It’s hard to believe that Summer is almost over, giving way to the glorious colors of Fall. Living in Georgia, the weather can remain sweltering through November, so I’m still in a summertime frame of mind. We are still swimming in the warm waters of the lake, and enjoying balmy evenings on the dock, watching the sunset over the foothills of the North Georgia mountains. One day I’ll share a post just on the sunsets, they are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and if you follow me on Instagram, I share them often!
While most are thinking of Halloween and pumpkins, I’m still enjoying the last vestiges of Summer. A few weeks ago I had some neighbors come over for cocktails on the dock, and I wanted to create something special for our new friends, inspired by some of the last remaining vegetables in the garden at the Cottage. With freshly picked cucumbers and mint in hand, I came up with a recipe that I think is refreshing and works well with or without alcohol. It’s called the Sweet Pond Cottage Cucumber Cooler and if you don’t want to let go of summer (like me) you can enjoy it all year long (in a glass)! The full recipe is at the end of the post…
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
The ingredients, cucumber, mint, tonic, lime & vodka (optional), and for additional sweetness cane sugar can be added.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Hands-down my favorite tonic water is Fever-Tree, (this is not an ad). It’s naturally low in sugar, and I drink it alone with just a lime slice.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Fresh peeled cucumber with mint ready to be “muddled.”
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
After I’ve “muddled the mint and cucumber” I add half the juice of a freshly squeezed lime. If you want the flavors to fuse together longer than let it sit for up to half an hour (or more). I also pick out the large mint leaves that didn’t crush (I learned this through trial and error…).
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
Add the muddled cucumber, mint and freshly squeezed lime to a glass, add vodka and ice. Fill up the remainder of the glass with tonic water.
Photo/ Vicki Gladle Bolick
And enjoy!
As always please drink responsibly and for a non-alcoholic version simply leave out the vodka. Also, for a twist substitute the mint for basil. For flavored waters don’t muddle the mint and cucumber, but simply add the leaves, slices of lime and cucumber for a refreshing alternative!
Sharing the sweet things in life.
Thanks for stopping by!
