Taste Tested Tuesday: Cherry Lemonade

A few weeks ago the community newspaper featured a variety of recipes showcasing cherries. One recipe was for fresh Cherry Lemonade. I made some on Memorial Day and it was wonderful: bright, sweet, and tangy! JT and I agreed that we will definitely keep a pitcher of this in our refrigerator all summer long!

Cherry Lemonade

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 pound fresh cherries, washed and pitted (about 2 cups)
1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 5-6 lemons)
6 cups cold water

Heat sugar and water in a small pot until sugar dissolves.

Add cherries and bring to a boil. Boil until cherries begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Set aside to cool.

Strain cooled cherry syrup into a large pitcher, pressing on the cherries to release the juice.

Add lemon juice and cold water.

Pour over ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Though this recipe is delicious as is, it has a very subtle cherry flavor. We would have preferred to taste more cherry in the lemonade, so next time I make it, I will double the amount of cherries.

Photo: Courtesy of jfrasse

Rainbow

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:12-13)

Today, it had been raining on and off all day long. One minute the sun was shining brightly and the next minute dark clouds rolled in bringing a torrential downpour. As I was feeding the girls their lunch I thought, “I wouldn’t be surprised to a see a rainbow some time today.”

A few hours later when JT came home from work, he made a beeline straight to Sweet Pea saying, “I have something to show you!” I knew even before he whisked her onto the porch that a rainbow was waiting. I grabbed the camera, followed them out to the porch, and snapped several photos.

This was the first time Sweet Pea had ever seen a real rainbow. (Too bad Sugar Plum went to bed early and missed it!) A few minutes later the rainbow faded and Sweet Pea was quite sad. I explained that rainbows only lasted a short while and were special gifts from God. JT explained that she could look for another rainbow the next time it rained.

As Sweet Pea completed her bedtime ritual with her father, the skies turned dark again and the rain came down. A few minutes later, the sky cleared and the sun peeked out. Though I doubted we’d be blessed with another rainbow, I ventured out to the porch and looked to the sky. I was surprised to see another beautiful rainbow.
Immediately I bolted up to Sweet Pea’s room and interrupted JT’s reading of her bedtime story. I yanked up the window blinds and said, “Look, there’s another rainbow!” Sweet Pea ran over to the window and jumped for joy shouting, “Another rainbow! Another rainbow!”

Tomorrow, the girls and I will revisit the story of Noah through story and song. I think this time the story will have special meaning for Sweet Pea since she’s seen a rainbow up close!

Taste Tested Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Pizza

Though I love to cook, there are some days I’m simply too tired from the day’s activities to do so. On days like that, I skip the traditional meal of a main dish and two sides and opt for something much easier to prepare.

This BBQ Chicken Pizza is one of our favorite quick meals. It doesn’t take a lot of prep work and can even be made with leftover chicken. This is the basic recipe, but as usual you can add any ingredients you like to make a pizza that suits your family’s taste.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 boneless chicken breast, diced
¾ cup barbecue sauce
1 (16 ounce) package pre-baked pizza crust (I use a Boboli.)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken breast in the skillet, and top with 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce. Cook 10 minutes, turn, and top with the remaining barbecue sauce. Continue cooking 10 minutes, until juices run clear. Cool slightly, and cut into chunks.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spread barbecue sauce evenly over the pizza crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Arrange cooked chicken chunks and red onion slices over the top.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from heat, sprinkle with cilantro, and let sit 10 minutes before slicing.

Photo: Courtesy of disneymike