CL Summer Sips: Refreshing Drinks to Keep Cool

As we all know summer is approaching and the weather has only begun to get hot.  So what better way to relax in the hot summer sun then with something fresh and delicious?  No, I’m not talking about the ice cream man.  Even though the ice cream truck is tempting nothing tastes better in hot weather than a cool, refreshing fruit drink.

Not only are fruit drinks delicious, they are also nutritious.  Smoothies taste good and, depending on your fruit choices, can be very high in good nutrients.  Berries, for example, contain antioxidants, which protect the cells in our bodies against the effects of free radicals.  Bananas are another example of good for you fruits.  They contain potassium which is a mineral that keeps your cells, tissues, and organs functioning.

Frozen drinks are a big hit during the summer months because they are cool and full of delicious fruit.  Frozen drinks are known by a lot of different names: Smoothies, Frosties, Frozen Daiquiris, Tropical, Umbrella, etc.  But regardless of the name, what is it that they all have in common?  The blender, ice and the promise of a cool, refreshing drink on a hot summer day.

Below you will find some delicious frozen drinks that will keep you cool all summer long.  Any of these yummy drinks should have you feeling as If you’re on a tropical getaway.  Enjoy!

Pineapple Kiwi Banana Smoothie

2 cups Pineapple Juice

3 kiwis, peeled

2 Bananas

2 cups of ice cubes

Optional garnish – one kiwi, cut into slices of wedges

Combine pineapple juice and ice cubes together in blender until cubes are crushed.  Then add bananas and kiwis into blender.  Blend until smooth.  Garnish glass with either a kiwi slice or wedge on the rim.

Simple Summer Smoothie

1 Banana

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup frozen cherries

4 ice cubes

½ cup Orange Juice

¾ cup Vanilla yogurt

½ teaspoon honey (optional)

Place frozen strawberries, blueberries and cherries into the blender with the banana and ice cubes.  Pour juice, yogurt, and honey into the blender.  Puree until smooth.

Blueberry-Lime Margarita

2 cups ice

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup blueberry nectar

¼ cup seltzer

2 Tablespoon frozen limeade

1 lime wedge

Coarse salt

Combine ice, frozen blueberries, nectar, seltzer and limeade into the blender and blend until smooth.  Rub rim of glass with lime wedge and dip into salt.  Pour the smoothie mixture into the glass and enjoy.

*To make an alcoholic version of this drink, simply add 3 ounces of Tequila in the blender.

Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri

2 ½ cups chopped fresh or frozen strawberries (about 12 ounces)

3 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Lime Juice

3 cups of ice cubes

¾ cups Coconut Milk

Combine strawberries, sugar, lime juice, ice cubes and coconut milk into the blender.  Blend until mixture is smooth.

*To make an alcoholic version of this drink, simply add ¾ cups of Coconut Flavored Rum in place of coconut milk.

Star Fruit & Mango Smoothie

8 ounces of plain or vanilla yogurt

1 cup Orange Juice

4 Star Fruit

2 Mangos

Be sure to slice and skin mangos before placing them into the blender.  Do the same with the star fruit.  Combine all ingredients into the blender, and blend until mixture is smooth.

If you do not feel like pulling the blender out to create one of these yummy concoctions, then try one of these lip-smacking drinks.  Simply grab a glass, fill it with ice and add the juice to it.

Raspberry Spritzer

2 cups seltzer

2/3 cups frozen raspberries

2 sprigs fresh mint

3 ounces raspberry-flavored syrup

Ice cubes

Combine seltzer, raspberries, mint and raspberry-flavored syrup in a small pitcher.  Pour over ice and serve cold.

*To make an alcoholic version of this drink, simply add 3 ounces of Chambord in place of the raspberry-flavored syrup.

Classic Homemade Lemonade

1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)

½ cup sugar

6 cups water

Lemon slices (to garnish)

Ice cubes

Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice.

Whatever kind of drink you decide to mix up this summer, just remember to keep cool while in that hot summer sun.  If your cool on the inside the heat will be more tolerable.

For some more fun tips, check out Hillary’s post Fit Fitness into Your Summer Fun

Samantha Crotty is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is a Communication/Print Media major at Western Carolina University.  She absolutely loves everything Pineapple – juice, fruit, smoothies, and even candy.