Lemony Gin Punch

June 19, 2012

Good heavens, I think spring just decided to cut bait on us this year and move directly into summer. Temperatures here have been record-breakers, and the wind has blown ferociously–which is bad news for the firefighters battling the High Park fire a few counties over. You know it’s bad when you walk outside and it smells like a barbecue…but there’s no grill in sight.

I am overheated and over-extended, even with our Paola here to help. Hubs and I got way too aggressive with the summer activities this year, and I’m lamenting that decision, because it is taking a village, lemme tell ya. Awesome Stepkid Ro, Paola, hubs and I are all scrambling to make things work, because of course, the girls are too far apart in age to fit into any activity that runs at the same exact time.

Kapow! Did you hear that? That’s the sound of my head exploding.

I know, I shouldn’t complain. I’m not having to do it all myself, and I have reinforcements at-the-ready. But I’m obnoxious and a whiner by nature, so let the world’s smallest violin play for Kitchy Witchy for just a few seconds, okay?

Okay.

The good news is, the girls love to swim, which comes in handy when the mercury hits 100 degrees. For that, I am grateful, because when it’s that hot (and windy…did I mention that it’s hella windy?) the only places to be are in the swimming pool or inside the house, and if the Minxes are inside, that means they are nagging me for snacks every 15 minutes. I highly recommend the former.

Downside? I don’t want to cook jack shizzle when it’s this steamy. What can I say? I’m a lazy slob. It’s salad and sandwich season galore at Chez T.

It’s also refreshing drink season, which personally, I can’t complain about. Preferably, it’s drink season with a kick, because after a day of toting kids to a bazillion activities, my mojo is deep in the backwater.

I highly recommend a batch of these lemony lovelies to chase the heat away. The recipe serves 4, but feel free to double-dip in the cocktail pool if necessary.  Tangy, a little sweet, and effervescent, this punch is a perfect ending to a summer day.

Lemony Gin Punch

serves 4

from Real Simple Magazine

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 cup club soda

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup gin

ice and lemon, to garnish

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in the honey and let cool.  In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with 1 cup club soda, the lemon juice and the gin. Serve over ice, topping with a splash of soda if desired. Garnish with lemon wedges.

* I don’t really like sweet drinks, so I lowered the sugar to 1/4 cup and thought that worked just fine. However, if making this the first time, follow the recipe–you can always add more club soda to dilute the sweetness if you find it too cloying.

{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Abby June 19, 2012 at 6:17 am

It’s also 95 degrees here this week and although I don’t have kids to tote around, I also don’t have a pool. Sigh…I would be much more into the ice cream man blasting his music up and down the street if he offered raspberry Stoli and lemonade instead ;)

Hang in there, TKW!

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TKW June 19, 2012 at 6:26 am

Abby, we have a community pool, not one in our backyard. I wish! And an ice cream/cocktail truck is genius! Work on that patent STAT!

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elizabeth June 19, 2012 at 6:17 am

I love it when you post gin-based cocktails, because they are always so tasty and just the thing I want when I want something with gin but not just a simple martini or a G&T. :)

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TKW June 19, 2012 at 6:28 am

Elizabeth,

Gin just screams “summer” to me.

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes June 19, 2012 at 6:26 am

Be gratefull for your summer heat! Here mother nature decided to hop straight into fall, with cold rain and below average temperatures. So instead of brewing up a cocktail I feel like I should make a vat of gluhwein.

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TKW June 19, 2012 at 6:30 am

Tinne,

I forget that you’re across the pond! Nothing wrong with Gluhwein. :)

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Jenna June 19, 2012 at 7:57 am

I hear ya–high temps and ULTRA WINDY here too. I made the mistake of wearing a dress with a very short skirt yesterday, and kept having almost-Marilyn moments (and thanking the heavens I had at least worn underwear that wouldn’t shame me if someone caught an eyeful).
And over-booking the summer . . . it seems inevitable. I don’t even have kids yet, and we’re already over-booked!

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Arnebya June 19, 2012 at 8:18 am

Hmmmm….so what can I substitute for the gin? Vodka? Tequila? Even if it’s nasty, I pretty much substitute those things in every drink because I cannot do the gin. I should not do the gin. I will not, ever again, do the gin. I can sense its presence, smell it before it’s opened, and I haven’t not had it upon my tongue since May 1991. All sorts of bad shit happens with me and gin like fights and nakedness and mops and blood and missing people/shoes/purses/phones/cars and broken dishes and tears and Sharpies on walls and overflowing sinks and laced weed and put me down, I’ll kick YOUR ass. Nothing good.

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Arnebya June 19, 2012 at 8:21 am

Haven’t not had it…my eyes bleed. I have not had gin since 1991. There, that’s better.

Also, I meant to say I totally get the running around of the girls. That was us last year. This year I outright refused and finally they’re able to be in at least one two-week camp together and the other two, although different camps, are at least in the same place.

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TKW June 19, 2012 at 11:40 am

Arnebya,

Vodka would work nicely :)

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Robin June 19, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Mine (children, that is) were too far apart in age to coordinate anything they could do together – plus one girl and one boy. My rule was one activity at a time for each. Unfortunately, that means said child cannot take horseback riding and piano. or tennis and fencing. Choose your favorite. And they did. That meant I only had to schedule two activities per week at any given time. I was not super-mom.

Gin gives me a headache – every time. I do love the taste, but it doesn’t love me back. Vodka should be a good substitute. Sounds like a refreshing summer drink!

Stay cool!

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suzicate June 19, 2012 at 5:28 pm

Hmmmm…looks like I have everything I need to make these babies. I’m not a fan of gin, but I’ll give it another try!

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Velva June 19, 2012 at 8:24 pm

This lemony gin cocktail has my name all over it…My stepmother while visiting made some really good, crisp gin and tonics. Perfect for hot weather. Now, I see this cocktail and I am thinking for the hot Florida sun this might be even better.

I know the fires are raging in your neck of the woods. With hot winds that can’t be good. Here is hoping for some really heavy rain for those fires, and no wind.

Velva

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ck June 20, 2012 at 3:47 am

Adding this one to the pear vodka/tonic delight. (It was a huge hit the other week.)

And I’m so glad that you’re several counties away from the fires. (How close does that make you, though?)

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TKW June 20, 2012 at 11:22 am

ck,

Ft. Collins is about a 45 minute drive from my house, so hopefully, we’ll stay in the clear. xo

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grace June 23, 2012 at 1:44 am

ah, the cocktail pool is the only pool for which i have any use. double dip? you don’t have to tell me twice!
wow, i’m really not as much of a lush as that comment made me seem. :)

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