Garden‘Mocktails’Workshop
Icecubetraypreparation:
Prepareicecubesbyplacingedibleflowersfromthegardenintoicecubetrays.Makesuretherearenopestsonyourpetalsorflowerheadsandbesuretouseplantsyouknowaresafetoeatandhaven’tbeensprayedwithpesticides.
Alternativestoflowersaresmallslicesoflemon,lime,cucumberorfrozenberries,whichareavailableallyearroundfromtheshops.Arrangeaselectionofcolourfulflowers,fruitsandberriesintoyourtray,addwaterandfreeze.
Ifusingmint,pickthetinytopthreemintleavesfreshfromaspringofgrowingminttoaddarefreshingzingtoyourcubes.Addwatertoyourtrayandplaceinthefreezer.
VirginMojito
Youwillneed:
Mint(handfulofsweetmintperserving,thirdofyourglass)
Limes(1xperservingcutintowedges)
Cucumber(choppedfinely,withmintleaves,frozeninicecubes)
Goldencastersugar(1xteaspoonperserving)
SparklingWater(insteadofrumandsodawater)
Pestleandmortar
Tallglass
Spoonforstirring
Prepareicecubesbyfinelychoppingcucumberandmintleavestogether,thenaddateaspoonofyourmixtoeachicecubetraycompartment,toppingupwithwater.Placeinthefreezeruntilyouarereadytomixyour‘mocktail’.
Tomakeyourvirginmojito,placehalfofyourmintinapestleandmortar,andputtheremainingsprigsinatallglass.Cutyourlimeintofourwedgesandsqueezethreeintoyourpestleandmortar.Muddlethemint,lime,andsugartogether(crushingwiththepestle),pourallthemintandliquidintoyourglass.
Addtheusedlimewedgestoyourglass(forextraflavour),thenaddyouricecubesandtopupwithyoursparklingwater,givingthemixastir.Placeyouremainingwedgeoflimeontoyourglassrimfordecorationandenjoyyourrefreshinganddeliciousmojito‘mocktail’!
MaidenMoonWalk
Youwillneed:
Grapefruit(oneslicefordecorationonglass)
Grapefruitjuice(adashperserving,orfreshlysqueezed)
Sparklingwater(insteadofProsecco)
Ginger(grated–ateaspoon)
Flowericecubes(violas,rosebud,pansies,borageflowers)
WhenreadytomakeyourMaidenMoonWalk,chooseaprettycocktailglassandsliceyourgrapefruitinhalf.Squeezeonehalfofyourgrapefruitintoyourglassfillingitaquarterfull(youcanusebottledgrapefruittoo).Takeaslicefromyourremaininghalfgrapefruitandsavefordecoration.
Grateateaspoons’worthoffreshgingerintoyourglass.Addateaspoonofsugarandmix,thendropinyouricecubes,placethesliceofgrapefruitontherimofyourglasslikeagiantmoondecoration,andrelaxandenjoyyourlunarlanding!
Moreoptions:
Anothersimpleandrefreshingdrinktoserveatanypartyontheplotisfreshdillinajugofwater.Addacoupleofslicesoflemon,andsomeprettyicecubesyoupreparedearlier(lemonandlimeworkswell)andoffyougo.Yourvisitorswilllovethetasteofsummerinaglass!
Healingbenefitsofyour‘mocktail’mixes:
Mint–stimulatingandrefreshing,helpstoboostyourmetabolismandaidsdigestion.Mintisanti-inflammatoryandhelpsopentheairways,sogreatforasthmasufferersandforgeneralcoughandcoldremedies.
LemonandLime–bothofthesearegreatimmunityboostingcitrusfruits,soagainfabulousforstavingoffcoughsandcolds.
Grapefruit–appetitestimulant,greatforremovingfattydeposits,helpstoregulatetheappetitesoishelpfulforpeopledealingwithweightissues.Grapefruitisalsoadetoxifier,sogoodforahangover,italsoregulatessleephenceusedbypeoplewhotravelalot.Italsohelpstofocusandclearthemind,sogreatduringexamtime.
Ginger–goodfornauseaandsickness,generatesheatinthebody,goodforpeoplewhodotoomuch;acupofgingerteaisstimulatingyetgrounding,leavingyouactivewithouttheneedforcaffeine.Itisalsogreatformusclecramps,postexerciserecovery,andduringmenstruation.
Dill–isgreatfordigestion,includinglossofappetite,andgoodfortreatmentofcoughsandcolds,cramps,andsleepdisordersamongstotherthings,soandallroundfabulousplant,greatwithfishdishestoo.