Frozen Lemonade Concentrate Is Surprisingly Versatile
I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive ingredients that can be used in lots of recipes. I’m especially happy when I find unexpected uses for a common ingredient. I was wandering the frozen foods aisle and did a double take on a can of frozen lemonade. The wheels began to turn.
I keep frozen juice concentrate in the freezer at all times. Lemonade is a particular favorite because it’s a useful ingredient for many different beverages and much more.
Some beverage ideas: Add strawberries, blueberries or raspberries to make fruity lemonade. Add mint or basil for a sophisticated twist. Mix lemonade with different soft drinks, like lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, for bubbly treats. Or mix with iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer.
Summer cocktails come to life mixed with lemonade. Who doesn’t enjoy a hard lemonade slushy by the pool? Or a Lynchburg lemonade mixed with whiskey? Lemonade even makes a perfect base for a margarita.
How about dessert? Since frozen is as frozen does, here’s the classic frozen lemonade ice box pie. Remember that one?
LEMONADE ICE BOX PIE
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (12-ounce) container whipped topping, thawed
1 (6-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (9-inch) graham cracker crust
In a mixing bowl, blend the first three ingredients. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and freeze until solid. Tart and creamy, cold and dreamy.
But here’s where I got excited! I thought, what is frozen lemonade? It’s a concentrate of lemon juice, citrus pulp, lemon oil and sugar. You know what else uses those ingredients? Marinades. Especially marinades for chicken and pork. I can feel your skepticism. Stick with me!
I went all “mad scientist” in the kitchen and played around until I came up with two marinade recipes that all my taste testers loved. I promise, they’re not sweet! Here are the winners.
Both recipes make 1 cup of potent marinade, enough for 3-4 pounds of your preferred chicken pieces.
LEMON, ROSEMARY AND GARLIC MARINADE
6 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon garlic cloves, crushed (or more!)
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
In a gallon-size resealable food storage bag, combine lemonade concentrate, Worcestershire, vinegar, garlic, rosemary and onion powder. Add chicken pieces, seal the bag and smush to blend. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour or,
even better, overnight. Optional -- before you add the chicken, reserve 1/4 cup of marinade and mix with 1 cup plain yogurt to make a delicious sauce for the chicken.
LEMON, GINGER AND SOY MARINADE
6 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons fresh
ginger, grated
1 tablespoon garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
In a gallon-size resealable food storage bag, combine lemonade concentrate, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper. Add chicken pieces, seal bag and smush to blend. Marinate in refrigerator at least 1 hour or overnight.
To cook the chicken -- Preheat oven to 375 F. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. You can also grill, broil or pan fry this chicken.
Please note lemonade concentrate comes in two sizes: 6 and 12 ounces. These recipes call for 6 ounces, so you may get two recipes from one can. When buying concentrate, purchase brands that don’t contain high fructose corn syrup. They may cost a few cents more, but it’s truly worth it.
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Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website ‘Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous!’ Visit Patti at www.divasonadime. com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com
1. In 1903, what power hitter -elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945 -- was kicked off a train for being drunk and disorderly and was found dead at the bottom of Niagara Falls two weeks later?
2. Name the two former NBA players who teamed up as contestants on Season 30 of the CBS reality competition series “The Amazing Race.”
3. What venue was home to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1970 to 2000?
4. Name the Ohio State Buckeyes running back who is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice.
5. What LPGA Tour player from Australia has seven career major championship titles and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2005?
6. Name the member of the 1976-77 Detroit Pistons, nicknamed “Bad News,” who responded to being benched by declaring, “News didn’t come here to sit on no wood.”
7. Who is the only player from the losing team to have been named Super Bowl MVP?
Answers
1. Ed Delahanty.
2. Cedric Ceballos and Shawn Marion.
3. Three Rivers Stadium.
4. Archie Griffin (1974-75).
5. Karrie Webb.
6. Marvin Barnes.
7. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, Super Bowl V.