All of us have a summer memory that brings a smile to our faces. Mine is how summer brings all the kids out into the streets – the sun acting like the pied piper’s flute, drawing us out from the cool comfort of our homes. Summers in India aren’t easy, believe me, the heat is unbearable. But still, we’d all be running outside or huddling around tree shades, playing all sorts of games. It was the best time of the year, particularly because while all other schools had some form of summer assignment to be submitted on the first day back at school, my school had no such ridiculousness. All we were required to do was have fun!

I remember how my grandmother would get us to experiment on all forms of popsicles and frozen treats. Once, we even rinsed out an almost-empty jam jar and made jam popsicles! It wasn’t half bad.

Another summer memory – the endless parade of summer fruits – watermelons, mangoes, musk melon and palm fruit.

When I moved to the US, I missed all things summer, especially the fruits – at least the way I remembered it. Sure, we get watermelons here, but the rest, do not taste just the same. Mangoes in India are like biting into heaven. I am yet to try a mango here that is even slightly reminiscent of the ones I grew up eating.

But to expect mangoes here to taste as good as it did in India, is like expecting strawberries in India to taste as it does here. So the only remaining course of action was to to create new summer memories here with locally grown fruits, and I started with raspberries.

It took me a while to enjoy the texture of berries so I blended it into my familiar mint lemonade and it was perfect! This drink is sweet, tart, sharp and very berry-licious! I could sip these for hours and never grow tired of it.

And guess how long it takes to make it? 5 minutes! Prepare a sugar syrup, and blend all the ingredients and serve on ice!