Cold Drinks for Hot Days
Posted on July 30, 2021 by prairiemoonquilts in Meal planning & RecipesIt’s been hot here, but not even as hot as some of you have had it, and wasn’t I complaining about the cold back in the winter? Why can’t it just stay between 55 and 75 degrees year round? Whine, whine . . .
It’s worse for us this summer because our air conditioner is broken. Completely broken. We limped along for a couple weeks, but when it got super hot, it gave up the ghost for good. Kaput!
Funny thing is, we’ve only had air conditioning for about 5 years — how quickly we get spoiled! The cats are all acting like they’re dying!
When it’s hot like this, I have a couple favorite concoctions I like to sip on (in lieu of hot coffee) — they’re wonderfully slushy cold, and they keep me from snacking. And while this is not a cooking blog (in fact, if you’ve been here very long, you know I hate to cook!) — I’ll share them with you . . . read on.
You’re either a Chick-Fil-A fan or you’re not (no judging here — My Cowboy does NOT like chicken), and there isn’t a Chick-Fil-A anywhere near us, but one time, on our travels, my sister and I decided to give it a try. On their menu is a thing called Frosted Coffee. I was sold before I ever tried it, and I love it so much, it makes me glad we don’t live anywhere near a Chick-Fil-A. I don’t know how they make it, but it’s good.
Also, if you’ve ever visited Sew Sweet Quilt Shop in Brunswick, Missouri, and stepped next door to Kaitlynn’s Deli for lunch, then you might be aware that she has an item on her menu called a Java Shake. Also very delicious if you’re a cold coffee lover.
I needed to learn how to make something similar for myself at home, so I experimented and came up with . . .
Frozen Coffee:
It’s super easy to make. I either use leftover coffee from the morning, or make coffee specifically for it, if I’m not drinking the hot stuff . . . which, right now, I’m not.
I use a tall glass that I can put into my freezer, and fill it 3/4 full of coffee. Then I put in a dollop of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Whisk it in, then add some half-n-half to top it off. Whisk it all together, then stick the glass in the freezer. When it’s frozen to a good slushy texture, I take it out and eat it with a spoon like a coffee milkshake, or as it gets melty, drink it like iced coffee. It’s soooo good — IF you love cold coffee.
You can use decaf coffee, if caffeine bothers you. I always mix my coffee half decaf and half regular. My Cowboy once said to me: “You’re the only person I know who can drink an entire pot of coffee and go right back to bed!”
You can also make it as sweet or unsweet as you wish by how much Eagle Brand milk you use. It’s easy to adjust the ingredients to suit your own taste.
When I’m not in the mood for a coffee drink, I substitute with this lovely creation:
Frozen Coconut Lemonade:
I use my blender to make this. My sister says she’s used her Magic Bullet to make it and it works fine, too, but I make a bigger batch than my Magic Bullet cup will hold, so I use the blender.
This uses coconut milk, but doesn’t really taste like coconut. You can use real lemons, which to me are too much trouble, so I just use bottled lemon juice, and it works fine.
It needs some sort of sweetener, so you can use your choice of artificial sweetener, but since I don’t use artificial sweeteners, I use regular sugar, since it doesn’t take much.
In your blender container, put 1/2 cup of coconut milk, 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar or the equivalent of your favorite artificial sweetener (more or less to your own taste), and 1 1/4 cups of crushed ice or small ice cubes.
Blend it all up together until it’s nice and slushy, and pour it into a tall glass. A thermal cup works great to keep it slushy longer. It’s blissful on a hot day!
And . . . if you’re an iced tea drinker who loves your sweet tea, here’s a way to make it sweet without having the sugar make it all grainy: Simple Syrup.
You can also use Simple Syrup to make all sorts of other cool summer drinks. Just keep it on hand in the fridge, and it’s there when you need it. It’s convenient for making individual-sized portions of your favorite cool drinks, and it’s easy to control the level of sweet.
You all stay cool out there. I’ll be here in front of my fan, trying to convince the cats that they really don’t have it that bad!
Oh man – no A/C?!? I am totally conditioned to A/C – haha! I think I need to bookmark this post – I need to try that Coconut Lemonade. Sew Sweet Quilt Shop and Kaitlyn’s are not to be missed if you’re in the area – I can’t recall if I had the Java Shake, but I know whatever I was sipping as we left town made me wish I was closer! Here’s another to add to your list: Dalgona Coffee – just Google it for the recipe. Easy and yum!
Yeah can’t get down with cold coffee – tea and lemonade is what I am doing this summer with an occasional shot or two of Deep Eddy lemon flavored vodka … We have a pit terrier and since he came home to live with us he has hated heat!!! Last night I thought he was going into labor- such a drama queen! We slept with ice packs and two fans on us – it was a rough night!
You are the woman! Not sure I could make it with out my ac. I was thinking about that the other day and remember sleeping outside under the trees and in the window trying to be comfortable. I don’t even want to go there again. In my early 20s living in a trailer without ac was bad. Your recipes sound good! Hang in there@
Beer is also a good cold beverage on a hot day. 🍻😁
Thanks for the recipes! Love the idea of iced coffee. It’s been warm here in Seattle and most everyone is without air conditioning. I’m fortunate that I live a few blocks from the sound so am usually 5 – 10 degrees cooler that the surrounding area (and warmer in winter too) but my wall of western exposure windows sure can heat up the house and especially the second floor bedroom. I use a portable AC unit to cool down my room before I go to bed and that sure helps the sleeping. Hope you get your AC fixed soon🤞
I don’t have air. When it gets above 90 I refuse to shop or visit friends with air. I tell myself no matter how hot I am at least I’m not canning on a wood cook stove like some of my friends. Gatorade and water are my main drinks as too much sugar in hot weather makes me sick. I have no secret for staying cool but I do pull up snow videos on YouTube for a reminder of what’s coming.
Here’s the way I cope with the heat and no AC – Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap. If you’ve never tried it, have you got a joyful surprise ahead of you. Late in the afternoon when the temperature has peaked, I take a Luke warm shower with Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap and I am cool & tingly! I used to have to buy it in health food stores, but now my local Shop Rite and Whole Foods carries it. Enjoy!