watermelon agua fresca: a farewell to summer

Here we are, inching closer to the end of summer. This is usually not a hard time for me (like it is for Kirst) because fall is my absolute favorite season. I once tried to convince Drew that we should have 4 jobs, in 4 locations around the world and live in a perpetual fall season. Instead, we moved to our beloved desert where there is never autumn. 🙂  But, enough feeling sorry for myself. Today, I am going to share one of my favorite summer drinks with you, as a farewell to summer (or, in some cases a celebration of the ongoing heat.)

Watermelon Agua Fresca
Ingredients:
4 cups  ripe watermelon
4 limes, juice of
2-3 tablespoons fresh mint, cut into strips
1-2 tablespoons sugar, honey or agave nectar
light rum (optional)

Instructions:
Combine watermelon and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth.

Wash and cut the fresh mint.  Combine with the sugar and muddle until it forms a paste.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate for 1-3 hours to let the flavors combine.

Place cheese cloth over a large bowl and pour drink mixture over cheese cloth. The cheese cloth allows all the liquid to strain into the new bowl while removing the grainy-texture and mint leaves.

If you are adding rum, add to taste and stir well.

Garnish with mint (or lime and mint if you’re fancy). Serve over ice.

There you have it! A fabulous drink to say goodbye to summer, or to welcome more summer with open arms.

(And, in case you were wondering, we are having a “fall” party in two weeks complete with chili, corn bread and football,  regardless of the weather outside. )