Be Inspired Blog - Arizona
Refreshing Food and Drinks to Make in 10 Minutes or Less
Nobody wants to spend the day over a hot stove when the weather is scorching hot. Having some fresh, flavorful, cool-down recipes are perfect for outdoor entertaining and summer get-togethers or just lazy nights on the patio.
Try These Easy, Refreshing Recipes for Summer Drinks and Snacks
Summertime calls for refreshing treats to beat the heat! Here are some tasty snacks and fruity drinks made with garden-fresh ingredients best served cold.
Peach Salsa
This sweet, tangy salsa is so addicting! Serve it with corn chips, and on the rare chance you have any leftovers, save it for topping grilled fish or chicken.
Ingredients:
- 1½ lbs of peaches, diced (you can keep the peels on!)
- 1 lb of tomatoes, diced
- 1 small sweet onion, finely diced
- 2 jalapenos, seeds removed, finely diced
- ½ – ⅔ cup of cilantro, stems removed, chopped
- 1½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
Mix all the ingredients together and chill in the fridge for one hour to let those flavors mingle. You’ll be amazed at how refreshing this savory-sweet concoction is on a hot July afternoon!
Corn Salad with Feta & Basil
This refreshing corn salad is so easy to make—it only takes ten minutes to prep! It’s the perfect make-ahead dish to bring to potlucks and barbecues, and it’s a great way to use fresh basil from the garden.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of corn (you can use canned or frozen, but if you don’t mind the extra effort, you can grill some fresh cobs and remove the kernels for a smokier flavor)
- 1 cup of rainbow cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- ¼ sweet onion, finely diced
- ⅓ cup of crumbled feta
- ⅓ cup fresh basil, minced
- Juice of one lime
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground sea salt and pepper to taste
Toss the ingredients in a bowl, do a taste test to be sure it’s got enough salt to your liking, and then let it chill for one hour before serving.
Mojito Mint Lime Slushie
What is the most refreshing drink in hot weather? Hands down, it’s a good old-fashioned slushie. This simple blender drink uses mojito mint and fresh lemons and limes—you can serve it with white rum or make it virgin as a refreshing non-alcoholic summer drink that everyone can enjoy. This recipe serves two, but you can double it depending on the size of your blender!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup boiling water
- ⅔ cup of sugar
- 2 tsp grated lemon peel
- 1 tsp grated lime peel
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup of fresh mojito mint leaves
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- 4 cups of ice
- Lime wedges and mint leaves for garnish
Add the sugar, boiling water, lemon peel, and lime peel into the blender and mix for about 15 seconds or until the sugar is dissolved. Add the lemon and lime juice, mint, and ice cubes, then blend on a high speed until it’s nice and slushy. Serve with a wedge of lime and a sprig of mint!
Sparkling Pineapple Strawberry Punch
For a crisp summer drink that’s less likely to give you brain-freeze but will still quench your thirst, try this tart and bubbly pineapple strawberry punch! The best part about this frosty drink is that instead of using ice cubes, you use frozen pineapple chunks—that way, it stays cool and refreshing without getting watered down as the day progresses!
Ingredients:
- 1 can of pure pineapple juice, not from concentrate
- 2 L of ginger ale
- 3 cups of strawberries, sliced
- 4 cups of frozen pineapple chunks
- ¼ cup of fresh mint
Add the frozen pineapple, strawberries, and mint to a large punch bowl. You can add extra ice cubes if you want. Pour in the pineapple juice and ginger ale, and it’s ready to serve!
For more refreshing drink ideas and summer recipes, browse through our blogs. There are so many fun ways to use your harvest herbs, fruit, and veggies for backyard barbecues and summer entertaining!
