Liquid Drink Recipes






Mercurial Mint Syrup

Like the element mercury, this mint beverage syrup can roll any which way.  Add this fresh flavoring to tea, seltzer, or water. (Important: Never consume the element mercury.)

2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup fresh mint leaves
Juice of 6 lemons
Juice of 2 oranges
Grated rind of 1 orange


Put the sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and cool the mixture.  Add the fruit juices and the orange rind.

Pour the juice mixture over the fresh, clean, mint leaves. Let the liquid stand for one hour.

Strain the concoction over a bowl to catch the precious syrup. Pour the syrup into a container with a lid.  Store in the refrigerator. Throw away or compost the mint leaves and the rind that you caught in the strainer.

How to Use:  For each drink serving, fill a glass one-third of the way up with syrup. Then add ice and water, tea, seltzer, or ginger ale.  
 SERVES 10 - 12
                                   

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Energizing Horchata


One sip and you will feel compelled to drink more of this sweet rice beverage. Much more. Note: You may want an adult to help you make this recipe.


4 cups milk
8 cups water
4 cinnamon sticks
1/3 cup uncooked rice
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla


Pulverize the uncooked rice in blender or food processor until it becomes powdery.

Pour the milk into a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring often. Hold a strainer over a large saucepan. Pour the mixture into the strainer so that the liquid goes into the pan. It will be hot so please be careful. Add the water and cinnamon sticks.

Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the pot sit for 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks carefully with a spoon.

Stir together the rice powder, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Pour in the milk mixture and blend well. Refrigerate for about 5 hours or overnight. Pour the horchata from the bowl into a pitcher, but don’t include the stuff (sediment) that has settled at the bottom of the bowl. Serve the horchata cold over ice.

SERVES 6-8


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Suspicious Smoothies

Why would you make a smoothie? Who will drink the smoothie?  Will it be served inside the house or outside? Please answer these questions prior to proceeding. Or don’t. And feel free to add any fruit that you like. If you use blackberries, the smoothie will have a somewhat seedy texture.


2 frozen bananas (without peels, of course)
1/2 cup any flavor yogurt (we don’t recommend coffee flavor)
Fresh or frozen berries
1 1/4 cup milk and/or juice

Puree all the ingredients in blender.  Taste and adjust for sweetness. Add a small amount of honey or sugar if desired, but you probably won’t need any sweetener. Serve to whoever, whenever, wherever.


MAKES 1-2



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Mysterious Milkshakes


Milkshake-making experiments generally yield delectable results. To make a Mysterious Vanilla Milkshake, leave out the chocolate syrup from the second recipe or omit the strawberries from the first recipe.                   


Strawberry Milkshake

1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 ice cubes
1 teaspoon sugar or honey

Combine the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.  Taste and adjust for sweetness.

MAKES 1-2


Chocolate Milkshake

1-1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup cold milk
1/3 cup chocolate syrup

Place the ice cream, milk and syrup into a blender.  Cover and blend until smooth. 

MAKES 1-2


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Hot Honey, the Milky Way

This recipe can serve as a sleep-aid. Drink it before bedtime to put yourself in the mood for dreaming.


I cup milk or plain soy milk
1 tablespoon honey


In the Microwave: Put the honey in the bottom of a ceramic mug. Add half of the milk or soy milk. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Add the rest of the milk.

If the drink isn’t hot enough for you, then microwave it again for 10 seconds more. Taste. Add more honey if you like.

On the Stovetop:  Put the honey in a pot with the milk or soy milk. Heat over low flame 5 minutes. Test the temperature. Next, taste and adjust for sweetness.

SERVES 1

* The Earth is located within the Milky Way Galaxy. We see it as a wide band of light in the night sky.