Refreshing Drinks To Beat The Summer Heat

Ingredients:

• 1 large or 2 small watermelons
• 250ml lemon juice (from a bottle or squeeze your own)
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 1l bottle soda water
• 1 lime , cut into slices
• Small handful mint
• Crushed ice

Method:

• STEP 1
  Cut the top off the watermelon and hollow it out using a large spoon, fishing out any pips along the way. Mash the flesh through a sieve into a bowl. Put the flesh in a blender (or use a tall jug and hand blender) with the lemon juice and sugar, whizz to a purée, then stir in the soda.
  
• STEP 2
  Heap some ice into the hollowed-out watermelon and fill it with the lemonade mixture. Serve the rest in a jug with the lime slices and mint. Have a bowl of extra crushed ice on the side so people can help themselves.

Ingredients:

• 1cm thick slice of cucumber
• 1 sprig mint
• few frozen red berries
• 120ml clear, sparkling lemonade
• ice

To garnish

• more frozen berries , chopped fruits, cucumber slice, mint, citrus – all optional

Method:

• STEP 1
  Chop the cucumber and mint sprig into small pieces. Bring 200ml water to the boil in a small pan and then add the mint and cucumber. Turn off the heat and leave for 2 mins. Add a small handful of frozen berries, let them defrost for a minute, then crush them lightly with the back of a spoon. Strain the mixture. This will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours and will be enough to make four drinks. 
  
• STEP 2
  Pour 40ml of your strained mixture into a tall glass. Add a handful of ice and top up with 120ml lemonade. Garnish with whatever chopped fruit you like or some more frozen berries and mint leaves if you have them. Stir gently to combine.