Lemonade.

Yesterday I had a hankering for some authentic LEMONADE. The craving always hits when the sun is shining bright and I'm feeling parched. Anyways, I was at the supermarket and picked up Newman's Own Old Fashioned Roadside Virgin Lemonade. Ingredients: Pure Filtered Water, Sugar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Lemon Pulp, Lemon Oil ... as it should be -- no "lemon flavor" or high fructose corn syrup. Not only was Newman's Lemonade a dollar cheaper than "Simply Lemonade" {which isn't simply lemonade...because it contained lemon flavor, coloring, and even more unnecessary stuff!} but with Newman's Own I know that I'm supporting a cause. Since 1982 over $270 million has been given to thousands of charities. But the cause that I love best is Newman's "Hole In The Wall" Camps For Children With Serious Illnesses, Laughter Is The Best Medicine. After Newman's passing I read a very touching article written by a woman who's son had attended one of these camps, and how it had affected her life and the happiness of her son. Here's a bit about the camp:

Our Mission

Hole in the Wall Camps is a nonprofit umbrella organization that serves a global family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions as well as camps in formation. Since its founding in 1988, the family of Hole in the Wall Camps has provided more than 119,374 children with a camp experience, all free of charge.

The Association of The Hole in the Wall Camps is a not for profit umbrella organization set up to serve existing Hole in the Wall Camps as well as camps in formation. Our mission is to extend the magical Hole in the Wall Camp experience to as many children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions as possible.

Our Philosophy

The family of Hole in the Wall Camps provides children from all 50 United States and 39 countries worldwide who on a daily basis face challenges associated with serious illnesses, a respite from their day to day lives and into a carefree, fun environment. Throughout their time at camp, the children are encouraged to challenge themselves through camp activities, skill building projects and teamwork exercises. All of the camp activities are designed to allow full participation by the children despite their medical conditions and abilities. This program encourages children to achieve things they never thought possible, and leave camp with a sense of accomplishment.

All of the camps are free of charge and are staffed by a 24-hour, highly-trained medical team, a dedicated program staff and enthusiastic volunteers from all over the world.

Our Hole in the Wall Camps

Paul Newman and friends founded the first Hole in the Wall Camp in 1988 to allow children who have been cheated out of their childhood because of illness to regain a sense of self, a joy in life. As the need for summer camps specific to children living with serious medical conditions increased, so did Hole in the Wall Camps (HITWC). Today, the family of Hole in the Wall Camps is reaching children all over the world, with the idea that laughter is the best medicine.

Aside from the summer camp season, HITWC offer year-round programs that go above and beyond the traditional sessions, which include:

• Family & sibling camps that allow the entire family to find comfort and support in other families facing similar situations
• Bereavement camps that help families cope with the loss of a child
• Reunion camps that bring former campers and staff together
• Specialty camps, such as Double H’s adaptive ski program that offers exciting opportunities for children to experience new adventures
• Hospital Outreach Programs designed to restore joy and laughter in the lives of children who are too ill to leave the hospital and attend camp

PAUL NEWMAN

Paul applied his greatest commitment and derived his deepest satisfaction from his quiet work in philanthropy. He used his influence, gave of his financial resources, and personally volunteered to advance humanitarian and social causes around the world. He accomplished this with an uncanny ability to break new ground. In 1982, he founded Newman’s Own Inc., which was one of the first food companies to use all natural products. Today, Newman’s Own, Inc. is a successful food business of which all net royalties and profits after taxes are donated to thousands of charities worldwide through Newman’s Own Foundation. As of August 2009, over $280 million has been awarded to grantee recipients in all 50 states and in 31 countries around the world.

While Paul Newman was a Hollywood star of extraordinary celebrity and a person recognized for exceptional commitment and leadership for philanthropy, he lived his life as an ordinary person, which he always considered himself. He was a man of abundant good humor, generosity, and humility.

SO, next time you are at the supermarket, maybe spend a few extra cents to buy a brand with integrity...a brand that actually gives back, and asks for nothing in return. A side tidbit of why I love John Newman is because he was married to his wife, Joanne Woodward, for 50 years. When asked how he managed such a long marriage in Hollywood he said "Why fool around with hamburger, when I have steak at home?". Classic.

Alas, you cannot make it to the store to buy Newman's Own Lemonade...here is my favorite at home recipe for some "CLOUDY LEMONADE"

Ingredients

- 4 cups chilled club soda or carbonated water/ water - 2 whole unwaxed lemons, cut into eighths - 1/4 cup superfine sugar - Ice cubes

Instructions

Put the water, lemons, and sugar into a blender in two batches, and blitz until the lemon is pureed

Sieve the lemonade into a pitcher, pressing down into the sieve, then pour into tumblers filled with ice

Sunshine means it's Iced Coffee Time!

MmMmMm been lovin' this weather. Soaking up the sun as much as possible, letting the Vitamin D revitalize and rejuvenate my soul after a not-so-fabulous month of rainy cold weather. To keep refreshed in this weather I have three favorite beverages: iced coffee, lemonade, and agua de sandia. There's something about these three delicious drinks that cools you down and leaves you feeling fresh. I figured that I would share my recipe's with you...as well as the best store-bought version, in case you don't have a few minutes on your hands.

Iced Coffee: Iced coffee is not just coffee poured over ice. That's where many are mistaken and are left with a watery, less-than-desirable sweaty glass of bleh. Underwhelming. The key is strong coffee, cold coffee, whole milk or cream, and WHEN the sweetener is added. Follow these simple steps and you are golden:

1. brew coffee an hour or so ahead of when you are going to want the iced coffee. in the summer i usually make a big brew and leave it in a pitcher in my fridge. you want the coffee to be EXTRA strong, so double up on your coffee grinds {whether its drip, bialetti, percolator, or french press -- definitely definitely add an extra few tablespoons of grinds}.

2. now - if you refuse to use fake sugar {aka splenda}, then add your sugar as soon as the coffee is finished brewing....if you wait until the coffee is cold and add your sugar then, than it won't dissolve. mix the sugar into hot coffee.

3. put your extra-strength, sweetened coffee into the fridge.

4. now comes the time to pour the coffee over ice and add milk. i recommend whole milk or cream {or soymilk..given it's creamy texture} because otherwise you are left with a watery iced coffee -- which is AWFUL. bah, i shudder just thinking about it. so please, use a thicker milk or cream, it is truly the only way.

5. for the advanced coffee drinker - i recommend making coffee ice cubes. YES, coffee ice cubes. that way, when the ice melts, it's not watering down your coffee!! real simple - just pour some of your leftover brew into an ice cube tray and set in the freezer.

If you want to get fancy, top with some whip cream or add some chocolate syrup - but I'm an iced-coffee purist. For those who are on the go, then MC DONALD'S iced coffee is a pretty phenomenal substitute for the homemade goods. I gotta hand it to McD's...they make a hell of a cup of coffee. I ask for mine to be unsweetened, light on the cream, with splenda on the side. I know, it sounds obnoxious - but otherwise you get 3/4 cream with a boatload of sugar. Trust me, if you order like I did: unsweetened, light on cream w/ splenda on the side you will be truly delighted with the results.

My second favorite warm-weather beverage, Lemonade. This is a delicious, easy twist on that. All you need are 2 lemons, 1 lime, sweetener {sugar, agave or splenda}, water, ice, a blender and a strainer. Fresh mint is optional, but adding only a few leaves really perks it up. Quarter the lemons and lime and put in the blender. The whole lemon...including the rind. Everything. Then add 1/3 ice and about 2/3 water. Add however much sweetener you'd like {I like my lemonade tart, so I only add a few tablespoons of Agave Nectar}. Blend. Let the blender work it's magic for a minute or two. Pour through a strainer (so it can catch the ground up rinds and seeds} and then serve over ice. Perfecto. Cloudy Lemonade. Garnish with some fresh mint and serve to your friends. If you're on the run, pick up a NANTUCKET NECTARS "Iced Tea Lemonade". Bah, it's EPIC.

Last, but not least, is Agua de Sandia. So deliciouso. And SO easy to make. Cut up some watermelon and fill up the blender with the chunks. Add a bit of water so it blends nicely, add handful of fresh mint, and some lime juice (1 lime). Hit the blender for about a minute, add water if it starts to stall in the blender, and then chill in the fridge for around an hour. Serve over ice. I'm not sure what you could substitute on the run for this one, so this perfect recipe will have to be saved for a lazy afternoon.