Cucumber Cooler
Adapted from Everyday Food*

As I said above, no reason to keep this drink PG-rated. Add a splash of vodka or gin (I like Aviation gin here) to make this into a fun adult cocktail that will be refreshing and festive. Or keep things as they are and add a flavored simple syrup instead of honey. Swap in lemon for lime, maybe use half Bruce Cost’s Ginger Ale and half seltzer. Have fun with it – and most importantly, stay cool these few scorching days!

Ingredients:
6 seedless Persian cucumbers, peeled and coarsely chopped (6 cups)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
2 limes, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
1 liter seltzer
3 tablespoons honey, more to taste

Preparation:

1. In a blender or a food processor, puree the cucumbers with the water. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl, pressing on solids (should yield about 2 cups juice). Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

2. In a pitcher, mash the mint leaves with the back of a wooden spoon until bruised. Add cucumber juice, sliced lime, lime juice, and the seltzer. Stir in honey until combined. Fill 4 glasses with ice, top with drink, and serve with thinly sliced cucumber.

Makes 4 drinks.

*I might as well say it now – I have a serious crush on Anna Last and her entire Everyday Food team. That magazine is pure gold, people. I want to cook a dozen things from the last issue. That, like, never happens to me. Expect a lot of Everyday goodness here in the upcoming week or so. Consider yourself warned.