Cool Drinks for those Hot Days

There's nothing like a nice cold drink to cool you off in those really hot and humid days. It's important to keep your body hydrated so lots of nice cold water is the perfect thing.

But, there are times when you would like a little taste to go with it. They have flavored waters now, but they can be pricy, so why not flavor your own. A large glass filled with ice then water with a lemon or lime squeezed into it or blueberries floating in it or any fruit you love.

Drinks are very popular now. If you watch any of the Food Network shows they always have a cocktail to go with the dinner they are making. Sometimes they even show the children's version to go with the adult version.

Smoothies are the rage now; they are good for breakfast or lunch, which I am having now and will show you in this hub. They are great for a pick-me-up in the middle of the day and great for those picky little eaters who worry you about getting all of their vitamins.

So pick up a glass, go to the fridge and see what concoction you can come with or just have a nice cold glass of water. Enjoy!

In a blender put:

• 6 oz. fat free peach yogurt
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 fresh peach, peeled and cut in pieces
• 1/8 cup honey
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 large ice cubes

Blend till all ingredients are smooth and the ice is melted. This is enough for 1 10 oz. serving.

I know this isn't new but I got the idea from a summertime liquid soap from Bath and Body Works. It's on my sink and it's Watermelon Lemonade. So I thought why not make it?

Fresh Watermelon Lemonade

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (about 406 lemons depending on their size)
• 3 cups cold water
• 1 1/4 cups pureed watermelon

Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves completely. While the sugar is dissolving, juice the lemons. Add the juice and the cooled simple syrup to a pitcher. Add cold water, 3 cups, more or less. to the desired strength.

Cut up enough watermelon to make 1 1/4 cups pureed. ( Cut in pieces one cup at a time).

Add it to the lemonade and refrigerate till it's nice and cold.

SWEET TEA SANGRIA

• 3/4 cup Arbor Mist Mango Strawberry Wine
• 1/2 cup sweet tea
• 1/4 cup lime juice

Just mix and pour over ice, add a few pieces of strawberry and mango and sit back and enjoy!

I added some cantaloupe and it was so good too.

I saw Reed Drummond make this and had to make it too. So easy.

• 2 pints of strawberries, hulled and halved and purreed
• 2 cups sugar
• about 8 to 10 lemons squeezed
• Sprig of fresh mint

In a large container, mix together 11 cups of water,2 cups of sugar and lemon juice and strawberry mixture. Stir and taste, add more sugar if you like. Refrigerate until well chilled. A fresh spring of mint in the glass cut in a little of the sweetness and gave it a kick.

(For the adult version add a little strawberry schnapps in the glass and stir. Amazing.)