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Best Water Bottle Ever

The rush of the holidays are over, our New Year’s Resolutions are made, and we are promising ourselves to do better this year. This is our year! Yet, regardless of good intentions, we know we are super busy, things pop up to derail our plans, and life is unpredictable. It’s safe to say we can all use a little help to stay on track. We all know how important drinking water is for not only losing weight, but maintaining our health. This is why I am recommending my favorite water bottle, the Thermos Intak 24 oz hydration bottle.

The Thermos Intak 24 oz hydration bottle has been a solver of many woes. Not only is it easy to hold, hold a good amount of water for the gym, have a loop to attach it to your gym bag, a safety latch over the easy press release button that allows the bottle to open with ease while keeping it secure so you don’t accidentally open it, and a tight seal so you don’t have any leaks; it has a counter that goes around the base of the lid for ease of remembering how many times you filled your bottle. In turn (no pun intended), this helps you keep track of how much water you are actually consuming in a day.

I have tried apps, writing it down, and keeping track in my head how much water I’m actually drinking, but the truth is, I never stick to those. Turning the base of the Thermos Intak hydration bottle not only helps me remember how much water I have consumed by the end of the day, but also keeps me on track. Whenever I grab a drink, I can easily see if I am falling behind where I should be, which in turn (again, no pun intended), keeps me on track.

There are a ton of water bottles out there, but Thermos is by far the best I’ve ever used. They have a nice size opening too, so you don’t have to squeeze a bottle, or wait for the pressure to be released so you can squeeze it again. Oh, no. You get to drink until you are done being thirsty and stop because you want to stop (or the bottle is now empty and you need to refill it, but that would be impressive to drink 24 oz all at once and need more right away).

So, give the Thermos Intak hydration bottle a try. You won’t be sorry! Check it out 🙂

Lime Ginger Mint Sauce

Today’s recipe is for a sauce which is very refreshing and easy to make. It can be used for fruit salads as well as a sweet companion to your favorite alcoholic beverage.

Why not try it for your next summer party?

LIME GINGER MINT SAUCE

Ingredients
1/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Water

One lime zested and juiced
1/2 t Fresh Ginger, grated

1 T Fresh mint, minced

Instructions
Combine the sugar and water. Microwave on high for 30 seconds then stir until dissolved. Place in refrigerator to cool.

When cool, add lime zest, lime juice, and grated ginger.

When ready to use, add mint.

An excellent use is to pour over freshly cut melon and serve as a refreshing summer desert.

Ginger Limoncello Spritzer

A month or so ago I was exploring one of the establishments of my local purveyor of fine spirits (Spec’s) and decided to try something new. Summoning a member of their staff, I expressed my enjoyment of lemons and asked her which of the offerings on the shelf of lemon liqueurs she would recommend. She highly praised the Paolucci Limoncello with the suggestion that it should be enjoyed well chilled. Limoncello is a sweet liqueur flavored with the zest of lemons which originated in Southern Italy. After having chilled it thoroughly, I tasted it once and it has been sitting in the refrigerator since.

I happened to notice it again the other day and thought it might taste really good mixed with Ginger Ale, so I tried it and was delighted. It is a simple concoction and I think you will enjoy it too, especially during these hot days of summer, as it is a really refreshing beverage. (Kind of a grown-up lemonade.)

Here is the recipe:

GINGER LIMONCELLO SPRITZER

Ingredients
2 oz. Limoncello (well chilled)
Ginger Ale (cold)
Crystallized Ginger

Lemon Slice
Sprig of Fresh Mint (I used chocolate mint)

Instructions
Fill a 6 – 8 oz. Whiskey Glass with cracked ice. Add piece of crystallized ginger. Pour in 2 oz. of Limoncello and fill the glass the rest of the way with Ginger Ale.

Add lemon slice to side of glass and top with sprig of mint.

Mmmmmmmmmm refreshing!

Easy and Inexpensive Sangria

During the hot summer months, you’ll be hard put to find a beverage more refreshing than Sangria. A few weeks ago I made a batch using an inexpensive red wine and it has become so popular around our household, I have been keeping a pitcher in the refrigerator ever since.

I think you will like this recipe too because it is quick and easy as well as light on the pocketbook. Try it and let me know what you think.

EASY and INEXPENSIVE SANGRIA

Ingredients
2 Liter Paisano
1/2 c Sugar

1 Liter Ginger Ale

1 Lime
1 Lemon
1 Orange
1 Apple

Instructions
Pour Paisano (or any red wine) into a pitcher and stir in sugar*. Add Ginger Ale and stir gently.

Slice fruit very thinly** and add (all except the apple core) to the liquid.

Stir and chill thoroughly.

Enjoy! It’s that easy.

* I discovered it is better to add the sugar before mixing in the Ginger Ale because if you add the Ginger Ale first and then the sugar, the mixture will bubble up and make a mess all over your counter.

** For slicing I use a Mandolin. I really like using the one I have made by OXO which allows many options for slicing, dicing, and julienne with an easily adjustable setting for thickness.

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