Think about your favorite summer activity. Do you cherish lounging by the pool, barbequing in the backyard or sitting on the front porch watching your kids catch fireflies?
Regardless of where you most enjoy spending the dog days of summer, there’s nothing quite like an ice cold beverage to beat the heat. Of course, you can’t have fun in you are totally tanked. Nor is it much fun for kids if they get stuck drinking water while the adults gleefully sip colorful fruity concoctions from neon straws.
This summer, have fun making these nonalcoholic tropical drinks that can be served to all of your family members and friends despite their age or tolerance level:
Fruit Loop: Combine 3 ounces of pineapple juice, 2 ounces of orange juice, one-ounce of cranberry juice and 1/2-ounce of sweet grenadine syrup in a mason jar. Shake the jar vigorously. Pour the drink over ice and garnish with citrus twists and a maraschino cherry.
Blue Hawaii: In a large pitcher add a package of blue-colored Kool-Aid and a liter of club soda. Mix together, and then sweeten with Splenda to taste. Next, pour in pineapple juice. Stir well. To serve, place one scoop of rainbow sherbet in a tall cup and pour the Blue Hawaii over. Garnish with a cocktail umbrella and a slice of pineapple.
Tropical Twist: For a single serving of this island-inspired mocktail, slice up a ripe banana and place it in a blender with 16 ounces of pineapple juice, three ounces of coconut milk and a tablespoon of plain sugar. Blend until all the ingredients are smooth, and then pour into a cup with a sugared rim.
Virgin Mai Tai: Place ice into a cocktail shaker, and then pour in an ounce each of lime juice, orange juice, lemon juice and orange syrup. Next, add in two ounces of pineapple juice. Shake the ingredients for at least 30 seconds. Serve in a glass with slices of pineapple and citrus twists.