Home is where the desk is. Home is where the dirty dishes are. Home is where the paper straws, cookbook collection, and to-be-folded laundry is.
It’s good to be home from New Orleans. It’s good to be home knowing that I cleaned my desk before I left… I sometimes surprise myself.
I picked up this Gourmet Special Edition Pasta Magazine at the airport in New Orleans because I wanted to fill my brain with pasta carbs on my journey home. I thought it would inspire me to make copious amounts of ravioli upon my return. I think reading this magazine on the plane inspired my seatmate’s hungry belly (I could feel you reading over my shoulder, sir) and inspired me to, strangely enough, make Lime Cordials.
This could be a clear sign that I’ve eaten too much jambalaya and crawfish.
Limes will be my restart. I’ll be back on the pasta and beignet train shortly.
Home is also where the old orange juicer is.
I love juicing citrus because it’s an excuse to use my parents’ juicer. They received this as a wedding gift and now it’s a part of my everyday. I’ve probably told you about this juicer at least a dozen times. I appreciate your patience with me.
Let’s juice some limes!
It took about ten limes to yield one cup of fresh juice.
I like to give the limes a firm roll on the countertop before slicing into them. It helps ready the juices.
A Lime Cordial is a fancy name for a sweet lime syrup. It’s the sort of syrup you add to fizzy drinks and fancy cocktails. It’s also the sort of syrup that would prevent you from getting scurvy is you were a seaman a long ass time ago. You know… totally normal.
With our fancy named lime syrup, let’s get our Cordial options ready!
Club Soda- A benign choice, totally refreshing… like homemade soda, but we didn’t invent bubbles.
Fresh Cucumber Juice- Yea, friends! Fresh sweet lime combined with super fresh cucumber juice. It tastes green and divine!
Blonde Ale- Whaatt!? Think of how natural it is to combine lime with beer. Think of summertime Coronas with lime. This version is just slightly elevated with a sweet syrup that combines surprisingly well with a light Blonde beer. Dreams, I tell you… dreams!
I think you should invite three friends over, make three bowls of popcorn, and watch three episodes of Downton Abbey.
It’s good to be home.
I’m a sucker for a simple syrups that can color-up my drink options. A few years ago I made a ginger syrup that was genuinely bonkers. This simple syrup is so easy to make and wonderfully versatile. It’s a really lovely addition to the fridge, no matter what you mix it with. Ps. Gin. Aaand, go!
Lime Cordial, Three Ways
adapted slightly from Gourmet Pasta Magazine
6 1/2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup fresh lime juice (from about 10 small limes)
light beer, club soda, or fresh cucumber juice
Heat 3 cups of water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add remaining 3 1/2 cups water. Stir in lime juice and allow to rest in the fridge for about 2 hours until chilled through.
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 3/4 cups of lime cordial to the glass. Top with light beer, or club soda, or fresh cucumber juice. Serve immediately.
Syrup can be stored (without beer, club soda, or cucumber juice), in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days.
Trudy
I am so glad I googled lime cordial and your blog has come up…I have about 100 limes in a bucket on the floor of my kitchen and three times that on a tree in the yard….and I have all the ingredients!
Thank you and gorgeous blog!
Ela-Studiofinch
P.S. Where did you ge the Birch Bark straws??
joythebaker
there’s a link in the first line of the post. they’re great!
Ela-Studiofinch
LOVE the lime stack! Everything you do is amazing.
Must add to my drinks list. :)
Allison
I can’t remember if I’ve commented about this in the past, but it always makes me smile to see that juicer on your blog! My parents had the exact same juicer and when I moved out of the house after high school I totally stole it and used it for years after. It recently fell apart and I loved it so much I bought the exact same model on ebay. Is that crazy? I just love looking at it. Makes me think of my parents and memories while growing up. So thanks for sharing it!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition
that green color is so dreamy!
Ana
Those straws are great – I would have never thought of using such a design but it’s so cool :D !
Candice @ The Savory and The Beautiful
Beer and lime, love – it’s summer on a hot deck watching the sunset :-) joy, you too with this downton abbey? I must find out what the fuss is about.
Divya
My mum introduced us to a combo of lime juice + sugar and salt + ginger and mint leaves (crushed) topped with soda, simply divine!
joythebaker
the addition of salt, ginger, and mint sounds absolutely incredible! i may have to try this!
tracy {pale yellow}
So simple and beautiful! Love the recipe and the possible usages.
Tina
The cucumber drink sounds just to die for! If ever there is a cucumber drink to be had I will be the one drinking it. Those birch straws are perfect by the way.
Archer
That first photo is seriously amazing. Good work.
joythebaker
thanks so much!
Allison Day
This sounds delicious and all, but more importantly, I am ALL over those straws of yours. I kind of have a thing for drinking drinks with straws… they make me happy, and fancy straws make me extra happy. ^_^
Katy
Thanks for posting this! My go-to drink is a lime and soda, but I’ve never thought of drinking cucumber juice before. Do you juice the cucumber using the juicer? Or do you purchase the juice at a grocery store?
joythebaker
i used my juicer to make the cucumber juice. it might be tricky to find in stores. fresh watermelon juice from the store would also be wonderful!
Stephanie (Velez Delights)
I had never even heard of Lime Cordials before. Seems perfect as a drink for the hot Miami summers!
Seanna Lea
I really need some limes. This sounds amazing (not the lime simple syrup itself which I have made previously but the ideas on how to serve it up. Normally I just use bubbly water, but it doesn’t feel as festive as cucumber juice would be.
Samantha
Oh, that looks delightful. Great idea!
I will never forget the day I was visiting my cousin, we were cooking, and my aunt grabbed a lemon and dropped it onto the floor, then rolled it (upon the shiny clean floor) under her stockinged foot. My cousin and I were slack jawed, motionless. My aunt, who’d majored in Home Economics, was non-plussed. Washed it off, and juiced that pup like a pro.
We stood in awe. =) I love when elders smoke past the youngsters.
Sarah
Oh my GAH! Lime Cordial, with Blonde Ale?!?!?!? You are clearly some kind of mad genius of a drink mixer! Thats an AWESOME idea.
I can’t get over it. I’m kicking myself that I haven’t thought of it. Mind=blown.
LeAndra
I love that shot of the stacked lime peels! And thanks for the link to the straws – they are super cute.
Julie @ forbiddenriceblog.wordpress.com
Joy the Baker: I feel the need to say this. When I read, ” It helps ready the juices,” I absolutely laughed. Out loud. And imagined you and Tracy Shutterbean discussing this recipe, resulting in the same thing for the same reasons. These cordials look amazing.
Kim@Soliloquy Of Food & Such
I am loving those straws. Seriously cute and eco-friendly.
Rachel
Glad to have you back Joy! Can’t wait the try the cucumber and beer – I’ve never ben much of a fan of club soda!
Nina @ ambrosia
This looks so refreshing, I would love to try this! I also love your paper straws, the wood pattern is such a nice break from all the colored striped straws that have become so popular lately!
Heather {the lovely cupboard}
I think we had the SAME orange juicer growing up!!!
Oh, and I really wish I had some limes in the house…
EM Prentiss
TRUECitrus products are always in my wheelchair’s side pocket next to my business card & MetroCard (transit pass). They’re cheaper than Potassium Citrate tabs. Due to a medical condition, I drink 6-8 liters of water a day and although the TrueLime powder is not as refreshing as a lime, it is more enjoyable than water. I recently added lime powder to a Coke Slurpee. I tried TrueGrapefruit in a Coke but not a Slurpee, yet. While other Manhattanites may complain about the proliferation of 7-11 stores, I say bring them on!
I wish I could find an unsweetened ginger powder. Any ideas?
Julie n.
Watermelon and lime aguas frescas is soooo good and refreshing!
April
Your timing couldn’t be better. I have a huge bowl of limes that I didn’t want to waste. Perfect!
Heidi
Mmmm, these sound so yummy! Is it wrong to want to put sriracha in them all, especially the cucumber one… oh, I think I need coffee. I’ll try to refrain from putting sriracha in my caffeine.
Malgosia
I’ll take the gin option anyday! Love
Jeannine DiBart
these are making me so thirsty! Yum! gorgeous pics, too:)
Marta
Wow this sounds delicious! I will definitely try it.. Btw great straws!
Emily D
You beat me to the gin punch! If only it was later than 11 o’clock in the morning.
rachel
joy the pictures in this post are beyond! so gorgeous!
Heather
This looks fancy and yet simple, this will be my three day weekend drink :) :)
Sarah
This looks so refreshing and tasty..big surprise with the blonde ale! Learn somethin new everyday;)
Also big thanks for the offer of link sharing in your tips for bloggers post comments the other day…made several lovely new friends:)
xoxoxo
Christy @ My Invisible Crown
It is so nice to be home finally. It was major fun but whoa!…am I tired physically and oh so tired of the amazingly spicy but heavy food I ate for a week. I think these lime cordials are a perfect thing to share. I need light and refreshing and clean-tasting in my life!!
ahu
the photos in this post are absolutely stunning, not to mention i love limes, the tart-er the better! my mouth is puckering just reading this post!
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
These look so refreshing, especially since the weather in Australia is killing me ( not good with heat). the cucumber combo is especially tantalising. The combo i normally pair with lime is cola and rum, but yours look much better. Thanks for the recipe
Sophie @ The Spotty Teapot
Ooh I love lime cordial. My friend and I use it all the time in cocktails.
I even use it in mojitos, yum!
Thanks for the recipe, I think I’m going to make some now :)
x
Marisa
looks great …. i want to try …..love the straws remind me of birch trees!
Catherine
Lime cordial is used a lot in pubs in the UK. The Roses brand is the best know. If you want to ask for it in a pub, ask for lime juice and soda. Very refreshing in the summer.
The version with beer is called Lager and lime. Another version is lemonade and lager, called a shandy. Lemonade could mean a 7 Up type drink usually, not freshly squeezed lemons. Teens are often allowed to drink the shandy or lager and lime version.
Re squeezing limes, as well as rolling, or instead, put them in microwave for 15 seconds or so – helps a lot with the juice. I also like lime juice in hot water in the morning, as a cleansing drink. No sugar.
The Owls Meow
Oooft, these look good
leaf (the indolent cook)
Love all three ways! I’m particularly digging the cucumber.
Jennifer
Yum! Now I want a cherry limeade. And your seatmate is not the only one. I have been known to read over neighbor’s shoulders on planes as well as the shoulder of the window seated in FRONT of me a row. Sometimes you just get bored on a plane and I never have enough magazines whilst flying.
Jade
What a cute idea! Now to hunt down my elusive juicer…
Reem
These looks amazing!
I am really loving the tonal effects of the color.. Stunning!
And your orange juicer… CUTE!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Welcome home! Nice find on the special edition Gourmet! And sweet lime syrup sounds so good right now. There are so many ways to go with it…and it puts me in the mood for spring. And margaritas :)
Holiday Baker Man
Try vanilla vodka too!
ATasteOfMadness
Wow, I really need to get myself one of those juicers. Squeezing the limes just doesn’t do the trick.
This looks too good!
Anna
They look amazing Joy!