We cooks - you and I - talk a lot about what's for dinner, the meat and potatoes of our daily meals. Well, let us not forget how ultra-important a good beverage can be in creating the ideal food experience. Water may be all we need to survive, but there's nothing like a creative drink recipe to make us come alive!

These hot summer nights we've had lately have found me raising a toast to the new drink recipes I've been sampling from the Club, each one showcasing the masterful mixology of folks like you! Diane Williams' Ginger Lemonade, for example, is a delightful thirst quencher that is simple as simple can be, yet absolutely delicious. "This [lemonade] is so refreshing on a hot summer day," says the Bakersfield, CA native. "If you want to dress this up for a party, put a lemon slice, a strawberry and a lime slice on a skewer and lay on top of the glass. It also works well if you want to add vodka to make a mixed drink."

Well, now there's an idea! The Kitchen Crew and I enjoy this drink as a non-alcoholic treat, however, many drink recipes can easily be made over into adult beverages for cocktail or dinner parties if you're so inclined.

Another great way to make an impression with your guests is to serve them an absolutely perfectly prepared classic... like sweet tea! Still further proof that delicious doesn't have to be complicated, Debbie DeRousse's Southern Sweet Tea recipe is, in our view, the quintessential method for brewing tea. "I think I cut my teeth on iced tea," jokes Debbie. "I drink it morning, noon and night."

And, frankly, we don't blame her a bit! This Houston gal has brought me back to my Southern roots. There's no great secret to her recipe, just a time-proven technique that has been cooling folks off for generations. All you need is water, teabags and a fair amount of sugar. (Front porch and rocking chairs optional.)

Speaking of super cool drinks, where would we be without a delicious ice cream find?! Thanks to Catherine Haury of Fair Oaks, CA, the Kitchen Crew gals and I have had ice cream headaches for days! We just can't stop sipping on her recipe for a Wannabe Frosty! That's right, Catherine's dishing on her favorite taste-alike recipe for the fast-food classic. "[This] tasty recipe was passed to me by a friend. My daughter and I love these," says Catherine, "especially on a hot day!" Simply mix together milk, whipped topping, cocoa powder, chocolate pudding, vanilla and ice for a dead-ringer dessert. (Try adding malted milk powder for even more richness!)

With just a few ingredients and a little bit effort, you too can easily whip up these - or your own - signature drinks! Perfectly punctuate the end of your day with real homemade, refreshment. More times than not it’s those hand-mixed drinks that bring the greatest enjoyment especially when unwinding on the patio after a long day. It's moments like that when homemade recipes somehow taste even richer than usual, cooling the heat of the evening and refreshing the tired spirit.