Sweet Summer Treats

As the weather gets nicer and the school year is ending, we thought it would be a good idea to relax with some sweet homemade treats!

We are going to give you a simple recipe for delicious homemade lemonade and granola. These are great little treats to bring on your outdoor adventures. So, take your kids out and enjoy this refreshing beverage while you snack on an all natural granola.

Here is just one of many ideas for making a delicious mint infused lemonade:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• juice of 2 oranges
• juice of 6 lemons
• 4 teaspoons grated orange peel
• fresh orange or lemon slices and sprigs of mint for garnish

Preparation:

1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
2. Place mint leaves in a small bowl; add sugar syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, and grated orange peel. Cover and let steep for 1 hour. Strain into a 1-quart container; cover and keep refrigerated.
3. To serve, mix 1 part lemon mint mixture with 2 parts water. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon or orange slices and sprigs of mint if desired.

This recipe makes about 1 quart syrup, or 3 quarts of lemonade.

Next, is a recipe for a do-it-yourself mix that can be customized with whatever combinations you enjoy. (We've included our favorite combination.)

Ingredients:

• 6 c. old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/4 c. nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, walnuts, etc., coarsely chopped
• 1/4 c. seeds, such as sunflower, pepitas, etc.
• 1/3 c. flaxseed meal, wheat germ, or a mixture of the two
• 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 3 large egg whites
• 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 3/4 c. sweetener, such as honey, agave syrup, or molasses
• 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 c. dried fruit, such as sour cherries, cranberries, currants, raisins, apricots, figs or pineapple, coarsely chopped

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine the oats, nuts, seeds, flax and/or wheat germ, and cinnamon in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and the salt until frothy. Whisk in the sweetener and the olive oil. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, and stir until the oats are evenly coated.
3. Transfer mixture to two rimmed baking sheets and spread flat.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, then gently flip with spatula, moving granola from the outer edges to the center of the sheet. Continue to cook until golden, about 10 minutes more. (if granola starts to brown, too much at the edges, stir those parts into the middle.)
5. Cool completely on pan, then transfer to a bowl and gently stir in the dried fruit.

Take these simple treats on your outdoor adventures. Enjoy the beautiful weather in your J-41™ shoes. We hope you enjoy these simple recipes and we hope you stay tuned for more treats coming your way! :)