Refreshing Waters/Agua Frescas

With summer upon us staying hydrated is a must. The fruit juices such as the Agua Frescas of strawberries, melons, Jamaica (Hibiscus), the rice drink Horchata, mango and many more certainly satisfy our thirst on a hot day and provide a sense of feeling refreshed at the same time. But do not stop with just the fruit variety of drinks there are the vegetable drinks such as Cucumber Cilantro.
(see recipe below)

Since, Cilantro does not have a long shelf life, I will put a bunch of cilantro with water in the blender then pour it into ice trays and freeze for later use or I hang it to dry and store it for when I cook something that needs cilantro I just reach for the jar and crumble it in. It enhances the flavor of salsas, rice, fish, etc, etc.

There are many health benefits in cilantro and it is so nutritious as well as tasting so good.

Two sites that disclose the herbs qualities are:

Global Healing Center and Simply Studded

"Cilantro is a member of the carrot family and Cilantro may be useful to treat urinary tract infections. Both the leaves and seeds aid digestion, relieve intestinal gas, pain and distention. They also treat nausea, soothe inflammation, rheumatic pain, headaches, coughs and mental stress" (simplystudded.com).

I have had days when all I wanted for dinner was a salad. It could have been because of the warm weather and not wanting a hot meal or because I didn't want to eat something heavy; just a light salad would do perfectly. After eating a few cucumbers slices I begin to feel cooled down. There are a variety of salads that we add cucumber to because it tastes so good and refreshing.

There are other uses for the cucumber such as spa therapy, and facials for it's rejuvenating effect to our skin.(Click on the picture and see #5 Create a Homemade Facial Mask)

Well, let's take those concepts of something light, refreshing and  rejuvenating and apply it to the inside of our bodies. That is what the Agua Frescas provide in a cooling drink; they are naturally healthy full of the vitamins that we need and they taste so good. They don't leave you feeling heavy and with an unsatisfied thirst as does soda with it's processed sugar. Here is an Agua Fresca that I make and I thought you might enjoy. Give it a try and see if you don't feel refreshed even as the day goes by. 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so...And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.


All natural ingredients made by God for our good!

Cucumber Cilantro Agua Fresca

4 sprigs of cilantro
(tear some of the leaves to release the oils)
1 Sm. lemon sliced
1 Sm. lime sliced
1/2 Lg. cucumber sliced
1 pitcher of water

Combine ingredients in pitcher and refrigerate over night. 

Optional:

Berries, mango, pineapple chunks
Club soda or ginger ale

Before serving, add your club soda or ginger ale. In a glass add ice, fruit, cilantro and Agua. 

I like to add cilantro leaves and berries in my glass for garnish. I enjoy smelling the cilantro as I bring the glass to my mouth.

Enjoy and stay cool this summer and thank you for the visit.

xox

Blessings,

http://simplystudded.com/tag/cilantro/

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/benefits-of/cilantro