Beyond Water – Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes
Surprisingly, pure H2O is not flavorful. Rarely do we get a chance to taste pure electrified water without any traces of minerals. The traces of minerals give water the “taste”. This fact is the basis for all of the bottled waters available in stores. Most water is purified from a city water service and then minerals are added. Most beverages contain water, though water is not considered a beverage. Even absolute alcohol has 1% water. W.C. Fields was once quoted as saying; “I never drink a substance where fish have made love”.
Water…whether you’re submerged in it or drinking it, both are refreshing. The Cooking Cardiologist, Richard Collins, MD
Below are a few refreshing summer drink recipes to quench your thirst.
Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes
Grilled Lemonade Recipe
It sounds impossible, putting a liquid on the grill. Actually, the lemons are grilled to make the lemonade. The grilling reduces the “sweetness” and “acidity” of the lemons. On a BBQ grill, the lemons take on a smoky flavor.
Ingredients:
- 6 lemons halved
- ¼ to ½ cup Truvia Blend (½ sugar and ½ Stevia). Adjust to desired sweetness
- 2 cups water
- Ice
On a medium heated grill or a grill pan on the stove (a cast iron ridged grill pan works best), grill the cut lemons until the surface is caramelized. Remove from heat. Cool.
Slice off the tops and reserve for garnish. In a juicer, juice all lemons. Discard the squeezed lemons. In a large pitcher, add the lemon juice (3/4 of a cup), the water and sweetener according to taste preferences. Stir to combine. Pour over 6 glasses filled with ice. Garnish with the roasted grilled lemon tops. Serves 6.
Watermelon Cranberry Slushy Recipe
Here is a refreshing beverage on your deck. It is not suitable for a picnic unless freezer capabilities are available. It is non-alcoholic and quite a thirst quencher with a rich red color.
- 2 cups frozen cubed seedless watermelon
- 2 cups Lite Cranberry juice
- Ice to thicken
- Mint leaves for garnish
In a blender add the frozen watermelon and 1 cup of the cranberry juice. Add ice to thicken to form an iced slushy. Severs 4.
Icicle Lime Beer Recipe
Here’s a beverage that transforms adults back to kids again. Putting ice cubes in beer is unthinkable, but lime in a Corona…now that is a different matter. For those who do not like beer, this beer is for you. For those who are beer enthusiasts, pass this beverage to others.
- 1 chilled Corona Lite beer
- 1 complete lime icicle pop, do not remove handle
- 1 wedge of a cut lime
- 1 beer glass
Place the icicle pop into the beer mug. Pour the beer over the lime icicle. Garnish with a wedge of lime. As the evening rolls on, the lime icicle will melt creating more lime flavor. Serves 1.
Bubbles with Fruit Recipe
A few bubbles and fresh fruit are very refreshing. These beverages can be made with and without alcohol. Champagne of coarse is the classic addition, but tonic water, sparkling water or a few bubbling low calorie beverages can be used. The secret is to use a frozen fruit, your choice from strawberries to blueberries.
- 1 bottle of split champagne, rose is best (should make 2 glasses). Non-alcoholic beverages include diet tonic water, sparkling water, and Italian Sparkling Water
- 4 strawberries frozen
- Mint leaf for garnish
In 2 champagne glasses, add two strawberries, frozen. Fill with the champagne. Garnish with the mint leaves.
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