So Fresh and So Clean

Let's make one thing clear...
Although coffee is made with water, it is in fact no longer...Water. Tea is close depending on how much other stuff is being tossed in the pot. Between the caffeine and the cream and sugar, we have lost our edge on being 'clean' machines.
Now, we know how much water we should be drinking, and why we should be drinking it but, how many of us are actually drinking that "should be" amount?
What about are quests?..do we offer them water first? or do we go straight for the hard stuff? How about offering all who are involved a new slice of life. No, not the restaurant-cover-up-the-chlorine slice of lemon wedge. Something entirely more refreshing and enticing, and something that tells us to pour our Self another. Martha knows this trick, and so does my Mother but, I really took notice again when sitting poolside at the local Lowes Hotel on a heat-wave-rush-of-a-week-day-vaca-stay.
The prize: One big, cool pitcher filled to top and brimmed with fresh cucumber slices. Yes, it was lovely and it loved me too. I could tell because we could not stop pouring and sipping, and guzzling and splashing and spilling and pouring some more. May I get any one another? ..let me grab three. Waving down the waiter, we begged for our own private pitcher, one that could be dropped at our lounge discretely, with out too many spying eyes to follow. Something so special to chase down our collective bowl of chips-and-guac-and-salsa. A little secret we shared that afternoon. So gentle, so delicate, and so thoroughly fulfilling as well.
We were well. We are well. Be well.

Hey There, Pink Cheeks!

One of my most favored talents is making great fresh-fruit-blended-ices or smoothies.
I especially love having them and serving them at 'cocktail hour' and I like them a sharp and refreshing. Any time, before or after a meal...pre-breakfast/post-breakfast, pre-lunch/post-lunch, late-after-noon-I-cannot-wait-for-dinner, and even for a fabulous dessert. Juice or fruit for that matter is usually best had by itself, and not to be paired with a meal; just to much confusion for the tummy.
Keep it simple. Keep it sublime. Keep it mine-all-mine.

I am lucky enough to have very generous neighbors, who not only leave town often but, also return bearing fruit! The have property in the dessert that yields trunk loads of citrus. Good citrus. Grapefruits that look tiny and yellow on the out side but, reveal themselves pink and sweet on the inside. I love a good surprise!

Grapefruits are less acidic than oranges, so they settle in easy. They also have a tiny bit of caffeine or something that resembles a perky effort; another nice surprise.
So they make for a great pick-up-that-face-you're-dragging-around-town. And, yes they do melt through cellulite!..what?..yes...fat burning; Can't beat that good surprise.

So here is the dilly-dally: I like my pink grapefruit with fresh ginger, for a little extra prick-up-those-cheeks. Ginger helps digestion by making our tummy sing, warming us up, and therefore making our sweet-cheeks-flush-pink! Smile...

In the blender: Pink grapefruit, fresh grated Ginger root, Honey (secret ingredient), ice, and sometimes...this time with a shot of fresh Pomegranate juice (I get mine from the local farmer's market and it looks like dark Port wine). Push the button high, while you reach for a straw.

Now, Pomegranate does two things that are extremely special. One, it gives us a huge dose of iron, which is good in moderation. So a big shot glass or a small wine glass is will do the trick just right. Two...it is the most fabulous sleepy-time-night-cap!..
One little glass alone after a zooming day, and I am out in 20 minutes flat; I have to remember to brush my teeth and get straight to bed. I have caught myself many times, stuck in the same spot I was sipping in..stuck and I can't get up. Lights on, T.V. on, jeans on...that really sucks. So just jump right it and get it over with.

The combo of the pick up Grapefruit + the sleepy time Pomegranate = a nice little afternoon delight; a.k.a.... "Cocktail".
You could impress the guests and shake it up with a splash of Vodka; I won't tell.
Oh, and a dropper of rose water to take it a step further in creating a "Love Potion".

Cheers to our health, Sweet Cheeks!

Be well.