Once upon a time, when I was single, with no dependents, fancy
free and super-messy, I had more time to join blog events. I loved blog events! They were a chance to connect with other like-minded
individuals, discover new food blogs, and find inspiration and encouragement. To this day I’d be hard-pressed to find a
friendlier or more positive online atmosphere.
free and super-messy, I had more time to join blog events. I loved blog events! They were a chance to connect with other like-minded
individuals, discover new food blogs, and find inspiration and encouragement. To this day I’d be hard-pressed to find a
friendlier or more positive online atmosphere.
Now I am happily married, the blissful parent of onehungry dependent, just-slightly-messy, and fancy free only part of the
time. And blog events, sadly, have
slipped to the back burner. I still
explore, when I can, the posts and round ups of my old favorites. One such favorite, if not the favorite,
was/is Hay Hay It’s Donna Day…HHDD for short.
time. And blog events, sadly, have
slipped to the back burner. I still
explore, when I can, the posts and round ups of my old favorites. One such favorite, if not the favorite,
was/is Hay Hay It’s Donna Day…HHDD for short.
Started by the lovely Barbara of Winoes and Foodies, I was immediately drawn to it. How
could I not be? My ardent love for DonnaHay is evident in my table, my bookshelves, and the frankly embarrassing way I
can go on and on about her to people I just met. So when Barbara called for an HHDD round to
celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Donna Hay Magazine (of which
I am a loyal subscriber) with a round of festive drinks I was definitely
joining in!
could I not be? My ardent love for DonnaHay is evident in my table, my bookshelves, and the frankly embarrassing way I
can go on and on about her to people I just met. So when Barbara called for an HHDD round to
celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Donna Hay Magazine (of which
I am a loyal subscriber) with a round of festive drinks I was definitely
joining in!
Cucumber Dayap (Lime) Cooler
(inspired by the drinks in the 10th year anniversary edition of Donna Hay magazine)
- 3/4 cup dayap juice (or lime juice)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, split in two
lengthways - 3 slices of ginger, each about the size of a 5-peso coin
- 1 cucumber per person
- ice cubes
– First make the syrup: heat the dayap or lime juice,
sugar, lemongrass, and ginger in a saucepan, stirring until all the sugar is
melted. Bring to a boil and let this bubble for
about 2 minutes until the syrup is slightly thickened. Strain and set aside.
sugar, lemongrass, and ginger in a saucepan, stirring until all the sugar is
melted. Bring to a boil and let this bubble for
about 2 minutes until the syrup is slightly thickened. Strain and set aside.
– Peel the cucumber and remove all the seeds. Place in a blender with a generous scoop of
ice cubes. Blend until the ice is
crushed. Add a tablespoon or two of the
syrup and blend again. Taste and adjust
to your liking – more syrup if you’d like it sweeter more ice if you’d like it
milder.
ice cubes. Blend until the ice is
crushed. Add a tablespoon or two of the
syrup and blend again. Taste and adjust
to your liking – more syrup if you’d like it sweeter more ice if you’d like it
milder.
– Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Dayap is our local version of a lime, not to be confused
with calamansi, which, although delicious in its own, is not the same
thing. For me, dayap leans more towards
the lime end of the spectrum while calamansi vacillates between
lemon-lime. I love dayap, which I
feel is more bracingly flavored than calamansi (though I love calamansi too…our local citrus rocks!).
It is also less available, so when I see it in the markets I snatch it
up. Feel free to use calamansi here as
well, or limes if your outside my shores.
with calamansi, which, although delicious in its own, is not the same
thing. For me, dayap leans more towards
the lime end of the spectrum while calamansi vacillates between
lemon-lime. I love dayap, which I
feel is more bracingly flavored than calamansi (though I love calamansi too…our local citrus rocks!).
It is also less available, so when I see it in the markets I snatch it
up. Feel free to use calamansi here as
well, or limes if your outside my shores.
This works miracles on a hot, humid day when you are stuck
at home working and too cheap to turn on the A/C. I’m not saying that’s what happened, but you
never know, I’m not spilling any beans.
In any case, this is cool, zesty, and refreshing whether you live in the
middle of a hot city with skyrocketing electricity costs or not.
at home working and too cheap to turn on the A/C. I’m not saying that’s what happened, but you
never know, I’m not spilling any beans.
In any case, this is cool, zesty, and refreshing whether you live in the
middle of a hot city with skyrocketing electricity costs or not.
Since I just made one glass for myself, I had a lot of
the syrup leftover. That is by no means
a bad thing! You can store the extra syrup
in your fridge for 2-3 days and use it to make all sorts of libations. Here are just a few suggestions: You can put
a few spoonfuls in a glass of ice-cold water, add to soda water to make your
own lime soda with a twist, or add it to some vodka on ice…I’m sure it would also
be good brushed atop a hot-out-of-the-oven pound cake. So don’t you worry if you’ve got extra.
the syrup leftover. That is by no means
a bad thing! You can store the extra syrup
in your fridge for 2-3 days and use it to make all sorts of libations. Here are just a few suggestions: You can put
a few spoonfuls in a glass of ice-cold water, add to soda water to make your
own lime soda with a twist, or add it to some vodka on ice…I’m sure it would also
be good brushed atop a hot-out-of-the-oven pound cake. So don’t you worry if you’ve got extra.
That sounds marvelously refreshing!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love it Joey. I have never had cucumber in a drink but it sounds so refreshing.
Thank you for your lovely words. xo
I have to echo what everyone is thinking this looks absolutely refreshing. Time to buy some cucumber and dayap to make me some cooler 🙂
This is the perfect sipper for the sweltering weather we've been having of late. 🙂 (Oh, and I'm a recent Donna Hay convert; I just got a subscription!)
A really refreshing entry to HHDD !
Thanks to Barbara for connecting us !
GAWJUS new layout!! 😀
Thanks Rosa 🙂
Hi Barbara! I never thought of cucumber in a drink either until I had my first glass of cucumber juice maybe a year ago…it makes the most refreshing drinks ever! In fact, I think my favorite way to have cucumber now is in drink form 🙂 Thanks for hosting!
Hi Eileen! It is refreshing indeed…and we need it! 😉
Hi Midge! It really is…the past couple of days have been scorching! Today is a bit better though thanks to the rains 🙂 Don't you love Donna Hay?? 🙂 And I keep referring to her magazines for ideas and inspiration so the subscription is SO worth it!
Hi Vanille! Thanks and glad to have found you! 🙂
Thanks so much Ling 🙂 🙂