Lemon Shandies and the Purple Mustache Smoothie

Father’s Day is coming up so I wanted to focus on two drinks for this week’s Thirsty Thursday feature: Lemon Shandies and the Purple Mustache Smoothie. One for dad and one for the kids! Both are cool and refreshing, perfect for sipping while at the pool or beach.

Here’s the drink for the Dads:

Lemon Shandies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons), plus wedges for serving (optional)

8 mild pilsner beers (12 ounces each)

Directions:

Place 8 16-oz glasses or mugs in the freezer

In a small saucepan combine sugar and 3/4 cup water over medium heat. Cook, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 1 minutes. Refrigerate until cool, at least 10 minutes (can be stored up to a week).

In a pitcher, combine sugar mixture and lemon juice. Pour 1 beer into each chilled glass, add 1/4 cup of the lemon mixture, stir; add lemon wedge if desired, and serve.

Recipe from marthastewart.com

Now, the drink for the kids:

Purple Mustache Smoothie

1/2 peeled banana

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup vanilla soymilk or almond milk

small handful of spinach, kale or other greens (easy way to get kids to eat some green healthy stuff!)

1/2 tsp ground flax seeds or chia seeds, if desired

1/2 cup ice

Add all ingredients to a blender or Magic Bullet and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!