Cucumber Water

There’s not really a recipe for this. Just combine some thinly sliced cucumber (peeled if it’s from a store), thinly sliced lemon, peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger, and a few mint leaves in a pitcher and fill it with water. Recipes range from 4 slices of cucumber and lemon in a gallon of water to a whole cucumber and a whole lemon in half a gallon. I usually make it in a 2-quart pitcher and use about 2” of cucumber and half a lemon. I make up a pitcher of it, pour some out into a glass with ice cubes, and put the rest in the fridge until I’m ready for it. I don’t like it if it’s left overnight; something goes off with the flavor. But some recipes say to refrigerate it overnight. 

Honey and Rose Cooler

(from tarladalal.com)

4 c water

2 c fresh rose petals

2 T honey

½ t rose water

A few petals for garnishing (optional)

A few ice cubes with rose petals frozen inside (optional)

Boil the water in a small pan and add the petals. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the petals discolor. Cool and strain. Combine the cooled water, honey, and rose water in a shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into tall glasses and top with rose ice cubes. Garnish with fresh petals and serve.

Rose ice cubes – Fill ice cube trays half full with water and freeze. Place a clean rose petal on each ice cube and fill with water, leaving the petal in the middle of the cube.