Back to school is in full swing, and all hats go off to parents and educators for braving the transition to the first full weeks of school.
From tiny tots to adults in college, this time of year explodes with hustle and bustle! As both a mom and an educator, I know this time of year is also bursting with emotions. From the first year of formal school to the first day of the last year, something about this transition time makes us stop and think.
On one hand, there are those of us who relish in creating a perfectly appointed color-coded calendar that gets checked off like some kind of old-fashioned time clock, but on the other hand some of us are proclaiming that there just wasn’t nearly enough summer to go around.
Some families are rejoicing the return of a solid routine, while others may be trying to wrap their heads around getting it all done: sports schedules, homework, professional work, household management, and the list that never seems to end.
Some of us are lamenting that our children are yet another year older, and some are frazzled from buying all of the supplies on the back-to-school lists. Still others are celebrating a fresh bouquet of colored pens and excited to sport a new lunch bag with a healthy bento box full of favorites.
Whether you are dreading the start of school, or you are so excited you cannot sleep, the time is here, and one thing is certain, our meal habits do some adjusting as well. ‘Tis the season to usher in the meal delivery kits, subscribe to weekend meal prepping, budget a little extra for takeout, restock the snack bag or do whatever we need to do to make it through from now until the holiday break.
If you are toasting with excitement to the new school year or needing to take the edge off a long school week, this refreshing recipe turns lemons into delicious lemonade and is sure to give us some well-deserved satisfaction in especially hot August weather. It just so happens that the passion fruit puree is, in fact, full of vitamin A and other antioxidants which will help us with immunity – something that will certainly come in handy this fall!
Whether you posted the perfect back-to-school photos or hide from all of the first day snapshots, here’s to wishing everyone a safe and growth-minded school year! I dare you to sit back and enjoy the final lemonades of summer, because soon enough, we will be counting down to a new calendar year instead!
Rosemary simple syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4-6 springs rosemary – leaves removed
- Bring all ingredients to a low boil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Then turn off the heat and let steep for 30 minutes before removing the rosemary leaves. Set aside to cool.
- Real Lemons – Pre-cut lemons into fourths. 1.5 lemons per 8oz serving of lemonade
- 100% Real Passion Fruit Puree - I found this brand on Amazon, if you cannot find it at your local grocery store.
Rosemary passionfruit lemonade
- Muddle 4-6 wedges with 1.5 ounces Rosemary Simple Syrup; add 1.5 -2 ounces passionfruit puree and 1-2 ounces of your favorite spirit – vodka, gin or white rum all work well.
- Shake vigorously with ice and serve.
About
Lincoln Land Community College offers credit programs in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Baking/Pastry, and non-credit cooking and food classes through LLCC Community Education.
Cooking or food questions? Email epicuriosity101@llcc.edu.