Fresh California Strawberry Basil Lemonade

So my father-in-law and mom-in-law reside in beautiful southern California and invite us to visit often. They, like us, love to garden and eat good things from the earth. Mom has plants and herbs growing on her back deck, but the mother load of amazing organic eats are at the massive garden where they work.

Tomatoes the size of your heart, strawberries the size of your fist, basil, cabbage, sweet crunchy carrots-awesome GOD made stuff!
So dad brought home a hefty sum of strawberries, a tree size of basil, and said, "Do something with this." Why YES SIR!!

Being beautiful and sunny and hot out here, I thought I would make a cool, refreshing beverage. As I write this, Dad and Nathan are laboring hard outside working on dad's wine cellar (it's being created beneath the house), so they'll probably need something cold to drink soon.

Here it is, try it and LOVE it!

You'll need:

1 cup fresh chopped strawberries
1 packet Crystal light Lemonade
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 quart pitcher

In pitcher, throw in lemonade mix, and fill with cold water. Add in strawberries and basil. Stir. In a blender, puree 3 large strawberries, a small pack of basil leaves, 2 teaspoons of sugar, and the juice from one lime. Pour mixture, after blended, into lemonade. Stir until all is a pretty pinkish, yellow color.
Serve over ice and enjoy!

Decadent Pear Sangria

Pears have always been one of my favorite fruits, especially when they are super ripe, and practically melt in my mouth with every bite. I also love sangria. Red or white wine, fresh fruit marinated the night before, and topped with sparkling champagne, or ginger ale.-so why not combine the two?

I put together a pear sangria because that's what I had on hand, and I've never made it before. I've been thinking about it a lot, pulled out some recipe books, and began to search online for various drink ideas-but my ridiculous internet derailed me from doing so because of the lack of speed and efficency. It just so happens that I stumbled across wireless internet, a website that assists in answering all those questions concerning internet and I even considering changing my internet provider right than and there. Alas, all this for a helpful hint on sangria?! Fortunately, I came up with a recipe all my own, and since Sunday night a bunch of our friends coming over seemed like a perfect time to share it.

The fast speedy flawless internet will have to wait another day.

We all enjoyed a glass or two with juicy burgers made Red Robin style and the night was thoroughly enjoyed. The countdown to summer is getting smaller and smaller!

you'll need:

1 bottle of white wine-i used Pinot Grigio, but any crisp white wine will do
2 ripe pears, chopped into cubes
2-3 freshly squeezed limes (if you're using the tiny baby ones like I did, other
wise a normal size lime will do)
1 half orange, sliced into circles (about 2-3 rings)
1 bottle of ginger ale

In a large glass pitcher, mix in wine, pears, juice of limes, and orange slices. Refrigerate overnight.
Just before serving, add in ginger ale so bubbles don't fall flat.
Garnish pitcher with extra frozen pear cubes, lime rings, or an extra orange ring or two.
Serves plenty.