There is nothing better on a hot summer afternoon than a refreshing beverage. I am talking about homemade drinks. Whether you like to infuse them with herbs, alcohol or simply just to enjoy the flavors of fresh fruits. I am sure that you all have seen that cucumber infused spa water. I particularly love the fresh taste and smell of cucumber, I find that combined with fruits it adds an extra layer of flavor and freshness hard to compare with anything else.
Sure you can find pineapple already peeled and cut at the grocery store, but if you are ambitious like me, you just buy the whole fruit. There are more benefits from buying the whole fruit and peeling it yourself. I use the core of the pineapple to infuse my drinking water, nothing goes to waste. My mom used to make us drink water that she boiled and infused with pineapple peel, it was said to help digestion as well as being a great diuretic.
I don’t like overly sweet drinks (or anything). What I like to do is make a simple syrup that I infuse with ginger, mint or lemon and I keep it in the fridge to sweeten my ice tea or summer drinks. It’s super easy to make and it lasts in the fridge for weeks. Simple syrup is usually made with equal parts water and sugar. I personally like to make it with a 1 to 1/2 ratio of water to sugar, but I also add a little bit of honey for that natural sweetness. I have been getting my honey CSA from Mad Urban Bees, let me tell you this honey is incredibly tasty, I kid you not: It is the best honey! This reads on their jars: Healthy Urban Bees – Environmentally Sustainable – Amazing Honey It is truly amazing honey! (Note: this is not a sponsored post, I really love this local & sustainable honey and sharing is caring) 🙂
I don’t know about you but my summer is just flying by. I have a number of recipes I wanted to post in the summer and the clock is ticking and there is so much to do… Well, enjoy this refreshing one while you can, and share your thoughts or other drinks that you make in the summer time. Let’s get juicing!
Ingredients:
For the simple syrup:
(makes 2 cups)
2 Cups water
1 Cup organic sugar
1 Tablespoon honey
1 inch ginger root, peeled
For the juice:
(makes about 5 cups or 40 oz.)
5 Cups cubed fresh pineapple
4 Cups diced cucumber
2 inches ginger root, peeled & sliced
Juice of 1 orange
1/2 Cup simple syrup (recipe below)
1 Cup cold water
Cucumber slices, for garnishing (optional)
For the simple syrup: Add all the ingredients in a small sauce pan, simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool. Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the juice: Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Depending on your blender you may need to do this in two batches. Pass through a mesh strainer. Serve over ice and garnish with a cucumber slice if desired. Enjoy!
