Pink Bubbles for Spring

Well Spring has well and truly sprung and the myriad of social get togethers has begun in earnest.  We had birthday parties, end of season soccer parties and a father's day do to attend over the weekend.  I am not keen on the endless supply of sugary rubbish that the kiddos constantly get their hands on at these events, so I thought I'd provide them with and alternative.

I made some pink lemonade and cranberry and white chocolate cookies to munch on.  Mr Beach House has recently returned from the States and has become a cranberry convert.  There are packets of these things gracing the pantry and in my concerted effort to use up all the produce in the pantry in the interests of tightening our belts, I am finding new and interesting ways to use these lovely little red bundles of joy.

As I made the lemonade the day before, it had a chance to settle out. It did so in a beautiful layered effect, that seemed to resemble one end of a rainbow.  Funnily enough, only one of the Beach House Brats liked it.  The bigger one has been totally corrupted and only likes the full sugar hit that drinks like fanta and coke provide.  But I only had my pink lemonade or water  on offer at the soccer picnic.  He chose the latter.  I on the other hand, usually only drink water or black tea, but this pink lemonade was slightly bitter, as it holds alot of lemon juice and I absolutely loved it.

The cranberry and white chocolate cookies were also not over kill on the sugar, so they too were preferred by the adults.  So lets call this a pink picnic for grown ups shall we.

Madam was in though and blew some little pink bubbles of her own.

As and aside, my arum lillies are particularly pleasing.  A year ago when I made this garden, I took the half dead things out of a dry pot and they have never looked back.  Lately they are giving me lots of pleasure as they seem so happy.

So after dancing around the back deck capturing the sun kissed nature of a beautiful Spring morning, we packed up the picnic basket and set off for a great weekend.

These recipes are inspired by Bill Granger's book appropriately named, Holiday

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

Makes 30

150g/5.5oz softened butter

165g/3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg lightly beaten

2 tspns vanilla extract

1 cup plain all (purpose) flour

1 tspn baking powder

pinch of salt

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup white chocolate chips

2/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven 180C/350F and line baking trays with baking paper.

Cream sugar and butter until pale and creamy.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together add to the mixture together with the oats, chocolate and cranberries and stir well.

Roll small tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place on the baking trays. Flatten with a folk, dipped in flour.  Bake for 12-15 minutes until pale golden. Leave to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.  I just cooled them on the tray and it worked fine.

Pink Lemonade

serves 6

1/2 cup super fine sugar

1 cup cranberry juice

1 cup fresh lemon juice

3 cups soda water

Put the sugar and 1/2 a cup of water in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from the heat and leave to cool.  Mix the sugar syrup with the cranberry juice, lemon and soda water and stir together well.

Today I am linked up with

http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com

http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

http://kirstygirl7.blogspot.com/

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com