Tag: lake recipes

5 Best Homemade Treats to Keep Cool This Summer

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of SaranacLake.com.

From water sports to sunbathing, summertime represents the essence of lake living. In honor of the first day of summer, we’re celebrating by making delicious frozen treats. Each one of these chilled recipes is easy to make from the comfort of your lake house. Read on for our top picks that will keep you cool in the summer heat! 

Ice Cream

Photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com.

You don’t have to wait in the Ben and Jerry’s line for the perfect ice cream. You probably have most of the ingredients you need at home. As a fun bonus, it’s a science experiment so that you can observe chemistry in action. Toss in toppings like cookie crumbles, fudge, or fresh fruit and enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups whole milk 
  • ½ cup granulated sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
  • 10 cups ice 
  • 8 tablespoons rock salt 

Directions: In a medium bowl, mix milk, sugar, and vanilla. Pour half of the mixture into a sandwich bag and seal tightly. Place the bag into a larger plastic bag, add the remaining batter, and seal. In a 4 quart Tupperware, add rock salt, ice, and plastic bags. Shake for 5 minutes and voila — you’ve got ice cream! Check out the full recipe here. 

Snow Cones

Photo courtesy of diys.com.

You don’t need a snow cone maker to enjoy this frozen treat at your lake house. As long as you have a blender, you’re all set. Whether you use Kool-Aid packets or another powdered drink mix, you can customize with your favorite flavors like cherry, blueberry, and grape. Pick up some cone-shaped cups and enjoy. 

Ingredients: 

  • 4 cups of water 
  • 4 cups of sugar
  • 4 envelopes powdered drink mix 
  • 4 cups crescent-shaped ice cubes 
  • 1-2 tablespoons water 

Directions: Boil 4 cups of water in a large saucepan on medium-high. Stir in sugar until it’s dissolved. Divide this syrup evenly into 4 medium bowls and add an envelope of powdered drink mix to each. Stir until powder is dissolved, then pour into 4 squeeze bottles. In a blender, pulse ice until it is crushed. Sprinkle water over ice, scoop into balls, and drizzle syrup. View the full recipe here. 

Ice Pops

Photo courtesy of laylita.com.

Simply a classic, ice pops are a favorite among parents and kids alike. They’re also easy to make with a prep time of only 5-10 minutes. Just be sure to factor in the 5 hours of freezing time. You can set them in the freezer in the morning, enjoy an afternoon on the lake, and come back for afternoon ice pops. 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups of frozen strawberries or blueberries (thawed)
  • ¼ cup apple juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey 
  • ½ lemon, juiced 
  • 1 pinch salt 

Directions: Combine all ingredients into a blender until smooth. Pour blended juice into ice pop molds and freeze for 5 hours. If you don’t have molds, pour juice into 3-ounce plastic cups, cover with foil, and insert popsicle sticks through the foil into the cups. Find the recipe here. 

Monkey Tails

Photo courtesy of SimpleRootsWellness.com.

Monkey tails are the chocolate lover’s alternative to fruity ice pops. A refreshing twist on the classic chocolate and banana combination makes these delectable snacks full of rich flavors, creating an ideal summer dessert. Feel free to top with crushed nuts or coconut flakes.

Ingredients: 

  • 6 large bananas 
  • 2 cups dark chocolate chips 
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil 
  • Popsicle sticks 
  • 2 tbsp chopped nuts or coconut flakes (optional)

Directions: Insert a popsicle stick into the ends of each banana and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Meanwhile, mix chocolate chips and vegetable oil and microwave in 30-second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove bananas from the freezer, dip in chocolate, then place back in the freezer until chocolate is firm (30 minutes). Check out the recipe here. 

Mocktail Piña Colada

Photo courtesy of delish.com.

If you like piña coladas (as the song goes), this is the perfect summer treat for you and your kids. This fruity, tropical beverage is a great way to wind down while watching the sunset on your boat dock. Include colorful straws and a cocktail umbrella for the full tiki bar effect. 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 ripe bananas 
  • 1 cup of freshly diced pineapples 
  • 1 cup of pineapple juice
  • ½ cup of coconut milk 
  • 3 cups of ice cubes 
  • Pineapple wedges for garnish 

Directions: Blend all ingredients except pineapples in a blender, then pour the mixture into glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges. Serve while it’s cold! View the recipe, and other great mocktails, here.

Now enjoy the first day of summer at the lake — and stay cool!

Summer Sips and Spirits – Tasty Lake-Inspired Cocktails

Posted on Staff

Article co-written by LakeHomes.com intern Sam Harvey

Get your sweet summer sip on with these fun and fruity lake-inspired cocktails!

Summer Sangria with Watermelon and Pineapple

This simple, delicious summer sangria is crisp and refreshing, exactly what you need after a relaxing day of sunbathing by the lake. (Serves 4-6.)

Photo Courtesy of What the Fork Food Blog

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Moscato (750 ml)
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1 lime, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups fresh watermelon cubes, chilled
  • 2 cups fresh pineapple cubes, chilled
  • Lemon Lime soda, for serving

 Directions:

Prepare your sangria by first combining the wine and brandy in a large pitcher, and stir.

Next add the majority of the lime wheels, watermelon cubes, and fresh pineapple.

Place the remaining fruit pieces in the bottoms of your guests’ drinking glasses, and fill with ice.

Pour your finished sangria over ice, and top with lemon-lime soda for a little extra pop.

Serve!

Courtesy of: What the Fork

Mermaid Lemonade

Mermaids may be the stuff of tall tales, but this lovely, thirst-quenching lemonade definitely measures up to the myths. (Serves 4.)

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Calabrese

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup blue curacao
  • 1 cup white rum
  • Lemonade
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • Maraschino cherries, for garnish

 Directions:

For a fun drink that is as visually refreshing as it is delicious, first fill each of your glasses halfway with ice, then pour in a splash of blue curacao. 

Add 1/4 cup of rum, then top with more ice. 

Add lemonade, then garnish with a lemon slice and two cherries.

Courtesy of: delish.com

Grilled Peach Whiskey Smash

A southern-inspired indulgence, this fancy treat is sure to impress your guests this lake season.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small peach (or ½ of a large peach), pitted and quartered
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 fresh basil leaves (or 4 fresh mint leaves)
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 3 oz club soda, chilled

Directions:

For a warm, smoky flavor, place the peach and lemon slices on the grill and cook, covered, until golden brown, turning once. 

Combine the peaches and lemons, basil (or mint) and honey in a cocktail shaker. 

Muddle — crush and stir– the fruits and herbs to release their juices and aromas. 

Pour the bourbon and mixture over ice, cover and shake for 10 to 20 seconds. 

Strain your cocktail over a fresh glass of ice, and top with club soda before serving.  

Courtesy of: Better Homes & Gardens

Meyer Lemon Shandy

Pucker up for this summer classic combination. (Serves 4.)

Photo Courtesy of Lori Yates Photography

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 3 Meyer lemons, juiced
  • 4 12-oz bottles of wheat beer

Directions:

Begin by bringing the sugar and the ½-cup of water to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until dissolved. 

Let the mixture cool, then transfer the sugar-water to a pitcher and place in the refrigerator to chill into a syrup.

Combine this chilled syrup with fresh lemon juice, and add 2 cups of water. 

Stir lemonade into one bottle of beer in a chilled pint glass. 

Courtesy of: Foxes Love Lemons

For more taste bud-approved sips and spirits, check out these “5 Delicious Cocktails to Enjoy All Summer Long.”

Your Lake Home Needs An Outdoor Propane Burner

Posted on Staff

Everyone knows that outdoor propane burners are great for camping, but did you know they can be especially handy around the house as well?

Here are 4 tasty reasons to have an outdoor propane burner at your lake home!

Low Country Boil

There is nothing better get together at the lake than a crawfish, or low country boil!

With a propane burner and a big enough stock pot, you can create an all you can eat buffets of potatoes, corn, sausage, shrimp and crawfish for even the largest crowd and with minimal effort.

outdoor propane burnerOnce you’re done cooking just spread some newspapers out on a table or two, dump out your seafood feast, and let everyone dive in while enjoying the outdoors and the lake view.

This also makes cleanup a breeze, as you have one pot to clean and can simply throw away the newspapers and hose off the tables.

Click here for a simple recipe that is sure to please.

Fried Turkey

This year when Thanksgiving rolls around, surprise everyone with a deep fried turkey!

You’ll never experience a juicier (yes, juicy turkey!) more flavorful bird than one that has been deep fried.

Just be sure to follow all instructions carefully when cooking your turkey, as that much hot oil can be a safety hazard if not handled properly.

For detailed instructions on how to safely and tastily deep fry your turkey, click here.

Homemade Chili

Nothing beats a warm bowl of chili on a cool evening by the lake.

With a propane burner you will be able to make homemade chili that tastes great, and you’ll be able to make enough to feed an army!

Just take your favorite chili recipe and increase the portions to match the number of people you will be feeding.

One thing to take note of is that the propane burner runs much hotter than your typical stove, so make sure to keep the heat low and stir frequently to avoid scorching the bottom!

Homebrewing

With the rising popularity of craft beer, many people have taken up the hobby of homebrewing and creating their own beer.

While creating a 1 or even a 3 gallon batch can generally be done pretty easily on a stove, once you get to a 5+ gallon brew it is very hard to maintain a rolling boil.

That is, unless you have a propane burner!

Not only will it maintain a rolling boil with no problem, it will also reach that boil much quicker, helping speed up the overall time spent brewing.

These are just a few examples of the versatility of the propane burner and the various ways it can be used.

If you’re looking for a nice supplement to your grill, add a burner to your outdoor cooking arsenal, and enjoy the outdoors and the lake for more of your meals!

 

 

 

Lake Living: Simple Picnic Recipes

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Picnics are wonderful when planned well; the selection of the food that you want to take will set the mood for the trip. Here are some ideas that will help you enjoy your outdoor meals. Try out these picnic recipes at the lake as the warm weather approaches!

At the Lake

PicnicThere is nothing better than a warm and sunny day at the lake with your friends and family. Your selection for food should be something that stays cool all day. You can have hot meals too, but it’s better to have some cold sandwiches just in case.

Let’s help you select the perfect lakeside meal.

The easiest way to plan a picnic is to utilize both sides and main dishes that are best served cold so that everything can be stored in a cooler. For side dishes and snacks, you may want to consider the following:

  • Watermelon (thin slices)
  • Sliced cucumbers or tomatoes
  • Oranges and Apples
  • A gallon of your favorite beverage

For the cold entree:

Spicy Cold Chicken Sandwich

Serves 4

Ingredients

Dice a 2 pounds of chicken and add two teaspoons of pepper and one tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, a generous amount of olive oil and mix together. Have bread, cheese, and mayo available to make 10 sandwiches.

Directions

  • Heat your oven to 400° F.
  • Put chicken in the oven and roast it for 45 minutes
  • Let the chicken cool
  • Pre-make sandwiches for the picnic

Finger Food Plate

Picnic foodIf you are more inclined to create a collection of snack foods for your picnic, you may want to try the following:

  • Oven Roasted Corn – Bake in the husk at 400 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Great, even when chilled.
  • Create a spread of cheeses and match with crackers
  • Apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, blueberries and Kiwis
  • Lots of chocolates

Be Creative

Just about any meal you can imagine can be made into the perfect picnic, just prepare it in a way that can be kept cool for a few hours. With spring just around the corner, use these picnic recipes as jumping points for great meals on the go!