Sparkling Limeade

Sparkling limeade is a cooling bubbly delight.  You have lime and lemon juice combined with sugar, mint, and a touch of kosher salt. The fruit and mint need to be bruised in order to release their oils.  Everything is stirred together and put in the fridge for at least one hour.  Pour the mixture into some iced glasses and top with club soda.  Add a sprig of mint and you have a nice refreshing summer beverage.

Sparkling Limeade
From Bon Appetit

Ingredients:
4 lemons
5 limes
2 large handfuls of fresh mint
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
1 (12-ounce) can club soda

Directions:
1. Cut 1 lemon and 1 lime into wedges and toss them into a pitcher.
2. Slice 3 lemons, and 4 limes in half.  Squeeze their juice and place in the pitcher.
3. Add the mint, sugar and pinch of salt.
4. Smash down on the citrus and mint with a wooden spoon, bruising them to release their oils.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
5. Chill limeade at least 1 hour, then pour into 4 frosty ice-filled glasses.
6. Open the club soda and top off each glass.  Garnish with mint sprigs.

Serves 4

Brazilian Strawberry Limeade

As the days are getting hotter,  I like a  glass of something cold to drink.  Today, I made some Brazilian Strawberry Limeade.  I got the idea for this beverage from my earlier post  Brazilian Lemonade from "Our Best Bites".  I  added once cup of sliced fresh strawberries to the original recipe of limes, sugar, water,  and condensed milk.    The mixture is blended, strained, stirred,  then poured over a tall glass of ice.  The result is a  a wonderfully refreshing drink that is not too sweet or too tart.


Brazilian  Strawberry Limeade
Adapted  from "Our Best Bites"

Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
4 juicy limes
1 cup sugar
6 cups  water
4-6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk


Directions:

1. Make a simple syrup consisting of 1 cup hot water and 1 cup of sugar.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the simple syrup and remaining water into a pitcher and chill until ready to use.
 Note:  This step can be done ahead of time.
2. Puree strawberries.  Press the mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into the pitcher you will serve the limeade in using the back of a spoon.  Discard the seeds.
3.  Wash limes thoroughly with soap.  Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into eighths.

4.  Place half of the limes in a blender.
5.  Add half of the sugar water.  Place the top on your blender and  pulse 5 times.

6. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you will serve the limeade in) and  pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher.  Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher.

7.  Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash.
8.  Repeat with the remaining limes and sugar water.
9.  Add  4 tablespoons  of the sweetened condensed milk. Stir until mixed.
10.  Taste and adjust sweetness if needed - add some more condensed milk.
11.  Serve immediately over lots of ice.

Makes 4 servings

Honeydew and Mint Agua Fresca

Agua Fresca is the perfect beverage, in my opinion, for a sweltering summer day.   It is cool and refreshing.  The recipe I found for Honeydew and Mint Agua Fresca hits the spot.   A mellow melon flavor with a hint of citrus and the refreshing taste of mint.  Add to this a light sparkling smoothness as it goes down.   Delicious.

I found this recipe on "Williams-Sonoma" website.  This recipe makes 12 servings.


Honeydew and Mint Agua Fresca
From Williams-Sonoma

Ingredients:
2 honeydew melons, about 12 lb. total
Juice of 4 lemons
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup crushed fresh mint leaves
3 cups sparkling water, chilled
3 lemons, thinly sliced
Ice cubes as needed
10 to 12 fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Directions:
Cut the honeydew melons in half and remove and discard the seeds. Using a metal spoon, scoop out the flesh into a large bowl. Working in batches, puree the honeydew melon in a blender or food processor.

As each batch is finished, transfer it to another large bowl. Add the lemon juice, sugar and mint leaves to the puree and stir to combine until the sugar is dissolved. Cover and set aside at room temperature for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours to blend the flavors.

When ready to serve, pour the melon mixture through a medium-mesh sieve into a large pitcher or jar.

Add the sparkling water, lemon slices and ice and stir well. Pour or ladle into glasses and garnish each glass with a mint sprig. Serves 10 to 12.