It’s the time of the year for family picnics, outdoor BBQs and garden dinner parties, and the best way to transform a good meal into something amazing is to pair it with a deliciously cold drink.
Portable ice makers are a convenient way to keep drinks cold all day and night. You’ll never have to buy bags of ice or carry large coolers again!
AI-100R NewAir Compact Portable Ice Maker
You can easily bring portable ice makers out to the picnic table or leave them on a kitchen counter so guests can scoop out their own ice. Portable ice makers make ice quietly and in as little as 6 minutes.
Forget about powdered drink mixes and store-bought sodas. Create something delicious that compliments your meal—your guests will greatly appreciate it, and it’s not that hard to do!
Here are some tried and true recipes for our favorite summer drinks. Squeeze, sprinkle, stir, and add some ice from your portable ice maker!
Smooth Sweet Tea
Ingredients:
2 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
3/4 cup white sugar
4-6 cups cool water
1 pinch baking soda (*this is the super secret ingredient that will take the bitterness right out of your tea!)
Directions:
- Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water and add tea bags. Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, stir in sugar until dissolved, pour in cool water and refrigerate until cold.
- Serve in a glass filled with ice. Add a slice of lemon for some garnish.
Best Lemonade Ever
Ingredients:
1-1 3/4 cups white sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Cool mixture to room temperature then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
- Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice, and remaining 7 cups of water.
- Fill a glass full of ice, pour in lemonade and serve!
The Real Mojito
(Makes one serving, adjust for pitcher)
Ingredients:
10 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
2 tablespoons white sugar (to taste)
1 cup ice cubes
1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
1/2 cup club soda
Directions:
- Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice.
- Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not drain the mixture.
- Fill the glass almost to the top with ice.
- Pour rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water.
- Stir, taste and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.
What’s your favorite summer drink recipe?
What do you use your portable ice maker for?
