July 7, 2013

Crushing on vintage Raspberry Mint Crush


There are certain tastes that are imbued to specific months, the separation of which would be as wholly unnatural as if the weather one expects that that time of the year was suddenly to be swapped with its polar opposite. Beyond the tiniest shadow of a doubt, when it comes to July, one of these tastes has always been that of slightly tart, gushingly juicy, endlessly delicious raspberries (which just have to be my all-time favourite fruit).

When I was growing up, my paternal grandparents kept rows of raspberries in their wonderful backyard garden, which I often helped them help bring inside by the plastic bowl or bucketful if I was visiting them during berry season (always popping a few just-plucked fruits into my mouth when grandma wasn't looking in the process). Once inside, some would be frozen, others turned into canned delights. Many were eaten as is (often with a little milk and sugar or whipped cream), and many more still found their way into my grandmother's scrumptious desserts, of which a sublime raspberry trifle was, bar none, her pièce de résistance.

Though those hot summer days, drenched in buttercup sunshine, of my youth (complete with berry juice stained fingers) are long behind me now, I still associate July with raspberries on a very deep level and, though they're a bit tricky for me to eat (due to some of my medical issues) these days, I continue to indulge in freshly picked British Columbia raspberries to this day, each and every time the seventh month of the year rolls around.

One of my favourite ways to savour the taste of raspberries is in a tall, cold summery drink, and so today, as the mercury climbs ever nearer to the very sun that's driving it through the roof in the first place, I wanted to share a thirst-quenching vintage recipe for Raspberry Mint Crush with all of you.





{This piece of paper might have seen better days, but the recipe itself has held up splendidly over the years and is just as timeless and wonderful a summer drink as you could ever hope to find. Image source.}



Should raspberries not be your cup of tea (or if they're hard to come by where you live), you can just as easily sub in blackberries, strawberries, currants, blueberries, or huckleberries instead (adjusting the sugar level as needed, depending on what fruit you use). Another (non-berry) summer fruit option that is nothing short of lip-lickingly awesome, is to use fresh peaches as the star of this terrific lemonade (here's a peach lemonade recipe that's very similar to my own).

I know that for me, part of the reason why raspberries are my absolute favourite fruit, even if I can no longer eat them with reckless abandonment, is precisely because of the treasured childhood memories I associate with them.

Beyond gathering berries from my grandparents' garden, I remember doing the same thing in the yards of some of our neighbours after my family moved to Penticton, and recall with the greatest of fondness, the marvelously yummy vats of raspberry (and her specialty, pear and raspberry) jam that my mom would whip up with the supply of fruit our neighbours so kindly lavished on us.

As we propel through the second half of July, I hope that you get the chance to indulge in at least one really great raspberry recipe this month, too. Be it an icy cold drink like this, homemade jam, trifle, or any other one of the truly countless ways raspberries can be put to work in the kitchen.

Happy raspberry eating - and should you be so lucky as to have your own backyard bushes, picking, everyone!

23 comments:

  1. There are certain tastes as well as gragrances which bring back to past times. For me is the scent of figs that remember me my father's garden in Sicily. . .Your recipe must be delicious!

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    1. Thank you, dear Dan. I know just what you mean about the power of certain flavours and how intricately they're woven into our memories. Over the years I've waxed poetically over everything from cherries to Christmas stuffing, relating the memories of such foods to the recipes I shared here. I'm a total nostalgist and foodie, so the two thing (memories and food) are inseparable for me. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  2. This sounds delish Im going to try it soon

    kate

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  3. Raspberries are delicious. One of nature's best gifts to us. Great post.

    It may be delusional to believe we know anyone we've never met in person but I'm starting to feel like you're my friend. When I see you've posted, I rush over to hear what you have to say. My eagerness to read your blog is akin to my emotional connection with real-life friends. Just sayin'...

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  4. Oh sounds like such an idyllic scene at your grandparents when you were little. My boyfriend and I are very keen to try our own version now! xxx

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  5. pink-lemonade concentrate? how can I achieve such concentrate? I'm such a noob :X

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  6. Raspberries are my absolute FAVORITE fruit.

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  7. That sounds delicious! We've got raspberries on my parents summer cottage, yum!

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  8. Oh yum! Raspberries are so delicious. I will definitely have to try this next summer. xo

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  9. mmmmm this sounds delicious. I might file this away for Christmas lunch planning for this year (as Christmas is in summer here). I don't know that I have ever seen pink lemonade concentrate here though....

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  10. yummy, sounds good! i love blueberries ♥

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  11. Summer fruits are so delicious, but I have always liked raspberries the best.

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  12. That is such a sweet memory. :) I do love the taste of raspberries, however the feeling isn't mutual. The seeds really bother me.

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  13. My absolute favorite drink while I was in Rome, had both raspberries and mint in it, and was absolutely delicious! So refreshing! And... it was called Gone With the Winnnd! Adorable!
    Thank you for this fantastic recipe that brings back such wonderful memories!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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    1. That sounds like such a terrifically lovely drink - one can never get enough mint in their come summer, if you ask me - it really does seem to cool and rejuvenate from the inside out.

      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Ooooo! This sounds divine, Jessica. Perfect for July. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

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  15. You have made me soooooo thirsty!! I love raspberries AND mint... they are probably my two favorite summertime flavors. I will definitely have to try this lovely recipe; thank you for sharing!

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  16. Yum, this does sound - and look -tasty! I'll have to bookmark it to use in six months time!

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    1. I really hope you enjoy it, honey - if you're in the mood for lemonade sooner (and enjoy being a little adventurous on the culinary front), there's always hot buttered lemonade. It sounds strange - and a bit like it might be a cold medicine - but it tastes fantastic and is so, so comforting if you're chilled to the bone, but not in the mood for cocoa or mulled cider. Here's a recipe that's similar to one I've made a few times over the years: http://www.mnn.com/food/beverages/photos/9-yummy-drink-recipes-for-fall-and-winter/hot-buttered-lemonade

      ♥ Jessica

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  17. This sounds very refreshing! I will have to try it! I love all the vintage recipes you post!

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  18. OK I am bookmarking this and will go look at my canes in the morning. I might have to wait for the second crop though!

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  19. Oooh, this sounds delicious! I absolutely love raspberries ^^

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