Have you looked at the grocery shelves full of canned and bottled waters lately? It is overwhelming. I drink a lot of water, and I like all of the flavored waters that are available at the supermarket these days. However, they can be costly, and there is a lot of waste in the packaging. Even if you recycle it, you use up valuable resources. Also, I question… what exactly are the “naturally essenced” ingredients that they do not disclose?
For the last couple years, I have been making my own “naturally essenced” water with real ingredients and water from the tap. Yes, real tap water… crazy to drink that stuff, I know.
When Mr. U was young his dad would rave about the well water out at their farm. He would proclaim it was the best water and that he should bottle it and sell it. Mr. U would scoff at this and tell him, “That is ridiculous dad. No one is going pay for water.” Apparently, his dad was just a little ahead of his time.
Homemade flavored water
In these hot summer months, it is extra important to stay hydrated. According to an article in The National Council on Aging, How to Stay Hydrated: A Guide for Older Adults, “you should take one-third of your body weight and drink that number of ounces in fluids. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, aim to drink at least 50 ounces, or about 6 cups, of water each day.” These 6 cups do not include alcohol, energy drinks, coffee or sugared sodas that pull water out of your system.
Drinking that much plain water can get a little boring, so I have experimented with creating my own flavored waters. My favorite was cucumber and strawberries… until recently. (See a previous post from last summer, Gased or Not Gased?) I wanted to try using herbs from my garden a little more when I noticed quite a few alcoholic drinks at restaurants with basil in them. Why not try that in my homemade flavored water?
It has a very different flavor from other waters. Refreshing and well… basilly. Give it a try.
Cucumber Basil Water
One carafe of tap water
Three slices of cucumber, cut in half (to release more of the flavor)
4-5 basil leaves (squished up a little to release the oils)
That is it! Just let is sit in the frig for a few hours to seep. How simple is that? It is an easy, inexpensive way to drink fresh water. Now I am curious about trying rosemary or lavender.
Wine spritzer
I am rarely a purist when it comes to diet. I still drink some of the canned water because it is convenient to throw in a cooler and sometimes the carbonation just sounds good. Also, I discovered a new way to drink them. I enjoy a glass of white wine on a summer evening, but the calories can add up. So, I decided to experiment and came up with a refreshing lemon spritzer. It is the perfect crisp drink to sip on during these hot summer nights, and it is half the calories (and alcohol) of a glass of wine. I used Chardonnay but I think any white wine, or even a Rose wine would work.
Lemon Spritzer Recipe
1/2 can La Croix Limoncello bubbly water
1/2 cup Chardonnay wine
Pour over ice and add a wedge of lemon
I hope you are enjoying all of the wonders of summer. And be sure to stay cool and hydrated with some summer sips.
Your summer sips are perfect for porch setting. The summer drink on this porch is rhubarb punch.
Boil 4 c. chopped rhubarb w/ 4 c. H2O until rhubarb is very soft. Strain.
Add 1/2c. sugar & 1 can frozen citrus concentrate (orange, lemon, lime or lemonade)
I bring to a boil then pour into jars to seal for use all year. It can also be frozen.
Mix 1:1 with something bubbly – soda water, gingerale, 7-Up.
Can be used in sangria or other alcohol drinks.
Hi Mona –
What a great way to use rhubarb! We had a couple large plants at our last home but have just a small start of one now. My grandson likes to pick a stalk and chew on it raw. I would prefer this drink – thanks for the recipe. I have been doing a lot of front porch sitting these past couple weeks.
That spritzer sounds heavenly! Definitely need you to make me one next time I’m in town. ☺️
Hi Melissa!
Yes, I think that you would like it, so you got yourself a deal!
Great ideas. I just bought some propel mix because it has electrolytes because my physical therapist suggested it.Your water ideas sound even healthier. I drink mostly filtered tap water. One of the problems with drinking well-water, which I did until I got cancer, is that in our area, which is agricultural, you don’t know what all is going into the water table. Almost everyone on our rural street got cancer, and a few of them died. When I had surgery, the surgeon told me to drink only bottled water because of that. Some people in our area have water delivered free of charge because they had their water tested. So, if you have a well, it’s good to have it tested before you drink.
Hi Marsha!
Thanks for sharing the information about wells and cancer. I had not heard that before. We did have our well water tested when they put it in a year ago, but not sure what other testing should be done. I will have to look into it a little further. I was trying to avoid the plastic particles that get into your system with bottled water. Sometimes if feels like nothing is safe to eat or drink anymore.