miscellaneous

it is sooooooo hot!  we do what we can to stay cool.  choosing foods like salads, ice cream, fruit, popsicles and iced tea are just some of what we consume during the summer to be refreshed.  to add to the summer menu choices here are beverage recipes from my daughter, libby:

Frozen Hot Chocolate (makes about 6 cups) - 1.5 c milk - 1/4 c chocolate chips [or approx that amount chocolate of your choice] - 1 packet hot cocoa mix [or 1 oz from a can] - 3 trays ice [around 3 cups or just keep adding if you like the mix freezier] Melt chocolate chips in 1/2 c milk. Add cocoa mix & a bit of sugar to taste as milk heats; continue to stir & blend while everything melts. As with cooking of things dairy, don't allow to boil or singe, just cook on low until all ingredients are uniformly blended. Dump chocolate mixture in blender with the remaining 1 c milk. Give it a few whirls to mix. Add ice, as much at a time that your blender will happily crunch into, until all ice is gone. Whirr a bit longer to fully blend. Pour into containers of choice. Serve with a spoon, as it does separate a mite once resting. This recipe is easy enough to tinker with to your preferences. A bit more chocolate if you like it more chocolaty, more cocoa mix if it doesn't have enough of that cocoa flavor, add in mint liqueur or some other sort of alcoholic deliciousness.   (recipe inspired by frozen hot chocolate advertisement at dunkin donuts; saw the sign and thought I could do better!) Frozen Lemonade  (makes about 6 cups) Just lemonade and ice crushed in the blender. I start with 2 cups of lemonade, add lots of ice, and might add more lemonade if it needs more wet to blend easier.* *here's libby's fresh lemonade recipe to use as the ingredient in the frozen lemonade: 6 lemons, juiced 1 to 2 cups of sugar (to taste) 1 to 1 1/2 quarts of water (to taste) tip:  bring at least 3 cups of the water to a boil to pour over the combined sugar and lemon juice. stir until the sugar has melted.  add the rest of the water to the lemon juice/sugar/water mixture in a pitcher.  chill. ALSO....... check out the beautiful jewelry made by a twitter friend: http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurelmoonjewelry