Goodness it’s HOT lately! It’s the kind of hot where I don’t even want to go to the pool, and would rather sit inside by the air conditioner instead. I’ve been getting by with lots of ice and cold drinks!

Earlier this summer I created and filmed four non-alcoholic drink recipes that are fruity, colorful, and refreshing, and I wanted to share them here. They’re all very simple and each one has its own character to it. The triple melon sorbet float is fruity and fizzy, the strawberry limeade is perfectly sweet and tart, the homemade raspberry vanilla soda is aromatic and bubbly, and the cantaloupe agua fresca tastes like the most wonderful fresh melon water. Here are the recipes and videos for each. Hope you enjoy them, and stay cool!

Triple Melon Sorbet Floats:

Ingredients for each drink:
Assorted melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe)
2 scoops lemon, raspberry, or other fruity sorbet
fresh mint leaves
seltzer water

Directions:
Freeze the melon balls for at least three hours until frozen. To make the drink, put the sorbet into the bottom of a glass, then top with the frozen melon balls. Drop in as much fresh mint as you’d like (anywhere from a couple leaves to a handful), then top with seltzer water. Let the sorbet melt to sweeten and flavor the drink. Enjoy!

Strawberry Limeade:

Ingredients:
½ cup lime juice
⅓ cup sugar
⅓ cup water
½ lb sliced strawberries
20-30 mint leaves
2 cups cold water

Directions:
To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, and cook over medium high heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear.

In a large mason jar or a pitcher, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, strawberries, mint, and water. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Homemade Raspberry Vanilla Soda Recipe:

Yield: Makes ½ cup of raspberry syrup (and for each drink you need 2-3 tbsp raspberry syrup)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
seltzer water
ice

Directions:
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and raspberries. Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbling away and the sugar is dissolved. Stir and cook this mixture for another 5 minutes, until the raspberries have cooked down.

Set a fine mesh strainer over a measuring cup or bowl and strain the saucepan mixture, pressing down on the raspberry pulp to squeeze out all the juice. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract, and let this chill in the refrigerator.

To serve, fill a glass with ice and add 2-3 tbsp of the raspberry syrup. Add about a cup of seltzer on top, and enjoy!

Cantaloupe Mint Agua Fresca Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cantaloupe, about 3.5 pounds = 4 cups chopped
1.5 cups cold water
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or lime juice
a few springs of fresh mint or basil
ice

Directions:
Cut the cantaloupe up by first cutting in half, then into quarters, and cut the flesh away from the rind. Cut into chunks and place into a blender. Blend until fully pureed, then strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer in order to collect the juice.

Pour the juice into a pitcher and add the water, fresh lemon juice, and mint. Refrigerate for at least one hour so it’s thoroughly chilled and the flavors are melded.

Pour over ice and enjoy.