrase "in December, drinking horchata" because my friend used to sing it over and over. Anyway, deity of all things sweet David Lebovitz has a lovely horchata recipe.

What are your favorite drinks to make at home?

This article is from Meg Favreau of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

13 Halloween Drink Recipes to Scare Up Good Times

Mikey Rox — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:24:18 +0000

Double, double, toil and trouble, looking for drinks that fizz and bubble?

Instead of offering soda and standard spirits to your petrified party guests, go the extra mile to serve up hair-raising Halloween concoctions. These magical and easy-to-make mixed-drink recipes include cocktails for grown-ups as well as under-age options for little ghouls who prefer goblin juice over grape juice. (See also: Frugal Cocktail Party Ideas)

1. Bleeding Heart Martini

For smaller Halloween get-togethers, like a scary movie night, treat your guests to a Bleeding Heart Martini, which tastes much better than it sounds. Foodies especially will love this out-of-the-ordinary recipe from Martha Stewart that calls for dry vermouth, gin, and a pickled baby beet placed on a cocktail skewer, which “bleeds” into and tints the clear liquid.

2. Poison Apple Punch

Snow White would be wise to steer clear of this lightly carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage, but your little dwarves will be lining up to have a taste. The recipe for 12 Bottle Bar's Poison Apple Punch calls for two parts spiced apple juice, one part ginger beer, and a half part raspberry syrup (you can find out how to make raspberry syrup here), festively garnished with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and apple slices.

3. Halloween Candy Corn Cordials

To make Food2’s Halloween Candy Corn Cordial s, you’ll have to prepare several hours in advance, since the recipe calls for one-and-a-half cups of vodka infused (for at least three hours) with a half cup of everyone’s favorite autumn treat. When the vodka is spiked with sugary goodness, mix it with two ounces of orange liqueur, the juice of half a lemon, one large egg white (for a frothy top), and extra candy corn pieces for garnish. Perfect for a sweet-on-each-other party of two.

4. Witch’s Brew

Your feelings about Food Network’s Sandra Lee aside (personally, she drives me insane), her recipe for a Witch’s Brew sounds delicious and it’s easy to make — with or without alcohol. For the kid-friendly version, you’ll need a package of lime gelatin, three cups of pineapple juice, and a two-liter bottle of lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. To put a spell on your adult guests, just add two cups chilled vodka and wave your wand. If you want to go all out, put the drink mixture in plastic cauldron (probably available at your local dollar store) with a plastic hand and a block of dry ice for dramatic effect.

5. Dra-Kahlua

Whoever came up with this drink name at Kahlua should get a Frankenstein-sized raise — it’s brilliant! To make a Dra-Kahlua, you’ll need its namesake liqueur, a good cognac, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. The recipe is portioned to serve one, so if you’re serving multiple drinks, multiply the ingredients accordingly.

6. Horny Devils

If your revelers prefer spicy over sweet, they’ll go gaga for this fiery recipe for Horny Devils. In a pitcher, combine vegetable juice cocktail (like V8 — is there any other?), lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and celery salt. Fill a cocktail shaker with the vegetable-juice mixture and strain into a cocktail glass. Top it off with black vodka poured over the top of a spoon, so that the vodka runs down the glass and floats on top of the tomato juice. Give the drinks an extra kick with a chili-pepper garnish.

7. Bourbon Pumpkin

If you’re a bachelor hosting a small party for your buddies, this Bourbon Pumpkin recipe from Mademan.com is a sure winner. There’s no actual pumpkin needed — that part of the recipe comes in the form of Jack-O-Lantern-inspired olives – but you will need bourbon, ginger ale, and lemon and orange juices. It’s a drink that packs a masculine punch with little effort.

8. Boo Beverage

Moms and their little monsters will find this recipe for Boo Beverage totally irresistible. After blending orange juice, milk, orange sherbet, and bananas together — in four batches – pour the fruity mixture into glasses. On top, pipe on whipped topping in the shape of ghosts and place two chocolate chips on each shape to make eyes for a cute, colorful crowd pleaser.

9. Zombie Gut Punch

My Facebook friends (and my husband, much to his chagrin) know that I’m obsessed with zombies (seriously, the apocalypse is coming, y’all), so this recipe for Zombie Gut Punch from Real Simple is right up my dark alley. In a punch bowl filled with ice, combine vodka, triple sec, bitters, blood orange juice, and cherry soda. Rim each glass with grenadine before filling, and let the undead imbibe.

10. Bayou Slime

While anything with the word slime in its name sounds unappetizing, this Bayou Slime recipe is an exception. First you’ll need to muddle six to eight mint leaves in spiced cordial syrup. Add that to two parts dark rum and an egg white and shake until the mixture is chilled and frothy. When you strain it into a martini glass, you’ll have a sludgy liquid that’s completed when you add moss by way of chopped mint leaves sprinkled on top, sort of like a creamy mojito.

11. Blood Orange Margaritas

Summer is over, but there’s never a bad time for a refreshing margarita — especially this blood orange margarita recipe from Delish.com that screams Halloween. Before you mix the ingredients, salt the rims of martini or margarita glasses if you prefer. In a shaker, combine fresh blood orange juice, tequila, and triple sec or Cointreau with crushed ice and shake. Strain the vibrant liquid into the glasses and garnish with the orange wedges.

12. Spooky Screwdriver

It doesn’t get more festive and fun than this recipe for a Spooky Screwdriver from Divine Dinner Party (renamed Dead Dinner Party for the holiday) — and it’s the easiest of the bunch to make. In a clear cocktail glass (must be clear to achieve the desired effect) with ice, pour three ounces of pulp-free orange juice. On top of that, gently pour two ounces of very cold black vodka (put it in the freezer for an hour or so beforehand). When made correctly, the black vodka will sit on top of the orange juice to create a two-tone drink in traditional Halloween colors.

13. Pumpkin Milkshake

One last recipe for the kiddies. To create this creamy treat the whole family can enjoy, break out the blender and add one frozen banana, three tablespoons orange juice concentrate, three tablespoons of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix — it’s easy to get those confused at the store), one scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt, and a third cup of water. This recipe for a pumpkin milkshake from Disney’s Family Fun serves two, so if you have more thirsty trolls in your household make sure you pick up the appropriate amount of ingredients. Happy Halloween!

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Alternative Uses for Lemons

Ashley Watson — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:36:15 +0000

When life hands you lemons, you can make a lot more than lemonade. From household cleaners to weed killers, here are 25 uses for lemons and lemon juice that you might not have considered. (See also: 254 Uses for Vinegar. And Counting.)

1. Boozy Lemonade

If you are going to make lemonade, you might as well get creative. Try this watermelon rosemary lemonade if you are looking for a refreshing alcoholic drink. Or for the non-drinkers, you can leave out the gin or simply add fresh mint to your favorite lemonade to give it a little kick.

2. Lemon Cubes

You can freeze fresh-squeezed lemon juice in ice cube trays to preserve in small amounts. It's nice to have on hand when you forget to buy lemon for a recipe and don't want to go to the store for one item.

3. Sangria

While you don't need a recipe to make a great sangria, you do need lemon. It's also nice to serve it with a few slices in the glass or on the rim.

4. Removing Strong Odors

When I worked in produce, we would squirt some lemon juice in the sinks or over the compost whenever there were some funky smells in the prep room. To remove odors from garbage disposals, you can drop in leftover lemon peels (make sure the pieces are small or they will get caught). Rub lemon juice into cutting boards that have retained strong odors or stains, and clean with soap and water. For the fridge, pour some lemon juice on a sponge or cloth and place it in the fridge until the smell goes away.

5. Natural Cleaner

Similar to Citrasolv, lemon juice works as a natural household cleaner. You can use lemon juice or squeeze a lemon directly on kitchen or bathroom surfaces, and wipe them with a wet cloth to remove the sticky residue. For stains and really dirty areas, mix in some vinegar and water with the lemon juice.

6. Skin Care

For dry skin, you can use a lemon-sugar scrub, or rub a cut lemon on particularly dry areas, such as knees, elbows, or heels. Be careful when applying to cracked skin. You can also make your own detoxifying body wash with this recipe for sea salt and lemon body cleanser.

7. Bathroom Stains

It may take a little extra scrubbing, but you can remove water stains, soap scum, and limescale naturally with lemon juice. Use a lemon, water, and vinegar mixture for tough stains on your shower walls or tub.

8. Laundry Detergent

You don't need bleach or chemicals to brighten your whites. Try using lemon juice instead of detergent for cleaner and naturally scented clothes. Lemon juice is also good for removing stains. You can directly apply lemon juice to the spot before washing it, or for bigger stains, it is recommended to soak the clothing in a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and lemon juice.

9. Sore Throat

There's nothing like a Hot Toddy for a sore throat, but you don't have to have the whiskey. A freshly squeezed lemon in a cup of hot water will also do the trick. I like to add honey, which sweetens the drink and is another natural germ killer.

10. Natural Preservative

For fresh-cut fruit or veggies, squeeze a fresh lemon over them to prevent browning. This is another reason many guacamole recipes call for lime; in addition to the flavor, it keeps the guac from turning brown when you store it.

11. Natural Weed Killer

Believe it or not, you can use lemon juice instead of harmful weed killers to get to those hard-to-remove weeds that always come back, particularly in the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway. For more efficiency, put the lemon juice in a garden hose filter, and soak the area thoroughly.

12. Hair Highlights

For natural hair highlights, use lemon juice directly on your hair before going out in the sun. There are many different suggestions for how much lemon juice, but it depends on the hair. You may have to experiment to see what works best for you. But always wash your hair afterwards.

13. Nails

Like hair, nails can be brightened with a little lemon juice. Again, there are many recipes for whitening nails; however, if you find a recipe online that also recommends using lemon to whiten teeth, I would not recommend lemon for this. My mother worked for a dentist for a long time, and she said that the citric acid is too harsh on the teeth and gums. You can also mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on a toothbrush to get the same results, but keep in mind it will take a few applications to notice a difference.

14. Notes

Yep, notes. A friend of mine has two children who like to leave notes or little poems on lemons. I'm not sure why, but they love it, and it's cheap entertainment for mom.

15. Dirty Dishes

Lemon juice works great to cut the grease on dishes if you don't have a dishwasher, but you can also use lemons in the dishwasher (in addition to dish detergent). Place a cut lemon in the top rack of the dishwasher to get that Jet-Dry clean, but make sure you secure it so that it doesn't fly around during the wash.

16. Stainless Steel

I used to buy an expensive stainless steel cleaner until I heard that I could just use a little salt and lemon juice. Make sure you wipe the steel down with a clean cloth afterwards. You can use this on most metals, but it is not recommended for silver or gold.

17. Natural Ant Repellant

Spray lemon juice around the areas that you see ants in your house or outside in the places where you think they might be getting into your home.

18. Flavoring and Tenderizing Meat Dishes

Recently, someone invited me to dinner, and she had roasted a chicken with an entire lemon inside of it (cut in half). It was the most tender chicken I've ever had; she told me that the lemon was the key. You can also mix lemon juice with your favorite herbs and rub it under the skin to add moisture and flavor. And freshly squeezed lemon is a classic pair for any kind of fish, grilled or broiled.

19. Making Tasty Salads

Any time I make a salad dressing, I add a small amount of lemon juice to enhance the flavor and also preserve it longer. A good basic vinaigrette to have on hand is lemon, balsamic vinegar, and oil. The portions depend on your tastes, but typically a vinaigrette has more oil than vinegar (olive oil is best), and a small amount of lemon juice.

20. Zest

Lemon zest can be used in many recipes, but it also makes a nice garnish.

21. Table Centerpiece

If you are looking to gussy up that centerpiece and don't want to spend a lot of cash, lemons add a lot of color to the table and can be used with many other decorations. Try putting them in a large clear bowl for something simple, or place them in a basket with some fresh herbs for a holiday decoration.

22. Desserts

There are so many luscious desserts that use lemon from meringues to pies; lemon is a classic dessert flavor. You can also use lemon instead of lime in some recipes. I replaced the lime with lemon zest and lemon juice, and turned lime and coconut crumble bars into lemon bars. Very tasty!

23. Cold Drinks

From soda and seltzer to iced tea, a few slices of lemon can enhance any cold drink, even some light beers.

24. Pasta

While lemon may not be the first ingredient you think of using when making pasta dishes, baked lemon pasta is one of my favorite dishes.

25. Hand Sanitizer

Lemon can disinfect germy hands. So skip the hand sanitizer, and grab the nearest lemon.

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This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: