Cool Summer Drinks–Healthy and Easy!

This morning I whipped up these babies–perfect for some hot summer afternoons!

I am not much of a juice drinker–I love my ice water–but for these I will make an exception.  Pure ingredients, healthy, fresh–Absolutely no guilt here!  

I made these delicious drinks with just a blender, so let’s get started.

 

 

• 3 large organic cucumbers
• 2 TBSP chopped fresh organic rosemary, plus four springs for garnish  (This recipe could also be made with fresh organic mint or basil, for a different taste sensation!)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh organic lime juice
• 3+ TBSP organic Agave Syrup (to taste)

 

Score a cucumber lengthwise with a fork.  This will give your decorative slices a finished look.  Then cut 12 thin slices of cucumber for garnish.

 

 

Peel and chop the rest of the cucumbers, place in your blender, along with the chopped fresh rosemary. 

 

 

Puree until there are no chunks and the rosemary is well incorporated.  You’ll need to stop the blender and scrape down the sides.

 

 

Pour the puree into a fine-mesh strainer which has been set over a bowl.  

 

Push the solids a bit to get the juice into the bowl.  If you like a very clear juice, use cheesecloth.  I like more solids, so I pushed quite a bit through the strainer.

 

 

 

Squeeze the limes until you have 1/2 cup, then add the lime juice, the water, and the agave syrup to the cucumber/rosemary juice. 

 

 

 Taste and add more agave if you’d like.

Fill four glasses half-way with ice, then pour 1/4 of juice into each glass.  Garnish with cucumber slices and a spring of rosemary.  

Make your own soda with healthy ingredients?  Yes!  

 

• 4 Cups of organic seedless red grapes, washed and stemmed, plus more for garnish
• 2 TBSP fresh organic lemon juice
• 2 TBSP organic honey
• 2 cups mineral water (I used Voss Sparkling Water)

Wash and stem the grapes, and then puree in a blender until fine.  Pour the puree into a strainer, which has been placed over a medium bowl.  Press on the solids to extract the juice.  

 

 

 

 

Add the lemon juice and the honey, and stir well until the honey is well incorporated.  

 

 

 

Add the sparkling water, and mix.  Pour the mixture into four, ice-filled glasses, and garnish with a small bunch of grapes.

 

 

Have a great summer, and enjoy these delicious, healthy, and easy drinks!

 

love,

 

Lassen’s