Garden‘Mocktails’Workshop

Icecubetraypreparation:

Prepareicecubesbyplacingedibleflowersfromthegardenintoicecubetrays.Makesuretherearenopestsonyourpetalsorflowerheadsandbesuretouseplantsyouknowaresafetoeatandhaven’tbeensprayedwithpesticides.

Alternativestoflowersaresmallslicesoflemon,lime,cucumberorfrozenberries,whichareavailableallyearroundfromtheshops.Arrangeaselectionofcolourfulflowers,fruitsandberriesintoyourtray,addwaterandfreeze.

Ifusingmint,pickthetinytopthreemintleavesfreshfromaspringofgrowingminttoaddarefreshingzingtoyourcubes.Addwatertoyourtrayandplaceinthefreezer.

VirginMojito

Youwillneed:

Mint(handfulofsweetmintperserving,thirdofyourglass)

Limes(1xperservingcutintowedges)

Cucumber(choppedfinely,withmintleaves,frozeninicecubes)

Goldencastersugar(1xteaspoonperserving)

SparklingWater(insteadofrumandsodawater)

Pestleandmortar

Tallglass

Spoonforstirring

Prepareicecubesbyfinelychoppingcucumberandmintleavestogether,thenaddateaspoonofyourmixtoeachicecubetraycompartment,toppingupwithwater.Placeinthefreezeruntilyouarereadytomixyour‘mocktail’.

Tomakeyourvirginmojito,placehalfofyourmintinapestleandmortar,andputtheremainingsprigsinatallglass.Cutyourlimeintofourwedgesandsqueezethreeintoyourpestleandmortar.Muddlethemint,lime,andsugartogether(crushingwiththepestle),pourallthemintandliquidintoyourglass.

Addtheusedlimewedgestoyourglass(forextraflavour),thenaddyouricecubesandtopupwithyoursparklingwater,givingthemixastir.Placeyouremainingwedgeoflimeontoyourglassrimfordecorationandenjoyyourrefreshinganddeliciousmojito‘mocktail’!

MaidenMoonWalk

Youwillneed:

Grapefruit(oneslicefordecorationonglass)

Grapefruitjuice(adashperserving,orfreshlysqueezed)

Sparklingwater(insteadofProsecco)

Ginger(grated–ateaspoon)

Flowericecubes(violas,rosebud,pansies,borageflowers)

WhenreadytomakeyourMaidenMoonWalk,chooseaprettycocktailglassandsliceyourgrapefruitinhalf.Squeezeonehalfofyourgrapefruitintoyourglassfillingitaquarterfull(youcanusebottledgrapefruittoo).Takeaslicefromyourremaininghalfgrapefruitandsavefordecoration.

Grateateaspoons’worthoffreshgingerintoyourglass.Addateaspoonofsugarandmix,thendropinyouricecubes,placethesliceofgrapefruitontherimofyourglasslikeagiantmoondecoration,andrelaxandenjoyyourlunarlanding!

Moreoptions:

Anothersimpleandrefreshingdrinktoserveatanypartyontheplotisfreshdillinajugofwater.Addacoupleofslicesoflemon,andsomeprettyicecubesyoupreparedearlier(lemonandlimeworkswell)andoffyougo.Yourvisitorswilllovethetasteofsummerinaglass!

Healingbenefitsofyour‘mocktail’mixes:

Mint–stimulatingandrefreshing,helpstoboostyourmetabolismandaidsdigestion.Mintisanti-inflammatoryandhelpsopentheairways,sogreatforasthmasufferersandforgeneralcoughandcoldremedies.

LemonandLime–bothofthesearegreatimmunityboostingcitrusfruits,soagainfabulousforstavingoffcoughsandcolds.

Grapefruit–appetitestimulant,greatforremovingfattydeposits,helpstoregulatetheappetitesoishelpfulforpeopledealingwithweightissues.Grapefruitisalsoadetoxifier,sogoodforahangover,italsoregulatessleephenceusedbypeoplewhotravelalot.Italsohelpstofocusandclearthemind,sogreatduringexamtime.

Ginger–goodfornauseaandsickness,generatesheatinthebody,goodforpeoplewhodotoomuch;acupofgingerteaisstimulatingyetgrounding,leavingyouactivewithouttheneedforcaffeine.Itisalsogreatformusclecramps,postexerciserecovery,andduringmenstruation.

Dill–isgreatfordigestion,includinglossofappetite,andgoodfortreatmentofcoughsandcolds,cramps,andsleepdisordersamongstotherthings,soandallroundfabulousplant,greatwithfishdishestoo.