Cucumber Gin Spritz, by Cheryl

I was looking for a light and refreshing cocktail to make for when we had friends over the other night. This just hit the spot! I felt like it needed more tonic so I added more than what the recipe called for and it was perfect. Would make it again! Yum!

Ingredients: 

3-5 slices fresh cucumber

fresh mint, diced

1 ounce lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

1.5 ounces gin

3 ounces tonic water

sugar to rim the glass

Directions: 

1) Add the chopped cucumber slices and mint to the cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to break up the cucumber and mint so that the juices come out.

2) Add the simple syrup and gin.

3) Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and shake for about ten seconds.

4) Rim the glass with lime and sugar.

5) Strain the drink into the glass, with ice, and top the drink with seltzer.

6) Garnish with cucumber slices and mint.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (with spinach), by Cheryl

Julia and I decided to make some cookies today. When I asked her what type of cookies she wanted she said, "Green!" Thankfully she didn't say another color since green is easy to do in this household! I followed this recipe and took out the food coloring ingredient and replaced it with spinach that I chopped in the food processor and blended with the butter, which came out great. I had limited chocolate chips so I threw in what I had. The cookies came out a little cake like, but the flavor was delicious! Yum!

Ingredients:

2.5 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1.25 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup spinach
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375.

2) Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and set aside.

3) Finely chop the spinach in the food processor.

4) With a mixer mix the butter, sugar, and spinach together. Add the eggs and peppermint extract and mix again. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until combined.

5) Add heaping tablespoons 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.