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Ranch Water
Naz Deravian
858 ratings with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars
858
5 minutes
Updated Oct. 11, 2023
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Make the lemon simple syrup: Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir to dissolve any remaining sugar granules. Transfer to a heat-proof container and cool completely before using. (Leftover syrup will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.)
Place 4 cups of the ice cubes in a blender and pulse on low speed to crush them. (It’s OK if they are not completely crushed.) Add ½ cup Pimm’s, ¼ cup ginger beer, ⅓ cup simple syrup and a pinch of salt. Blend on low speed, raising the speed slowly and pausing to stir if necessary, until the mixture is smooth and slushy in consistency (see Tip).
Pour the mixture into 3 tumblers and repeat with the remaining ½ cup Pimm’s, ¼ cup ginger beer, ⅓ cup simple syrup and another pinch salt to make 3 more drinks.
Top each drink with a splash of ginger beer, then garnish with a cucumber slice, a strawberry slice, an orange or lemon slice and a basil or mint sprig. Drinks are best served within 15 minutes, with a straw for easy drinking.
For those in a hurry PIMM'S mixed with 7-UP or Sprite and garnished with crushed mint leaves, cucumber rind and/or strawberry slices is a simple, extremely refreshing drink.
Borage flowers and a cut stem of rhubarb are a traditional part of the garnish. Pimms No. 1 is gin-based, over the years numbers (1-7) for other spirit bases. Now, only No. 1 remains.
For those making regular Pimms, At the TJ’s store, they carry sparkling lemon soda or a bubbly French lemonade. Excellent substitutes for the English lemon soda, making sure to splurge on one of those seedless cucumbers….
Perfect for days like today when the temps suddenly hit 90’s. Dangerously delicious when you drink it too fast - beware the brain freeze!
I've never had it with ginger beer (I live in London), so not sure about adding that. I would go with Sprite (as an American) or Lemonade (as a Brit) - they are almost the same thing.
Delicious. Must be eaten with a spoon, at least at first, given the bountiful and lovely display of fruit garnishes suggested, including basil leaves large enough to stand tall in the glass. Increase the charm by adding a few large basil leaves to the blend. The resulting flecks of green in the drink are lovely.
A food processor isn’t a substitute for a blender when doing drinks. (not sure about other foods) There’s too much liquid to keep the level below the leakage level and blender’s have too large of a container to crush the ice esp with added liquid. If you find you’d like to use a blender for more than just this recipe one can be purchased fro about $20. or check thrift stores. I’ve seen them a Salvation Army and Good will.
I don't have a blender. Can I use a food processor?
For those in a hurry PIMM'S mixed with 7-UP or Sprite and garnished with crushed mint leaves, cucumber rind and/or strawberry slices is a simple, extremely refreshing drink.
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