Cranberry Lime Cooler

This weekend marked the beginning of the hot season in Sonoma County. We have only two seasons here: cold and rainy, and hot as hell. Sometimes there’s a brief transition between the two, a couple of weeks of weather perfection at either end of the spectrum. Last summer was a scorcher, particularly at the end of the season. And from what we’ve been hearing, this summer will be hotter, and drier.

So, to welcome the hot season, I made a drink I’m calling Cranberry Lime Cooler. It’s incredibly refreshing, and the cranberry juice has many health benefits, such as its high level of antioxidants. It’s also a natural cleanser of the urinary tract, just in case you were wondering. We love the cranberry juice from Knudsen Juices. I hope you enjoy this recipe.


CRANBERRY LIME COOLER

In a pitcher, combine the following ingredients:

-1/2 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
-3 1/2 cups naturally carbonated water (Apollinaris, Pellegrino, etc)
-juice from 1 or 2 limes, depending on size
-raw agave nectar, to taste

Stir the ingredients together. The agave nectar is fabulous, because it dissolves so well in cold liquid. Also, it has a low glycemic index, so this drink won’t spike your blood sugar like so many summer drinks do. I love the raw agave from Madhava, I visited their booth at ExpoWest in March and they’re the real deal (I’ll write more about this company later).

If you’d prefer this cooler to be sweeter or more sour, adjust the ingredients as you desire. This recipe serves two people with large glasses, or three to four with cocktail glasses.