cucumber lemonade

a transitional bevvy when it's time to bid summer adieu.

the lemon and cucumber in this drink say "summer, don't leave me!". while the hint of rosemary says "why, hello there fall..." this drink transitions into the bi-annual detox month that starts right after labor day. it's a reminder that eating and drinking healthier doesn't mean sacrificing taste. i prefer it with a bit of tang, but adjust the amount of honey to your taste. naturally, this is an amazing cocktail when a splash of unfiltered sake is thrown in the mix.

cucumber lemonade:

• 1 english cucumber, peeled and chopped, reserving a few strips for garnish
• 4 lemons, peeled with pith removed, a few slices saved for garnish
• 1 Tablespoon chopped rosemary, stem reserved with some leaves for garnish
• 1/4 cup white or light colored honey, to taste
• 4 cups filtered water

preparation:

• in a high speed blender, combine the cucumber, lemons, and rosemary. liquify completely.
• add the honey and filtered water to the blender and whiz until everything is thoroughly combined.
• fill glasses with ice, spiraling the cucumber ribbons around the edge (a knife helped). pour in the delicious concoction, add the lemon to the rim and throw in the rosemary stalk for good measure.

makes 1 pitcher of lemonade