Dog Days of Summer....

[Seattle LawDawg]

Cucumbers have a natural cooling effect and when I spent summers in England, cucumber sandwiches were a big thing during the hottest days of the year. I never really paid much attention.

 

If you haven't heard, its hot outside and recently a friend suggested that I add sliced cucumbers to my water. It took awhile for me to put two and two together but I tried it and sure enough, its extremely refreshing. So I've had to take it one step further:

 

My current cooling concoction:

 

Start with 1/3 cup of mint simple syrup. (To make, put 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup sugar, and some mint leaves in a pot on the stove. Cook until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat. The End).

 

Pour the syrup into a large pitcher. Add additional mint leaves, a quartered lemon and a whole cucumber cut into long slices (I just cut at a diagonal across).

 

Chill and drink.

 

I started experimenting with 2/3 cup simple syrup. It was way too sweet and the sugar works against the water's rehydrating ability. I think 1/3 cup is pretty close to perfect and I use a pretty large pitcher...obviously that would all be dependent on personal taste.

 

I know it sounds weird but its not bad at all.

[Footballjoe]

I am not sure about putting a cucumber in a drink but I will have to try it. I know lemon works well. If now we could somehow invent an Air Conditioner that operated off of cucumbers..........

[evil_gop_liars]

When do you put the liquor in?

[PantherDave]

I'm a cucumber sammich eating machine(tomato sammiches as well), and I prefer the English Cucumber over the regular cuke.