Sparkling Watermelon-Basil
2 medium-sized watermelons, juiced
1 cup fresh basil leaves
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
Sparkling water
Juice watermelon and strain through cheesecloth to discard all solids. Make a simple syrup by heating sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Add basil leaves and let steep. Strain and discard basil. Add basil infused syrup to watermelon juice. Top off with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Cucumber-Lime-Mint
1 cucumber, juiced
4 cups limejuice
8 cups water
Simple syrup
Fresh mint leaves
Make a simple syrup by heating equal amounts of sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Add mint leaves and let steep. Strain and discard mint. Stir together limejuice, water and cucumber juice. Sweeten with mint-infused simple syrup. Garnish with lime slices and fresh mint leaves.
Apple-Thyme "Sangria"
8 cups sparkling apple cider
1 apple, diced
1 plum, diced
1 pear, diced
Fresh thyme sprigs
Combine all of the ingredients and refrigerate to let flavors come together. Serve cold on ice.
