Show and Tell — Favorite Summer Beverages

It’s almost time for school to start so we decided to do our own Show and Tell.

Liz: I have a feeling some of my Wicked sisters (no pun intended) are going to discuss yummy adult beverages, so I’m going to go the healthy route. I got a new raw, organic smoothie book this week and I’m in love with it – and I’ve been trying new recipes nonstop. My new summer favorite is the Summertime Anytime Watermelon + Mango recipe. If you have a Vitamix, you know how easy this will be – if you don’t, no worries – you can use any type of blender. You’ll need:

1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup almonds
4-6 ounces watermelon chunks
10-12 ounces frozen mango
1 banana
6 small kale leaves (no stalks)
Spring or coconut water
Ice if you like slushy

Grind flax and almonds in a dry blender to desired texture. Add watermelon, mango, banana, kale. Add water to get moving, add additional water as desired. Blend in ice for consistency. Kick back and enjoy summer in a cup!

Edith: In the time-honored tradition of showing, not telling, here goes.

The farmer finished the afternoon’s work of weeding, staking, harvesting. Despite the oppressive heat, the afternoon light already hinted of autumn and winter’s snows to follow. She added a few cubes of ice to a short, wide tumbler and drew the squat green bottle from the freezer. The cold-thickened liquid eased halfway up the side of the glass. She unscrewed the top of a fresh bottle of tonic water and let the bitter anti-malarial bubble into the rest of the space. The tropical tang of the lime as she sliced it tickled her nostrils and made her long for Key West. Settling into a deck chair, she raised the gin and tonic and toasted the sunset and summers to come.

Sherry: Hmmmm, methinks Liz knows us all to well! I like a gin and tonic as well as anyone but a friend of mine has me hooked on lemonade and vodka! It’s refreshing and summery! Pour a glass of  ice cold lemonade, add a shot of vodka and voila–it’s summer!

Barb: Liz does know us too well! I’m normally a wine drinker, but in tropical climates and summer anywhere, I’ve also been known to go for a margarita (not frozen, with salt) or a mojito. When my husband and I went to Cuba in January, at the resort we stayed at, everything was “inclusive” including the mojitos! I have to admit I got a little carried away.

My go-to drink for the summer is prosecco. Due to over-exposure to cheap champagne in my early twenties, I was convinced I didn’t like sparkling wines. Then a family friend who owns a liquor store sold us a few cases of prosecco for a party, and I was all in. I love the delicious, dry, bubbly taste. Plus sparkling wines are the lowest in calories and carbs–just sayin’!

Jessie:I love my husband’s caipirinha’s with lime and cachaca but my absolute favorite drink for hot

weather is a Black Currant Vodka and Tonic. I make the flavored vodka at home by adding black currants to the vodka and leaving them to steep for a couple of weeks. Once the vodka is ready I pour a finger or two to the bottom of a tall glass and add tonic water. Crisp, slightly bitter, bubbly and totally thirst quenching. Plus, I love the color!

Julie: I am a summer sangria fan. And though I love this picture, I actually like red sangria. And with lots of fruit that is really a part of the drink, not just dropped in.

Readers: What’s your favorite summer drink? How about your favorite drink in a mystery? Or the one that most easily disguises a poison, perhaps?