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Friday, May 18, 2012

watermelon basil cooler {the back deck}

This is a super refreshing summery drink that my mom and I just made up last night!  She started with a basic watermelon + vodka + ice cooler mixture, and then we dreamed up whatever else we thought would be tasty in the drink.  Lime?  Good.  Frozen berries?  Better.  Basil?  De-vine.  I have dubbed it "The Back Deck" because that's where we went to drink it right down! I love it when my parents come to visit.  If you'd like to make your own summery drink cooler you'll need these ingredients.


2 cups chopped fresh watermelon
1 cup frozen berries (your choice!)
1 lime, peeled and chopped
4 large basil leaves
1 to 2 cups crushed ice
4 shots of vodka
1 to 2 cups ginger ale
serves 4

Blend together your watermelon, berries, lime, and basil.
My mom is using my immersion blender here, but you can use a regular blender, of course!  Sorry this is blurry, but my mom just would NOT stay still.  She so does not get the whole staging a picture for the blog thing.
Now add in your vodka.  My mom also did not want to actually measure the vodka.  But for the blog, mom!  The blog! 
And then your ice.  We blended the ice into it, but you could leave it crushed. 
Pour your mixture into a glass, leaving it half empty.  Or half full if you're an optimist.  Now finish filling your glass with ginger ale.
If you have a back deck, or porch, or sunroom, take your glass out and enjoy! 
Bottoms up! 

10 comments:

  1. Yum! Enjoy the parental visit- meaning: SOAK UP THAT FREE BABYSITTING!!

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  2. Yummy! Think I'll pick up those ingredients this afternoon {we don't have a back deck though...will a front porch work instead?}

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  3. I would love to sit on your deck and enjoy a cool beverage with you and your mom!

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  4. This looks so good! And I don't even like watermelon! Must be the pregnancy cravings talking...

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  5. Ooh that looks good! I am so hopeless at cocktails but I want to make more this summer so thanks for sharing your recipe.

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  6. I like a mom who serves vodka drinks! I wish I was nearby! ;) Got to try this one.

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  7. BTW, I tried to pin this to pinterest and it says users have reported that this site leads to spam... The same thing has happened with my blog. Any idea what is going on, Ruthie?

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  8. Hi There! I'm a friend of Jo Ellen in Denver and she put me onto your blog and this recipe. Looks delicious and perfect for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The blog is fantastic -- great recipes and beautiful photography. I'll be following your journey :)

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  9. Delicious!! And I like a mom who doesn't want to measure her vodka. Life's too short to measure vodka.

    Also I am using the mascara you recommended. It is sooo nice.

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  10. What a pretty drink! I love the addition of the basil - Kind of unexpected. I think I need to go raid the liquor cabinet now...

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your comments are the peanut butter to my jelly!