Strawberry Mango Limonata

So about a month ago, we celebrated our daughter’s first birthday! A Mother Goose-themed party, I had to have something for "Jack and Jill" to contribute to the party. I didn’t want plain water, and I didn’t sparkling water. But I did I have some San Pelligrino Limonata (fizzy lemonade) in my stockpile! I ran an extensive search online for drinks using Limonata, but couldn't find much that wasn't alcoholic. I kept reading about people asking for Strawberry Mango Limonata recipes, though. It is apparently a very popular drink at The Olive Garden. I figured, what the heck? "Jack and Jill" probably went up the hill to get water and berries for their mom's lemonade anyway! Well, I can’t vouch that my version is anywhere similar to the Olive Garden version (since I've never had it) but I like it (and so did our guests, young and old). Hope you enjoy it, too!

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 16  ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
• 16  ounces  frozen mangoes, thawed
• 1⁄2-1  cup sugar, depending on your preference
• 6 (11 1/4ounce) cans  chilled lemon  italian soda (San Pelligrino Limonata)

Directions

1. In a large blender, blend the thawed fruit together until smooth.
2. Stop the blender and add the sugar, a little at a time, tasting every now and then until the fruit is to your desired sweetness. I like mine sweet enough to have as a topping for a dessert, but still tart enough to make a statement.
3. At this point, you can chill the fruit base for use within the next three days, or freeze into cubes for later use.
4. To assemble your drink, take a glass and half fill it with your fruit base. If you prefer your drink lemony, use less fruit; fruitier, use more.
5. Carefully pour the Limonata into the glass, stirring gently until the fruit is dissipated throughout. You won't use a whole can unless your glass is very large.
6. If you want to make the Limonata a little naughtier, add a shot of vodka.
7. Gather your friends around and enjoy this great, fruity tart drink!
8. A possible substitute for Limonata: Limonata is 16% lemon juice from concentrate. I am thinking that by mixing 2 parts lemon juice concentrate (like Tropicana, found in the freezer aisle) with 10 parts sparkling water, you should have a very close substitute.
9. Another easy substitute: use 7-Up or Sprite. If you do this, cut back on the amount of sugar you use in the fruit base, as these sodas are sweetened already. Add a little splash of lemon juice concentrate or fresh-squeeze lemon juice to each glass to make it tart.