"SummerDrinks" news and stories

Looking for a good, slightly boozy way to beat the heat? If so, consider checking out the Mojito Granita recipe that Rob at the Foo(d) Bar Blog has concocted. He'd been considering making one of the granita recipes featured on NPR last summer, but an overgrown backyard mint patch convinced him that he needed to devise a way to use what he had. Thus the Mojito Granita was born.

He cooked up a simple syrup that he infused with several sprigs of mint, mixed that with freshly squeezed lime juice, rum and chopped mint leaves and froze it in a glass baking dish (although metal is preferred). As it spent time in the freezer, he'd stir it every so often to ensure that it didn't become just one giant ice cube. Head over and check out the full recipe (which is accompanied by a series of step-by-step pictures).

I've never made granita myself, but I do have a big bunch of mint sitting on my kitchen counter, even as I type. I may have to devote some of that mint to making this recipe for myself. Thanks Rob!

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I recently experienced excruciatingly hot weather while in Dubai, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme humidity made matters worse. Living under such sizzling heat, people in Dubai must find the best way to quench their thirst. Watermelon juice saves the day!

I first tried this sweet, smooth, hydrating drink at a friend's house last week in Sharjah, a neighboring city of Dubai. Sipping the watermelon juice, I felt as though I was being cleansed. It was as if my body was being restored after being exposed to such scorching high temperatures all day. The juice cooled me down like no other drink has previously done. And so, the rest of my trip I drank a couple of glasses of watermelon juice.

This summer, as temperatures start to rise, I suggest watermelon juice. Unlike citrus juices, there is very little acidity. And for those of you concerned with your health, watermelon juice is a great alternative to other juices. Read on to find out its health benefits.

• I haven't had a great breakfast in a while. I usually just grab a granola bar. But here are some recipes for breakfast foods, including Corn Bacon Muffins, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Turnovers, and Plum and Pecan Pancakes.
• What's in Marge Simpson's fridge?
• Some desserts to cool you down this summer: Almond Joy Mousse Cake, Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate, and Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Sandwiches.
• Don't forget your dogs this summer. They want to cool down too.
• This month's taste test? Pickles.
• A new way to make chicken enchiladas.
• Here's a wine pairing tool to use when trying to figure out what goes with what.
• More recipes: Green Tea Champagne, Chicken Provencale, Orange Cookies with Strawberry Ice Cream, and Lillet Slushes.

Have I told you about the watermelon obsession I had when I was a kid? I would hound my mother to keep buying watermelons when she went shopping. She would buy a giant watermelon - for the entire family, I assume - but I would take the whole thing, slice it up, sit down in front of the TV and proceed to eat the entire thing. Seriously. When others came to get watermelon, they'd find it gone. Usually the same day that mom bought it.

Is it just me, or were watermelons tastier years ago? Or is this one of those things that just seem different and better because I was a kid at the time?

Anyway, I got to thinking about watermelon drinks. Watermelon tastes great, and it's the perfect summer food (light, crisp, refreshing, not bad for you, and you can hold it in your hand), so I did some searching for watermelon-based summer drinks.

The Boston Globe has a list of watermelon coolers you can ask your bartender about, including an Iced Sunset and a Watermelon Martini; care2.com has a recipe for a Watermelon Mint Smoothie (made with yogurt and honey); here's a recipe for Watermelon Surprise, which includes Southern Comfort and chunks of fruit; Drinkoftheweek.com has Watermelon #3 (no watermelon per se but it does have Midori); and The Food Network site has a recipe for a Watermelon Flavored Syrup, to mix with club soda or seltzer.

Fresca is really the forgotten soft drink. Up until a few years ago, I wasn't even aware that they still made it, and I'm sort of a soft drink nut. (Side note: do they still make Tab?) But they do still make it, and they've even updated the logo!

It's always been one of my favorite soft drinks. It has a great grapefruit taste, it's low calorie (but doesn't taste it), and is perfect for those hot summer days and nights. Here's a recipe I found. Sounds good to me:

Sparkling Grape Drink

4 cups grape juice, diluted
2 cups of lemonade, diluted
2 cups of Fresca

Combine grape juice and lemonade. Mix well. Add ice cubes. Just before serving, add Fresca. Not sure why the grape juice and lemonade has to be diluted since you're adding so much ice, so I'd try it both ways and see which way tastes better.

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