Raspberry Lime Spritzers

This refreshing nonalcoholic summer drink lends its bright flavor to fresh raspberries and a hint of lime. Plus, its vibrant color makes it pretty to look at!

Raspberry Lime Spritzer

Now that it's mid-summer, I'm starting to see more and more fresh raspberries in the markets. That's a very good thing because I absolutely love raspberries. There's just something about them that makes me smile... perhaps because they always remind me of childhood trips to the farm for berry picking.

To take advantage of the season, I thought it would be fun to come up with a recipe that highlighted raspberries' delicate balance between tartness and sweetness. This Raspberry Lime Spritzer only calls for a handful of ingredients and takes very little effort to prepare, which means you'll be sipping on a refreshing beverage in no time!

The drink's gorgeous color makes it the perfect beverage to serve at your next summer picnic, backyard barbecue, or pool party. Or, if you're planning a menu for an upcoming baby shower, the Raspberry Lime Spritzer would be a fabulous addition to the beverage table, one that the mommy-to-be would appreciate since it doesn't call for any alcohol.

Are you ready to see how easily this drink comes together?

Menu Plan: July 20 - July 26

Sharing our Menu Plan for July 20 - July 26, 2014.

A few days ago, Monty and I were treated to an impromptu visit with my friend Lauren, who was in town visiting another friend of hers. We grabbed coffee from one of my favorite local coffee shops and then a table outside at Campus Square at Lehigh University, where vendors were setting up booths for the weekly Bethlehem Farmers Market.

Monty, especially, loved being in the sunshine.

After chatting with Lauren for nearly two hours (yay!), I wandered the market and picked up an assortment of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as a loaf of freshly baked bread. To take advantage of my loot, this week's Menu Plan includes dishes that call for the produce I purchased.

Are you ready to see what's on deck for dinner for us this week?

Athens Foods' "Make It Fancy & Fun" Recipe Contest Winner

By roasting the tomatoes for these caprese bites, you'll bring out the tomatoes' natural sweetness and draw out every ounce of their flavor.

Roasted Tomato Caprese Bites

On a whim, I entered my Roasted Tomato Caprese Bites recipe into the Athens Foods' "Make It Fancy & Fun" recipe contest last month... and I just found out yesterday that my recipe was chosen as one of the winners! I was so excited when I found out that I spent a good five minutes dancing around the kitchen waving their letter in the air.

Obviously, I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Nudo Darjeeling Tea Garden Adoption Subscriptions

 A tea garden adoption subscription entitles you to a quarterly delivery of loose leaf tea from Nudo Darjeeling and allows you to invest in local family tea farms.

Nudo Darjeeling Tea Samples

Those of you who follow me on social media -- especially on Facebook and Instagram -- have seen evidence that supports my love of coffee. But, every now and then, I like to change it up and switch over to tea. This is especially true when I'm in need of a creative recharge, something that has been happening more frequently ever since I started focusing more on my writing career.

I'll be honest with you. I don't have a favorite brand of tea, or even a favorite type of tea. When I go to the grocery store to buy tea, I don't follow a particular method when selecting which box of tea to put into the basket. But that all may chance now that I've had a chance to learn more about Nudo Darjeeling and the selection of teas they offer with their tea garden adoption subscription package.