Strawberry Mint Limeade

Okay, okay, okay...here's the recipe!

I started making this for family get-togethers at the Redd's and everyone loved it.  I used to use fresh limes but that's a lot of work and doesn't really make a difference in the result.  I have served this at Young Women's functions, my wedding, our niece asked me to make it for her wedding and this picture is from Cassie's (Bruce's daughter) mission farewell yesterday.  Everyone seems to really love it.  Heck, I love it too.  

Here's a recipe that I worked out a few years ago.  The yield isn't much:

Wendy's Strawberry Mint Limeade
1 can Frozen limeade (you may substitute fresh lime juice but you will have to use more sugar)

1 cup Sugar (more or less to taste)

2 liters Club Soda

1/2 cup Frozen strawberries (you may use fresh if available)

1 sprig Fresh mint

Ice

Remove strawberries from the freezer and place in a bag and let thaw a little. When they are thawed a little mash them while they are still in the bag with your fingers just to break them up. Mash the fresh mint in the bottom of the container that you will be serving this from to release the flavor of the mint. Add the frozen limeade, sugar and strawberries to the container. Pour in the club soda. Mix thoroughly but don't overmix, add ice and serve.

Here's how I make large batches, to serve 100s of thirsty people:

I buy lot's of cans of frozen limeade.  I look for special deals on the stuff leading up to an event or at the beginning of summer when I think I will make it.  Then I dump the cans of limeade in a container and add sugar.  I add about 1-2 cups of sugar for each can of limeade. Then I divide this mixture into quart storage containers and refreeze those.  When I'm ready to whip up a batch I get a bunch of frozen strawberries (about 1 cup) and put that in a Ziploc bag.  I add some cleaned and chopped mint leaves to the strawberries and let the strawberries thaw a little.  When they are thawed enough to mash them I start mashing them in the bag with the mint.  I add the strawberries and mint, 1 quart of limeade mixture and 1 bottle (2 liter bottle) to a big food grade 5 gallon bucket and mix it up.  When that is mixed well I add 2 more bottles of club soda and gently stir.

Here's some hints for those using a drink dispenser like the one shown above.  

The strawberries and mint leaves are kind of a problem.  They get stuck in the spout really easily.  Here's how I've solved that problem:  I bought a small plastic strainer that I place over the spout inside of the dispenser.  If you look closely, you can see it in the picture.  It's white and has a handle.  I then add ice to the dispenser.  About half way is usually good.  Then I add the drink mixture over the ice.  The ice usually holds the strainer in place.  You can usually add another batch of drink mixture to the ice when the first batch is almost gone.  On the third batch of drink mixture you should add more ice to keep the strainer in place and/or have someone hold the strainer in place with a long handled spoon while you pour in the drink mixture, otherwise the strainer will want to float away.  You may want to add some sliced lemons and limes to the dispenser to make it look pretty.  I also would make sure that you serve ice on the side so that people can add ice cubes to their drinks. 

Lately, I've been thinking that I should make a simple sugar syrup instead of just adding the sugar to the frozen limeade.  I always have some undissolved sugar at the bottom of my containers, its easy to mix it in but you wouldn't have this problem if you used a simple sugar. To make a simple sugar syrup add 2 parts sugar to 1 part water to a saucepan, bring to the boil and then lower the heat until the sugar is dissolved (the syrup will be clear), cool then add instead of dry sugar to the frozen limeade mixture.

I almost always have some of the base mixture in my freezer and bottles of club soda so that I can bring this to some party with little or no notice.  It's way easier than making cookies.