{Easy Summer Recipes} Strawberry Balsamic Basil Soda

Tweet

Summer has arrived for us and during these sweltering hot days as the temperatures are rising, a chilled beverage is preferred as a 24x7 summer fix. A glass of plain water is just so blah to beat the scorching heat waves around. Over the years, I had bookmarked many summer recipes and just like any other, my recipe-list has been overflowing with new ideas to try. Under the label - "Easy Summer Recipes", I want to try and if they turn out right, I want to share them all with you in coming months. Are you excited just as I am? Let's jump start this series with an easy yet delicious soda recipe - Strawberry Balsamic Basil Soda.

Enjoy and make some today!

So, which recipe depicts summer to you? I would love to know them all. :-)

...the ingredients...

...simple basil syrup...add to your everyday green tea for a herby feel!

..strawberry balsamic puree..

..blend it all with club soda and Voila! a refreshing summer drink is ready...

Sending this as an entry to Healthy Vegan Fridays and The Wellness Weekend.

{Recipe}  Strawberry Balsamic Basil Soda

Makes 4-5 glasses of soda
Adapted from A Cozy Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
3/4 to 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (amount varies depending on how sweet or tart the strawberries are and how much vinegar you prefer)
2 cups club soda or sparkling water

For Basil Syrup - 

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup fresh basil, finely minced

Preparation:

1. To make the basil syrup, combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer while stirring frequently for about a minute, and then remove from heat. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then add minced basil. Place in a jar or other airtight container and allow to cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight is preferred).

2. In a blender or food processor, add the chopped strawberries and balsamic vinegar to blend into a puree. In pitcher, add chilled basil syrup and strawberry-balsamic puree. Mix  in the club soda and stir well before pouring into glasses. Serve over crushed ice to be enjoyed on a hot summer day.

..Cheers everybody to glorious (not too hot) summer days ahead...

This is Recipe 18 for my The 100 Recipe Challenge for Year 2013. Check out the rest of the recipes posted so far...

**********************************

Did you like what you just read. then Subscribe to Cooking With Siri feed  (OR)

Enter your email address and Never miss a post..


Delivered by FeedBurner

Be the first one to know what I am going to post next by "Liking" Cooking With Siri page on Facebook and follow me on twitter.

until next recipe,

{Simple and Easy} Balsamic Roasted Potato Wedges Recipe

Tweet

 
Is there or should I say can there be anybody out there who is NOT a fan of a spud. i.e our humble potato. I know one such person. My mum, not because she doesn't wish to eat it but she can't. Actually, the story goes likes this. Until couple of years ago, my mother used to literally live on potatoes. Eat them almost every single day, in any edible form, mostly junk (read as samosas). One day she realized and pledged to not eat these, ever again. My dad, myself and my sister, all are an ardent fans, so she is bound to cook for us. But, poor mum - she can't eat them.

Now, talking about "balsamic vinegar" which is used as a flavoring in today's recipe. A dark-brown syrupy liquid whose smooth sweet-sour flavour still lingers once you are done biting into it. When I came across this recipe of "Balsamic Roasted Potato Wedges" which feaure two of my favorite ingredients, I expected its taste to be stellar.

..and they're pretty darn delicious, I must say. It doesn't take much effort as well. The oven does the work for you and all one has to do is cut, toss and bake. :-)

Enjoy!

This recipe is being sent as an entry to Healthy Vegan Friday # 27

What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow. ~ A. A. Milne 

Potato wedges, cut ready to be tossed and then baked.

{Recipe} Balsamic Roasted Potato Wedges

Serves 2
Adapted from Epicurious

Ingredients:

4 to 6 medium sized potatoes, washed & scrubbed
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
few sprigs of cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Preparation:

1. (Optional Step) - Lightly peel the potatoes. After scrubbing, if they are clean you can let the skins be.

2. Cut the potatoes into evenly sized wedges. (lengthwise)

3. Preheat oven to 230 C or 450 F.

4. In a shallow baking pan, toss potato wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper and cilantro. Arrange them in one single layer. Roast for about 20-25 minutes, gently turning over once or twice, until they are light golden brown and the edges have crisped up a bit.

5. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar on top of the potato wedges and toss. Bake again for about 4-5 minutes until the vinegar has evaporated. Serve with any accompaniment. I liked them as-is - slightly tart and delicious!

Did you like what you just read. then Subscribe to Cooking With Siri feed  (OR)

Enter your email address and Never miss a post..


Delivered by FeedBurner

Be the first one to know what I am going to post next by "Liking" Cooking With Siri page on Facebook and follow me on twitter.

until next recipe,