Cooling Drinks for Hot Days

Blaze began summer swimming lessons this week,



which is a great way to cool down, but with the weather reports saying that every day in the foreseeable future will be in the 90s, we need to beat the heat in more than one way.

Italian Sodas

1. Start with a tall glass, filled with ice



2. Fill a 2-ounce stainless steel ramekin with your choice of fruit flavored syrup and pour it over the ice ( this is how I learned to measure out the ingredients when I was working at a cafe years ago, but if you don't have one of these little cups, use 3 Tablespoons of syrup).



3. Fill the ramekin with "half and half" and add that to the glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with unflavored soda water (seltzer). Gently stir.



4. Whipped cream and sprinkles are optional, but they sure make it look more festive.






Ginger-Peach Smoothie (Vegan)

Place a 1-inch chunk of peeled, fresh ginger in a blender and blend it briefly. Add 20-ounces of frozen peaches, 2 cups of apple juice, and 2 frozen bananas, broken up into chunks.



Blend until smooth.



Makes enough to fill 3 tall glasses.