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Cucumber Lime Vodka Splash

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Refreshing. Bubbly. Tasty!

This bubbly cocktail is perfect for those days when you want a boozy drink and you’re craving something light and refreshing. Cucumber Lime Vodka Splash, made with only three ingredients, is a cocktail you (and your friends!) will love. Grab a glass, and let’s get started!

To make this cocktail a delightful one, you must start with its base: Smirnoff Cucumber Zero Sugar Infusions Cucumber & Lime Vodka. I discovered this flavored vodka when strolling the aisles of my neighborhood liquor store in search of something that was flavorful but less heavy in sugar than rum.

To make my Cucumber Lime Vodka Splash, following the simple steps in the recipe card below. I promise you’re going to appreciate this drink’s flavor profile so much you’ll want to share it with friends at your next get together. Cheers!

1 glass

Serves 10 oz.

Cucumber Lime Vodka Splash

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Smirnoff Cucumber Zero Sugar Infusions Cucumber & Lime
  • Juice of a lime wedge
  • Ice cubes
  • 1/2 can Lime La Croix
  • Garnish with a cucumber slice and mint garnish

Instructions

  1. Add ice to glass.
  2. Add remaining ingredients.
  3. Stir gently.
  4. Garnish glass with cucumber and mint.
  5. Serve.

Notes

You can also swap another La Croix flavored water instead of the lime version.

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https://onedelightfullife.com/cucumber-lime-vodka-splash/

If you’ve read this far, you love cucumbers. Check out other flavorful recipes on the blog including Cucumber Mint Raspberry Detox Water or try your hand at making my Asian Cucumber Salad, the perfect sidekick to Hibachi Steak Lettuce Wraps.

cucumber lime vodka splash

Mixed Berry Popsicles with Coconut Water

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The quintessential summer dessert is the classic popsicle. Wouldn’t you agree? Sure melted s’mores are delicious, but I consider s’mores more of a fall dessert made around a campfire. I have fond memories of the ice cream truck cruising down the city street. It conjures up nostalgic thoughts of having to choose from tri-colored bomb pops, ice cream drumsticks or fruity popsicles. A tough decision! Which one did you choose? I used my 75 cents to buy the rainbow popsicle almost every time.

Now an adult, I still mark summer by indulging in a colorful popsicle, but I’d rather not ingest corn fructose syrup or ingredients I can’t pronounce. So, this summer I made Mixed Berry Popsicles with Coconut Water, a thirst-quenching treat made from natural flavors!

I used frozen, mixed berries and coconut water, which is low in calories and high in nutrients. The benefits of coconut water will convince you that it’s worth trying!

I used frozen organic fruit, but you could easily use canned or fresh fruit as well.

I prepared them using Koji popsicle molds, which I purchased at Target last year. Filling the molds is as easy as adding a tablespoon (or two!) of mixed frozen berries, filling the mold with coconut water almost to the top of it, a tiny bit of Stevia, and a pinch of lime zest for added tanginess. You could add lime juice instead of zest as well. Prepping the yummy popsicles only takes minutes and they are ready to enjoy within a few hours of placing them in the freezer.

When you’re ready to eat them, remove the popsicle molds from the freezer and let them sit out on the counter for about ten minutes or so. Allowing them to thaw out will help you easily remove the popsicles from the mold. Isn’t it cool how the whole berries can be seen through the frozen coconut water? These popsicles are not only yummy tasting but they’re pretty, too!

What was your summer like? I spent mine living for the weekend and trying to squeeze the most delightful moments out of each day. I’m not ready for fall temperatures or lattes just yet. I’ve got popsicles to enjoy on the back porch while watching the gorgeous Kansas sunset!

Pomegranate Martini

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Today, I’m celebrating. Time to raise a glass and say “cheers!” I got the job!

It seems appropriate to honor this news with a freshly made Pomegranate Martini, a simple recipe that is ideal for serving during the your guests during the holidays. If you set out all of your ingredients in advance, this martini can be made in five minutes!

Grab a martini shaker and the following ingredients to prepare your bartending kitchen station:

  • Pomegranate juice (I used Bai Antioxidant Infusion Ipanema Pomegranate because I didn’t have pure pomegranate juice on-hand.)
  • Orange Juice (used pulp-free)
  • Vodka
  • Apple Juice
  • Simple Syrup (heat 1/2 c. water, 1/2 sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves, then cool.)
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1-3 Lime rind curls for garnish in the bottom of the glass or hang over the rim

How do you celebrate the best moments of your life? With a dinner out on the town? A champagne toast with your favorite peeps? Here’s wishing you a happy upcoming holiday season full of only good news to take you into the new year!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
  • 1 oz. orange juice
  • 1 oz. vodka
  • 3/4 oz. apple juice
  • 1/2 oz. simple syrup
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • lime rind curls to garnish
  • ice

Instructions

  1. Fill a martini shaker with 3/4 full of cubed ice.
  2. Add all liquid ingredients.
  3. Add lid to martini and shake vigorously for a few minutes.
  4. Strain martini shaker into a martini glass.
  5. Garnish with lime rind curls.

Notes

You can also use a citrus infused vodka, if you prefer.

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https://onedelightfullife.com/pomegranate-martini/

Nutrition

Calories

169 cal

Carbs

25 g

Protein

1 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Need another cocktail recipe for your guests? Try my yummy recipe It’s Cold Outside, Time to Layer on the Flannel Pajamas!

Classic Fruit Popsicles Two Ways

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Hello Summer!

Nothing quite eases the scorching temperatures of summer like homemade popsicles grabbed from the freezer on a hot day. To welcome the warm season, I’ve created Classic Fruit Popsicles Two Ways: Honey Pineapple Citrus and Fresh Strawberry Kiwi. These recipes are easy for you to make and far healthier than ice cream.

From the moment I bought my Koji ice pop molds at Target ($9.99), nostalgia set in on the drive home. Less fattening than ice cream desserts and fun to make, the popsicle is on trend again. Maybe it’s because you control the flavors! You can add any ingredient to your juice base from vegetables to fruit. Some people even add fresh herbs. Why not? A citrus basil ice pop might sounds delicious.

You can easily make my Honey Pineapple Citrus Popsicles using frozen chunks of Dole Fruit-n-Spice Honey Lime Pineapple Chunks (leftover from a smoothie experiment last week), fresh lime juice, clover honey, Stevia, and grapefruit juice. You’ll may want to use more Stevia than I did to cut the tangy citrus flavor from the grapefruit. Preparing these cool pops is as simple as dumping the ingredients in a blender or Cuisinart and blending it until smooth even to pour.

Honey Pineapple Citrus Popsicle Recipe: Yields 3-4 popsicles

  • 1 c. Dole Fruit-n-Spice Honey Lime Pineapple Chunks
  • 1 c. grapefruit juice
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1 tsp clover honey
  • 2 tsp Stevia

Fill each popsicle well 3/4 of the way full to leave room for expansion as the fruit mixture freezes. Place your popsicles molds in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then, remove the popsicles from the freezer and gently insert the popsicles sticks. Place them back in the freezer and allow these sweet treats to harden. When you’re ready to eat one, simply run warm water on the outside of the popsicle mold until you’re able to wiggle the popsicle free to devour it.

Use the same instructions to make Fresh Strawberry Kiwi Popsicles except you will instead blend cranberry/grape juice cocktail, sliced strawberries and kiwi, and Stevia until smooth. I used less added sugar in this recipe because the fruit and juice already were sweeteners.

Fresh Strawberry Kiwi Popsicle Recipe: Yield 3-4 popsicles

  • 1 c. cranberry/grape cocktail juice
  • 1 c. sliced fresh strawberries
  • 2 peeled and sliced fresh kiwi
  • 1/4 tsp Stevia

What’s your fondest memories of summer? I remember learning how to swim at the community pool, riding my yellow Schwinn bicycle (banana seat included) with abandon, and running back and forth to my neighborhood friends’ house to play.

Take a moment to enjoy the simple pleasures of summer while cooling off from the hot temperatures with one of these fruit popsicles, a sure-win with your kids and adult kiddos too!

Berry Rum Smash with Lime Cocktail

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Determined to create a cocktail that I could use to raise a glass in honor of those who served during Memorial Day, I created Berry Rum Smash with Lime Cocktail, a blender drink topped with carbonated soda. It’s a refreshing drink that could be made any time of the year or again on Fourth of July thanks to its blue color and fun garnishment of more berries, festive straws, and a sprig of mint.

A liter of Cruzan Aged Rum cost me $14.99. Now that’s a value!

I love a cocktail that stretches my creativity. This recipe requires you to use a blender to make a smooth juice from fresh blueberries, pitted sweet cherries, lime juice, aged rum (you can use silver rum), the juice of half of a lime, and Stevia for sweetness. After blending the above ingredients on high until the pulp of the fruit is minimal, pour it into a glass filled with crushed ice.

You can find these festive straws and garnish picks for $1 at Target. (not an affiliate)

After pouring the berry mixture into the glass of crushed ice, top the glass with lemon-lime soda water until filled. That’s it! It’s a fruity, cool drink to serve to guests at your next outdoor deck party or just because you want to delight in a new cocktail made from your home bar.

Cheers my dears!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz. aged rum (I used Cruzan)
  • 2 tsp Stevia
  • 1/2 c. pitted sweet cherries
  • 1 c. fresh blueberries (reserve a few for garnish)
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • crushed ice
  • 1 can lemon lime sode

Instructions

  1. Blend all of the ingredients except the ice in a blender on high until very smooth.
  2. Fill a glass with crushed ice.
  3. Pour berry mixture into glass.
  4. Top with lemon lime soda until full
  5. Garnish with blueberries and a lime wedge.

Notes

You can use frozen fruit for this blended cocktail. Add 1 tsp of honey for added sweetness.

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https://onedelightfullife.com/berry-rum-smash-with-lime-cocktail/

Nutrition

Calories

47 cal

Carbs

12 g

Protein

1 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

 

Tequila Lime Chicken with Pico de Gallo and Fresh Guacamole

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I have no problem pretending that some days of the week are food holidays as an excuse to make celebratory food. Life is short. I don’t need rules that say it can’t be just like Super Bowl Sunday or St. Patrick’s Day.

In fact, I declare today a Cinco de Mayo again just so you can make an excuse to prepare Tequila Lime Chicken with Homemade Pico de Gallo and Fresh Guacamole. Grab a cold Tecate and your sombrero because you’ve got some serious kitchen cooking to do!

Topped with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, and crushed tortilla chips for crunch, Pioneer Woman’s Tequila Lime Chicken goes well with a chilled Mexican beer or my Grilled Pineapple Peach Margarita made with silver tequila.

This grilled chicken dinner is multi-step but worth every moment. Seriously, have you ever purchased store bought guacamole or tried to find pico de gallo on a grocery store’s salad bar? The guacamole tastes artificial and tends to have a mouse-like texture and salad bar pico de gallo is incredibly watery. Fresh is best so don’t hesitate from making homemade guacamole and pico de gallo because the freshness of each one elevates the flavor of this dish.

First, prepare the pico de gallo in advance. Combine equal amounts of diced tomato, white onion, cilantro, and one seeded jalapeno. (Leave the seeds and pulp inside the jalapeno if you prefer more heat.) Once mixed, squeeze a half of a lime into the bowl and mix again to incorporate the juice well.

Now, let’s make the fresh guacamole. Learn how to pick out the perfect avocado here. Take your knife around the outside of each avocado and carefully remove the pit of each one. There’s a new trend called Avocado Hand. Don’t let it happen to you. Be careful! Use a knife to carefully a circle around the outside of the avocado and then cut each half into diced squares so you can scoop the avocado meat out with a spoon into the bowl. Once you’ve added the avocado to the a large bowl, add enough of the pico de gallo to the bowl and mix it gently so you leave it chunky.

Cover the guacamole bowl with plastic wrap and make sure to press the plastic against the guacamole to form a tight seal. This method, and the lime juice in the guacamole, will keep it from browning too dark and it will keep for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Extra guacamole is a good thing. Serve with tortilla scoops chips and a fresh lime wedge.

Finally, let’s tackle the main entree Tequila Lime Chicken. Full disclosure here: this is not my recipe but instead Ree Drummond’s (Pioneer Woman’s) recipe. Her recipe requires you to use a food processor to prepare a creamy tequila based marinade and pour it into a Ziplock bag and then refrigerating it for several hours. You could also use a blender in a pinch.

While you could certainly use a mesquite flavored tequila like Jose Cuervo, I prefer a lighter silver tequila. I can thank college for that preference.

Add all marinade ingredients into a food processor.

Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor and blend well. You don’t want garlic chunks.

Add chicken breasts to marinade.

The alcohol will cook out of the marinade once the chicken is grilled but the flavor will linger. Later, you’ll remove the chicken from the bag and and grill it over medium high heat 4-5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest a couple of minutes before serving it topped with sprinkled taco cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and a sprig of fresh cilantro. Crumble tortilla chips in your hand add sprinkle them on top for added crunch. Don’t forget a wedge of lime on the side to squeeze on top of the entire plate!

Optional sides could include warmed black beans and Mexican rice with folded flour tortillas. Use some of that extra tequila to make my recipe for Grilled Pineapple and Peach Tequila Cocktail.

Mexican food is one of the best culinary experiences that people can have. -Karla Souza

Let me know what you think of these recipes in the comments section below. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Again.