The Cookbook Challenge No.25: Cool

Ice-creams, sorbets, salads....so many choices to make for this fortnight's theme of Cool.  Unfortunately nothing grabbed my attention when I flicked through the cookbooks.

Even though I love bright blue skies, eating picnics outdoors and all the delicious stone fruit that's on offer during Summer, it's just not my favourite season.  I don't cope well with the heat.

I wonder if that's why I struggled with this theme so much?

But then I found it......a recipe that meant 'cool' to me.  A recipe that I wanted to make and a recipe I wanted to eat.....well, in this particular case, drink!

Lychee Cocktail

Cookbook:    Out of the Pantry

Author:    Trish Heagerty

1 tin of lychees in syrup | 1/4 cup of gin | 1/4 cup of vodka | 1/3 cup of sugar syrup (recipe below) | ice

1. Place a lychee in the bottom of two glasses. 
2. In a cocktail shaker or blender, mix together the gin, vodka, sugar syrup and 1/4 cup of the lychee syrup and shake/mix well with ice. 
3. Strain over the lychees.

Sugar Syrup

1 cup of caster sugar | 1 cup of water

1. Place sugar in water into a pot over medium heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes until all sugar is disoved.  Allow to cool. 
2. This syrup will last for up to a month in a well sealed bottle in the refrigerator.

C'est bon!

You'll lick your lips with this drink as the sweetness of the sugar syrup and the lychee juice touch them, followed by the heat of the alcohol as it hits your mouth. 

Hallelujah, I've found my drink which will help me get through the summer months.  Through those 40+ degree days.....phew.....I'll need all the help I can get.

I thought it was the perfect match with my Christmas tree twinkling in the background.