sparkling strawberry limeade

just couldn't help but continue my obsession with strawberries and all things spring... I decided to make this "mocktail" for us last night just to have something fun on a random Wednesday evening. :)

This sparkling limeade is perfect to serve to kiddos, at baby showers, to bring on picnics, etc. :) 

sparkling strawberry limeade

serves 2-4, depending on glass size/how much you're willing to share ;)

Juice two large limes. (If your limes look super-small, you might want to do 3). :)

Add the juice from the limes to your mixing pitcher/cocktail shaker/etc.

To the lime juice, add 2 to 4 sliced strawberries (depending on the size of your berry and how much berryness you want) :)

Depending on how sweet you like your drinks, add granulated white sugar to the juice following this chart:

like it sour = add 1/4 cup

like it sweet/sour = add 1/3 cup

like it sweet = add 1/2 cup

Obviously you can do more/less to taste. :)

Mix/muddle/shake the lime solution very well at this point--- because you won't want to mix it harshly after adding the sparkling water and ruin all those magical bubbles! ;)

Once you feel the sugar is dissolved, add one, 1-Liter bottle of San Pellegrino Sparkling Water to the lime juice mixture.

Carefully pour into glasses and enjoy. (*note: If you want to garnish with sliced limes, you'll need to buy one extra at the store.)

<3

Mixed Greens Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing

How pumped am I when it's that wonderful time of year when the Organic Strawberries are cheaper than they've been all winter!?!....... :)  YES.  Spring is here, at last! :)

 

 

Tonight I made this super-simple, super-delicious salad in all of 5 minutes.

 

Mixed Greens Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing

 Makes enough salad for 2-3 people for dinner-sized portions; obviously you can stretch it to more people if you make the portions smaller.

 

For the salad, layer:

Mixed greens and/or Baby Spinach (I used a whole 5 oz. carton of organic greens from Kroger) :)

Chicken, made the day before, from this recipe

Fat-free Feta (I bought the smallest container of crumbled feta available; we used probably half-ish to 2/3rds of it)

Sliced Strawberries (between the dressing and the salads you could go through a quart if you like it extra-berryish) :)

Pecans, candied or regular-- whatever blows wind into your sails :) (I used just a few store-bought candied ones, but you can learn to make your own sugared pecans here if you're feelin frisky) :)

 

For the dressing, combine (I did mine in my food processor):

5-6 strawberries, cut up a little before adding to the FP bowl

probably 2 Tbsp. sugar

3-4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, or to taste

A few leaves of fresh, flat-leaf parsley

Salt & pepper

*2-3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

 

*Process dressing ingredients until all are emulsified; remember to add oil last.

 

enjoy <3 :)