Spa in a Pitcher
Makes about 8 Cups | Prep Time 5 minutes | Cook Time 1 hour for chilling
If you’ve ever had a Pimm’s cocktail (or Pimm’s Cup as it’s known among the British faithful), you know it often contains a variety of herbs and sliced fruits. I was watching a friend make his version of a Pimm’s cocktail with orange, lemon, cucumber peel, and a secret herb blend when I thought, “Wow, that looks so refreshing; it’s like going to a spa!” Of course the 50 proof Pimm’s had to go (sorry, folks), but I could work around that. What I wanted to create was something that would inspire people to drink, because hydration is so vital to maintaining the body’s equilibrium, especially in hot weather. This tonic is like art floating in a chilled pitcher, with thin rounds of orange, lemon, and cucumber interspersed with sprigs of thyme and mint.
Instructions
Put the orange, lemon, cucumber, herbs, and lemon juice in a large pitcher. Press the fruit, cucumber, and herbs against the bottom of the pitcher with a wooden spoon, pushing down and twisting slightly to release their juices and volatile oils. Add the water and stir to combine.
Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
VARIATION: In place of the water, use a weak tea made with 8 cups of boiling water and 4 chamomile, ginger, or green tea bags. Let the tea cool to room temperature before adding it to the pitcher.
WHO KNEW? According to Cynthia Geyer, MD, medical director at the Canyon Ranch health spa in Lenox, Massachusetts, there's a reason you can no longer party like it's 1999: As we age, our organs have fewer reserves. Put another way, there's less gas in our tank, which is why it's important that we fill up with the best-quality fuel out there. "There is a senescence that's programmed into our cells, a slowing down," says Geyer. "Things you could handle when you were twenty, like staying up all night and functioning the next day, are just impossible at forty or fifty. Back then you might have been able to handle it even if you weren't at your best, but now it can precipitate a health crisis. As you age, it becomes even more important to support yourself nutritionally, because you don't have those reserves anymore."
PER SERVING: (1 cup per serving) Calories: o; Total Fat: o g (o g saturated, o g monounsaturated); Carbohydrates: o g; Protein: 0.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 1.5 mg
STORAGE: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reprinted with permission from The Longevity Kitchen: Satisfying Big-Flavor Recipes Featuring the Top 16 Age-Busting Power Foods Copyright © 2013 by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson, Ten Speed Press, a division of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA.
Ingredients
1 orange, thinly sliced into rounds
1 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
1 unpeeled English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
3 sprigs fresh thyme, tarragon, or mint or fennel fronds, or a combination
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
8 cups water or sparkling water