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Sunday 30 August 2015

English Country Garden : The Perfect Bank Holiday Drink !

English country garden cocktail
Well it is the Bank Holiday Weekend. The weather (we hope) is perfect and there you are with family and friends. Just picture the scene, the lawn is looking wonderful, the garden just glorious in the late August sunshine and as you take a sip of 'English Country Garden' ... a most pleasing bank holiday cocktail, all is well with the world ... we certainly hope so. However, if the weather is not too good, please use your imagination !

To make this lovely drink here is what you do: 
INGREDIENTS
25ml gin
25ml St. Germain elderflower liqueur
2 springs of mint
1/2 a lime
Ice
Apple juice


INSTRUCTIONS
In a large highball glass, place 1 spring of mint and 1/4 of the lime in the bottom. 
Using the end of a rolling pin, bash the mint and lime together. Fill the glass up with ice and add the gin, elderflower liqueur and top up withe apple juice. Garnish with the other sprig of mint and lime wedge.

NOTES
If you don't have St. Germain elderflower liqueur use elderflower cordial. This is also delicious as a non-alcholic version using elderflower cordial and omitting the gin. Idea from here.


Now, of course you may prefer a glass of this
or this 
or even a cup of this

But I hope you can enjoy the weekend, wherever and whatever you're doing.
Now how about a nice low carb smoked salmon blini

and later a slice of low carb strawberry sponge cake 
sit down and enjoy the view


All the best Jan

24 comments:

eileeninmd said...

I hope your holiday weekend was great! The drink looks refreshing. Have a happy new week ahead!

Anonymous said...

Don't mind if I do have a glass of the cocktail and a blini please :)

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there Eileen, and thanks for your kind comment. It certainly is a refreshing drink, and I could just put my hand out and grasp it. LOL!
...Mind you a good cup of tea or coffee can also be refreshing !

The weekend's weather could certainly be improved ...

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Anonymous 12.04 ... I'll just pass you a cocktail and a blini - virtually speaking of course!

Many thanks for your comment.

All the best Jan

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Jan,

Hope your bank holiday went well - the drink would be the perfect one for a warm day.
We have enjoyed the balmy weather in England and has been most pleasant.
Many thanks for your kind visit and note you left.

Hugs
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Well I will certainly have a slice of low carb strawberry cake please. lol.

I am still around and do look in to the blog from time to time. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes it was my wife who found out more about the low carb diabetic and since low carbing I haven't looked back. My figures are now that of a non diabetic and I am indeed grateful of the better health and energy. I enjoy spending time with family and feeling good.

Just wish the bank holiday weather would improve.

Doug

Art and Sand said...

Thanks for the sweet comment on my last post!

That drink looks refreshing and the salmon blini looks yummy!

DeniseinVA said...

A lot of refreshing cocktails, drinks and yummies today. Thanks so much.

Jo said...

Now wouldn't that be lovely, sunshine on a bank holiday. Sadly, not forecast for here. Your goodies do look good though and would be just as good eaten and sipped indoors.

Red Rose Alley said...

This holiday drink is delightful, and the strawberry sponge cake - YUMMY! All the goodies look good, Jan.

Have a nice week ahead.

~Sheri

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there Carolyn, and thanks for your comment.
This certainly would be / is a lovely refreshing drink.

I do hope you enjoyed your recent trip ... looking forward to reading about it on your blog

Enjoy the remainder of August.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Doug, how lovely to read your comment here. So pleased to hear everything is well with you.
So many more diabetics are finding the LCHF lifestyle is such a positive and successful way of keeping blood sugar spikes less and BS numbers at non diabetic levels.

... I am virtually passing you a slice of strawberry low carb sponge. LOL!

Do hope you enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday - and yes, I agree the weather could be better.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there Carol (Art & Sand) and many thanks for your comment.
The salmon blini's are great ... just wish our weather was a little sunnier !

Enjoy the remainder of August

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hi Denise, thanks for your comment, glad you enjoyed the post.
Hope the remaining days of August go well for you - I can't believe it will soon be September!

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there Jo ... sunshine on a Bank Holiday weekend would be great, but it hasn't been too good. Perhaps it's waiting to cheer up in September?

I do agree these drinks and eats can be enjoyed inside or out.

Take Care and thanks for your comment.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Sheri - thanks for your comment.
Glad you liked all the 'goodies' featured ... the low carb strawberry sponge cake is one of my favourites.

Hope you have a good week next week too - thanks for your good wishes.

All the best Jan

Gail said...

The drink is beautiful.

Thanks for visiting, Jan. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Bonnie has a blue collar so I think the light's refraction through the tinted water has made purple. I did not see it until the photo was downloaded. I thought it was a pleasant surprise.

I am a little confused on the most recent article...more carbs, less fat? Did I get that right? Very good information.

Have a wonderful week.

elaine said...

Dear Jan
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a kind comment. As usual the bank holiday weather is dire - grey and raining - I do hope that summer hasn't gone altogether. Your summery photos have cheered the morning up a little though. Enjoy your day.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Gail, and thanks for your comment.
Yes, this is a beautiful looking drink isn't it.
It was interesting to see the trick of light on Bonnies collar as she swam in the water on your 'Trailing Purple' post.
I'm not too sure which article you are referring to, but we follow the LCHF lifestyle. Eating lower amount of carbs, higher healthy fats and moderate protein.

Have a lovely week.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Elaine, thank you so much for your comment.
Yes, the weather is dire it is pouring with rain at the moment ... typical Bank Holiday weather!
Sometimes it is so good to look at summery photo's - I hope you have a good week, and that your decorating goes well.

All the best Jan

Gail said...

Low carbs, healthy fats, moderate protein...I can remember that!!!! It was the article after this one I think. I'm confused again, Coconut oil, not good?

Trail trees are fascinating. Have seen them all my life and it didn't dawn on me Mother Nature rarely does right angles. The valley we live in is much like Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, three sides protected and barely visible from the front so obviously it was perfect for Native Americans, easily defend-able, safe with water, game and graze. I imagine this place has been occupied for thousands of years.

Have a blessed evening.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there Gail.
Always good to read your comments ... and yes we certainly eat from the low carbs, higher healthy fats, moderate protein foods template.
As for coconut oil - "Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a "super-food." so said Kris Gunnars at Authority Nutrition, he goes on to say "If you want to enjoy the health benefits, then you must get organic, virgin coconut oil… NOT the refined stuff." You can see the article, which was featured on this blog here http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/10-proven-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

With reference to your trail trees on your blog post 'Freaky Nature or Goodly Lessons', I do agree they are fascinating and it must be wonderful to see them in the valley you live.

I see you have a lovely new post up Exploring Natural Vegetation ... I will 'hop' over and comment soon.

Happy September Wishes

All the best Jan



tess said...

i FINALLY got around to trying this cocktail, and it's delicious! i tried it the original way, then i replaced the apple joice with San Pelegrino (to reduce the sugar content), then i did it half-and-half ... and we liked the latter best.

thanks, everyone!
T

Lowcarb team member said...

Tess ... thank you so much for sharing this with us. So glad you got to give it a try, and then revised it to suit your taste. Brilliant!

Cheers

All the best Jan