When Life Gives You Lemons, Bottle Them Up.....
Stay hydrated with these refreshing water infusions. Some of the ingredients can even be found growing in your garden.
Citrus Parsley: Hydrate yourself with this blend. Simply toss sliced meyer lemons, navel oranges and a few sprigs of fresh parsley for a refreshing, slightly tangy drink. Keep the peel on the citrus for added nutrients. The parsley will offset the bitterness.
Strawberry and Oregano: I’ll be honest, oregano has a strong flavor that’s why it’s important to pair it with something sweet and delicate like strawberries. These red beauties are the only berries in season currently that’s why they make a perfect addition to a hydrating drink.
Pineapple Core and Cucumber Spears: Long after your family enjoyed the juicy parts of pineapple, you can slightly sweeten your plain water with the leftover pineapple cores. I always strive to have less kitchen waste, especially in the form of food, so I love throwing these cores along with some cucumber spears for a refreshing drink. Cut the pineapple cores and cucumbers into spears and pour ice water over them .
Apple, Aloe & Cilantro: This variation is unusual with the addition of aloe vera but aloe isn’t just great for topically on sunburned skin. It’s a great digestive aid and a nutrition powerhouse. The sweetness of apples and freshness of cilantro compliment the aloe. To add aloe, pinch off one of the leaves and wash well. With a small knife, slice the aloe vera leaf across lenghtwise and scrape some of the pulpy gel straight into drinking glass. Add 1/2 cup of water and stir vigorously. Add sliced apples and cilantro and pour additional water and ice for your enjoyment.
Apple & Fresh Dill: If there’s one herb I grew up with it’s definitely fresh dill. It’s also the herb I add to a lot of my dishes, salads especially. And apparently, it’s a great addition to infused water. Nothing special about this combo yet it quenches your thirst and is a refreshing option on a hot day.
Navel Oranges & Basil Love: Not sure if there’s anything better than an orange fusion with chopped basil. I love chopping basil, but ripping it using fingers works just as great to release some of those sharp flavors.
Zucchini Strips and Meyer Lemon: Zucchini is great for infused water because it’s incredibly refreshing and full of vitamins and minerals. Pair it with a sweet lemon variety like Meyer Lemon and you have a perfect combination for a hydrating drink.
Meyer Lemon Thyme: Spruce up your plain old water with simple slices of meyer lemon and a handful springs of thyme. This duo is perfect together and adds a great punch to your boring bottle of aqua.
Sweet Peppermint Drink: Adding sliced strawberries, pineapple chunks and shredded mint makes this a kid favorite. The berries and pineapple are always a hit together but not so overpowering since the mint compliments both of those.
Fresh Herbal Infusion: This is the sister drink to my regular drink of choice on a typical day. When I don’t steep my herbs overnight in hot water, I opt for a simpler choice of cilantro, parsley, basil and mint together in a tall mason jar of ice water. I do prefer to rub the herbs between my fingers first to release some of the natural juices. So tasty and energizing.
Ginger and Peppermint: As with the pineapple core, the remnants of grated ginger can be reused to create a revitalizing drink that also aids in weight loss. I like to make this drink usually after making Kimchi, since reusing that unwanted piece of ginger makes me feel better. Besides, it’s perfectly shredded to extract all the juices from this root, paired with peppermint it makes for a perfect combination.
Red Delicious Cinnamon: Can’t let go of all the fall flavors just yet? Enjoy this cinnamon-red-delicious concoction and quench your thirst at the same time. For best flavor, pour about 1/2 cup of boiling water over the cinnamon sticks to extract more flavor. Add sliced red delicious apples and pour water over cinnamon and apples. Add ice to chill.
No comments:
Post a Comment