Celebrating summer with The Boss

The weather is simply glorious, and being British I want to make the most of it for fear that it will not last, so am celebrating summer now. And though I admire the wizardry of Mummy Barrow, who put a cheesecake in a blender and called it a cocktail, it is categorically too warm for milk-based cocktails.

Wouldn’t you know, I got sent The Boss– the luxury all purpose blending machine that Mummy Barrow so raved about- so I thought I’d take her on at her own game. To whit, the Smoothie O’Clocktail. Yes, I essentially put Pimms and all the associated gubbins into The Boss and pressed a button but, hello? Fancy straws!

To make enough Smoothie O’Clocktails for 4 people you will need:

10 good sized strawberries, green nonsense optional.

1/2 a cucumber, cut into half a dozen pieces

3 tablespoons of strawberry jam (I actually used some of my very own, made to a Deliciously Ella recipe, but use what you’ve got)

two handfuls of mint leaves- essentially two full stalks from a packet bought at the supermarket.

a mug of ice

250ml Pimms No. 5

approx 500ml of Ginger Beer

Put everything in The Boss except the fizzy drink, and turn the dial up to puree for about 20 seconds or until you have a smooth liquid. Pour into a jug- or direct into glasses- and top with the Ginger Beer.

Pimms making has always been a very vague science in my house so you could quite easily get away with a can (330ml) of Ginger Beer, but equally if you prefer something less strong, add more. Likewise the Ginger Beer can be substituted. Appletiser works well too, or Lemonade for a classic glass.

Don’t forget to add fancy gubbins- a strawberry glass garnish for example, a sprig of mint, and some fancy straws are essential for Instagram purposes.

 

Please do not think that you can have a few of these in the sun and then drive home. Drink responsibly.

And if you have any leftovers (made up with the ginger beer), pop it into a freezer-proof container and freeze for a few hours. Remove and break up gently with a fork then serve your Strawberry, Cucumber and Pimms Granita immediately in small glasses for a simple dessert!

*Disclosure: I was sent The Boss to review. All images, recipes and opinions are  my own. As is the blender. Trust me, though: you want one.