Lucy | October 8, 2015 | Food | Spring is here! Which means after a few lame post Christmas freezing months, we can now spend time outdoors, soaking up the sun, and sipping fruity drinks, right? RIGHT?! Wrong! Not in Oregon, at least. Weather is so flip-floppy here, it’s ridiculous. Yesterday was beautiful. But since God knows how much Oregonians bitch about the weather on a daily basis, He likes to be funny and give us warm weather one day, and gloomy rain the next. But have no fear, pacific NW friends! It will get warmer, and hopefully stay that way for more than a day or two! Until then, enjoy these two spring-inspired drink recipes I stumbled upon via Pinterest + and other time-consuming sites. I don’t know about you but I’m going to make a batch of that blackberry limeade ASAP! Yum!

• 3 cups fresh blackberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 8 thin lime slices
• Fresh blackberries (optional)
•  
• Preparation
• Place 1 cup water and 3 cups blackberries in a blender; process until smooth. Press blackberry puree through a sieve into a large pitcher; discard seeds. Add remaining 5 cups water, sugar, and juice to pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. Place 1 lime slice and a few blackberries, if desired, into each of 8 glasses; pour about 1 cup limeade over each serving.

                                                                     Watermelon Frosty (…or Margarita!)

2 1/4 cups frozen watermelon cubes 1/2+ cup water 2 Tbsp maple syrup

1 large lemon, squeezed (lime juice also works very well! use 2 limes)

1 fresh banana
For margarita: 2 shots of tequila
also optional: a few dashes of cayenne powder in the blender or over top when you serve!

Blend and pour. Garnish with frozen watermelon/rind slices. Serve! Enjoy.

Blending Tip! The best way to blend up this frosty is in a Vitamix – it really frosts up that thick frozen watermelon!