Keep it Cool

It’s hot out there, folks. During this time of year I have a couple go-to beverages that I love to make at home to stay cool, hydrated and refreshed. Both of these are really simple, easy to make and will help keep things cool for ya. The best part is you can easily tweak the recipes, too. Here are my recipes:

Watermelon Juice-
What you'll need: watermelon (duh), lime, mint (optional).
I typically use either half a small melon, or if its a bigger one, I'll use about a third of it. Cut it up, throw it in the blender.
Then, squeeze that fresh lime juice all up in there. You can use half, or whole. I tend to go with whole, but you decide what's best for you and your taste buds.
From there, add as much mint as you'd like. Ideally you'll be blessed like me to have fresh mint growing in your garden, but if you aren't as cool as me, then ask around There are lots of people who grown their own around here. plus mint spreads like wild fire so there is plenty to go around. Farmer's markets also have fresh mint, and it's always better to support local. Basically what I'm trying to say is use the grocery store as the last option. Also, feel free to ask for some of mine. I have plenty and am happy to share.
Then, blend it all up, pour it in a nice glass, and enjoy. If you want be fancy and make it aesthetically pleasing, add a fresh mint leaf or lime slice to your glass.

Ginger/Lemon Water-
Before getting into details I gotta give my girl, Sarah O'Donoghue (@sarahsoulspeaks), a shout out for sharing this with me so that I could share it with you.
What you'll need: fresh ginger (duh), 1 lemon (duh), local honey (optional)
Again, tweak however you'd like. I use a good amount of ginger, like probably a 3in piece. If you're really into ginger, use more, if not, use less. Peel the ginger, and then grate it up and add to your glass.
Then, add the lemon! I use half a lemon typically, unless I'm making a bigger batch, then I'll use a full one.
After the lemon, add water! Then, I add local honey to help with my allergies. Plus, I like sweet things. If you're with me on either of those, then add as much honey as you'd like and stir until it dissolves.
I don't mind pulp, but if pulp is not your thing, then just strain it all into a new glass. Add ice, and enjoy!

Stay cool, friends.

Janelle