Porch Beer

It is sweltering in Illinois as I write this. I glanced at the weather report before I biked to work this morning, and to my dismay saw that it would feel like 112 F outside. And, it did. Look out east coast, this heat wave is coming for you. I'd recommend that you stock a few ingredients in your home in preparation. This is my favorite way to keep cool on these hot, hot summer nights.

Porch Beer

Ingredients

12 oz. lager beer (I use Tecate)
1 lime Kosher flake salt
4 large ice cubes

Method

Cut the lime into quarters and run one of the wedges around the rim of a 20 oz pint glass. Pour a tablespoon of salt into a flat dish and coat the glass rim.  Add four large ice cubes to the glass, squeeze in the lime juice, and add the lime quarters. Top with beer.

Green Milkshake Recipe

For those of you in the United States, the words "green milkshake" might conjure thoughts of the seasonal shamrock-variety. Other than the hue, this recipe has little in common with the fast-food version. Sunshine, bike rides, and outdoor runs have me craving refreshing foods. This green milkshake is a wonderful way to start the day full of energy. 

I grew up with blenders that couldn't chop ice any better than a hand mixer, and perhaps as a result I have long coveted fancy blenders like Vitamix. But, working within my grad student budget, I recently began to look into lower-end models. I decided to try my luck with a $15 model from Hamilton Beach and I couldn't be happier. Now I just hope the motor lasts more than a season. 

Green Milkshake

Ingredients

1 Tbl chia seeds
1 Tbl organic flaxseed oil*
1/2 Tbl organic wheat grass powder*
1 handful of organic spinach leaves (no need to trim thick stems)
1 banana
1/2 C hormone-free milk
Ice

Method

Add the ingredients in the order they appear above. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. I like to use organic products for this recipe, but I generally don't go out of my way to buy organic bananas. 

*These ingredients are optional. For flaxseed oil, I use Barlean's. For wheat grass powder, I use Amazing Grass. These items are a pricey initial investment, but they will last you quite a while.