There’s nothing like a cool refreshing glass of juice on those hot summer days. Store bought juices will often have their weight in sugar added to the juice, so why not try juicing your own. Juicers are expensive, but if you have a blender and a mesh strainer, that’s all you need to make homemade juice!
Apple Juice
Red apples work best for juicing because they are soft and naturally sweet.
Take a cup of ice, and add that to the blender. Pour in cold water to just cover the ice. Crush the ice into small chunks. Peel and core 4 apples. Thinly slice the apples, and then add them to the blender. Blend the mix for about 3 minutes, or until the juice is smooth. Place the strainer over a large jug or bowl with a pouring lip. Pour the juice into the strainer a little at a time. Use the back of a tablespoon to squeeze the juice through the strainer. Either dispose of the pulp or save if for another recipe. Pour the apple juice into glasses, and enjoy!
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Use this method on a variety of juices. Make sure to remove any pips, stones, or seeds before adding the fruit to the blender.
A few fruit combinations to try: Apple and strawberry; pineapple, mango, and orange; watermelon and cucumber; blueberries and lime. The combinations are endless! If you enjoy spritzers, simply add carbonated water instead of tap water.
Infused Water
Infused water is another simple drink you can make at home to keep you cool and hydrated over the hot summer months. They are really simple to make, and very healthy, too. You will need the following: a jug; a selection of fruit and vegetables; water.
Fill a jug with either cold or room temperature water. Make sure to leave enough room for the water to rise when you add your fruit. Just like the juice, choose any fruit and vegetable combinations you like. The rule of thumb, chop any soft fruits, such as strawberries, thickly, halves or quarters; slice harder fruits very thin to allow the juice to infuse the water easily. Add your desired fruits and veggies to the water, and let it soak at room temperature for no more than 2 hours. Store in the fridge to cool, and enjoy!
A few water infusion combinations to try: Raspberry and lemon; apple, strawberry, and mint; lemon and lime; cucumber and mint. Happy experimenting!
