Summer's Nectar: Agua Fresca

Forget the Vitamin Water and artificially flavored waters that drain your college  budget and offer little flavor. Yes...I am pushing more "water drinking" this summer as well as cutting out sodas from the college consumption this week on the blog, because so many great alternatives exist with seasonal produce, melons and fruit.

As the hot and humid weather begins to settle in, try out one of South America's most refreshing drinks: Agua Fresca. If you have a bowl, sieve, and blender...this is a cinch!

(I used a combination of recipes from Whole Foods, the Food Network, and my own ideas)

Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca

Equipment:

Blender or bullet
(if you don't have a blender...mash it and strain it)

Ingredients:

1/2 medium ripe watermelon

3 cups ice cold water

Juice of one lime

1 Tbls agave syrup plus to taste

Extras:
--strawberries
--basil
--mint
--jalapeno slices

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Chop watermelon in 1-2" chunks.

3. Pulse in batches in magic bullet or full blender.

4. Strain liquid mixture with mint and discard pulp.

5. Add lime juice. 

6. Add agave to taste.

7. Add herbs, ie mint or basil

7. Add extras here: strawberries, jalapeno, basil

8. Add to a glass filled with ice!

Dollar In My Wallet: Drink More H2O

Unfortunately, there's no 'summerbreak' for your budget! But…some of the simplest ways to reduce costs is sticking to water as your preferred beverage--certainly don't buy bottled water--use your tap or get a Sodastream device that carbonates plain water!! I have found that just having 'sparkling' water increases my interest in consuming water for meals or throughout the day; and, I save money and calories while being healthier.

That said, just because you are drinking water, doesn't mean it has to be boring! The market has recently been flooded with ideas for reaching you daily "water-quota" and making it more interesting...like adding frozen fruit to your water bottle or adding a few slices of citrus with cucumber--the possibilities are really endless.  

Just last week I stumbled upon a 2014 Allrecipes Magazine which featured another great idea that not only adds flavor to your water, but keeps your water cold:  Frozen, flavored ice cubes! Awesome, right? Pop one of these into your sparkling water and have a spritzer instead!

Additionally, if you are making a batch of lemonade or agua fresca…using these ice cubes will keep your drinks cold without diluting them! Or add them to your morning o.j.  
Pure Genius! 

Drink More H20

Equipment:
Ice trays
Mixing bowl
Fork for mashing
Blender for pulsing

Ingredients:
Water 
Simple syrup or honey, in small quantities
Fruit
--strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries
--pineapple, mango
--lemons, limes
Herbs / Cucumber
--cucumbers
--jalpenos, habaneros, serrano (for some heat)
--mint, thyme, basil
--ginger

Instructions:

--add simple fruit to your ice tray and cover with water

--make a strawberry puree with fruit and basil before freezing in your tray

--make a batch of lemonade, or limeade, and add berries or mango, then freeze

--use honey for a touch of sweetness

Mashed Strawberries & Basil

Ginger-Honey Lemonade

Jalapeño-Infused Lemonade

Blueberry Limeade

--put it all in the freezer

--see what you can come up with!

Strawberry-Basil. Blueberry Limeade. Ginger-Honey Lemonade. Jalapeño-Lemonade. Cherry-Limeade.

--when you are ready, add a few cubes to your water bottle or glass

Drink More Water! Save more money!