April Garden Soiree

Ryan and I had our first couple's wedding shower/party - hosted by Marilyn Anderson. It was such a blast and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. They predicted rain all week... and then it was sunny, beautiful, and cool. Perfect weather for a garden party!



Look familiar? This is what I made the rosemary lemonade for! I also mixed it with some sweet tea and made "swamp water."

Did I mention we had a GARDEN soiree? And what a gorgeous garden to have it in! One day Ryan and I will have a yard like that... one day.... :)

The wedding is so close now! I can't believe it! I hope there's not a let-down afterward... I've been planning so much and putting so much of myself into getting ready for the actual event. I'm sure it will be great, though. I'm not worried. Even if it rains, we'll have a good time!

~ Mari

Rosemary Lemonade

If you've got warm weather on the brain, this is sure to get you smiling! (You know that lemonade makes you smile...) So, if you've got lemons, rosemary, and sugar - you've got a unique drink that is great for a warm afternoon in the sun.

Rosemary Lemonade

5 cups water

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup fresh rosemary (3 sprigs)

8 lemons, juiced & strained

In a medium sauce pot, heat 3 cups of water. While it heats (before it boils), add the 2 cups of sugar to the pot. Stir as it heats, bringing it to a boil. Allow it to boil for about a minute.

Turn off the heat and put 3 whole sprigs of rosemary (1/2 cup of rosemary leaves - off the stem) into the water.

Let the rosemary sit in the hot water for a few minutes (as long as it takes you to squeeze the lemons!).

Take 8 lemons, halve them, and squeeze as much juice as you can out of them!

You'll wind up with about that much juice (below).

Next, strain the lemon juice (don't want any seeds in there!) into a pitcher or storage container.

Then strain the rosemary water liquid into the same pitcher, add 2 more cups of water (this makes it not QUITE as intense), stir it around, and VOILA! Rosemary lemonade!

I like how it has a green tint to it - and the flavor is unlike anything you've ever tasted! It's hard to describe, but it doesn't really taste like rosemary. It's just a hint of an herbal flavor. Chef Joe Cairns taught me how to make this in school - and now I'm passin it on to you!

Enjoy!

~ Mari