#popathome this month is a salute to the final month of summer.
If you’ve been in-store, you would have seen our vibrant, summery table inspired by good times in the summer sun. Combined with our love of local, we have created a quenchingly good celebration of summer.
We have everything from a fun drinks trolley loaded with local beverages for an easy but stylish entertaining feature to bar snacks, how to entertain your guests with local board games (did you even know we have a board game created right here in Canberra?) and some local cookbooks to create a truly local dinner party.
You can’t go past a super cold and refreshing beverage in summer. One of the things we’ve discovered this summer, is just how easy it is to make your very own traditional lemonade at home. Keep it traditional and fizzy with some soda water or add a splash of a Canberra gin to make it an adults only version! This is also the perfect opportunity to get all of your handmade, local pieces out of the cupboard and use them! Don’t store them away for a special occasions, make them part of your everyday. Stack them up on your bench, use ceramic jugs for the lemon juice, mugs to store the garnishes and bowls for your fruit.
Here’s the lemonade recipe we have been enjoying!
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
1 cup of lemon juice (approx. 4 large lemons)
1 cup of boiling water
¾ cup caster sugar
2 cups of soda water or still water
Ice for serving
Lemon slices
Mint leaves
Combine the sugar and boiling water in a medium mixing bowl and stir until dissolved. Set aside to cool. Once cool, transfer to a serving jug with lots of ice, add the lemon juice and stir to combine. When you are ready to serve, add your soda or still water and stir well. Serve amongst your favourite glassware. Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and some mint leaves.
Homemade Lemonade with Gin
Ice
40ml Gin
100ml fresh lemonade
Lemon slice and mint to garnish
Pop all ingredients in a glass, stir garnish and enjoy!
Drink and snack trolley
Now that you’ve made the lemonade, don’t waste the opportunity to lap up the last of the summer weather. Why not put together a drink and snack trolley (loaded with local of course), gather your mates and create a complete self serve bar option. Fill it to the brim with wine and sprits, glassware, straws, garnishes like citrus slices and herbs, cocktail shakers and snacks to nibble on. Pop it out in the back yard, get the tunes playing and enjoy this last month of summer.
Written by Belinda Neame
Photography by Tim Bean
Belinda Neame is a local stylist, content creator, supporter of local and a lover of all things handmade, high quality and bespoke.
Belinda is the owner operator of the stunning 'Hold Cottage' in Gunning and founder of 'The Forage' - Canberra's premier street food event.
Belinda's husband, Tim is a firefighter by day and lives behind the lens of his camera when not working for his community.
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