Refreshing water

As the summer approaches it is time to think about how to stay cool and refreshed. One way is water. While a glass of ice water on a hot day sounds wonderful, it can get boring. I like to add fresh fruit to flavor the water. Slices of strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, citrus, kiwi and strawberry, even grapes are wonderful. My all time favorite is pieces of watermelon leftover from the picnic. Just add as much or as little as you like. Add slices instead of chunks whenever possible. Do this the night before in a large pitcher allowing the flavor to infuse. For a light flavor this can be done with a single glass of water or a pitcher. No need to sweeten as the natural sugars of the fruit will take care of that. Mix different fruits for a variety of flavor combinations. Berries with citrus can be wonderful. Apples and melon can be very refreshing. Kids love it. Add a splash of club soda and you have a fresh and light flavored soda without all the calories and sugar. For a deeper infusion add hot water, not boiling, to approximately 4 cups of sliced fruit per gallon of water. Allow to cool before placing in refrigerator. Experiment on your own and find your perfect blend. Feel free to share with us.