Tag Archives: cucumber

Peach + Cucumber Fresh Lemonade

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I’ve got a fresh, summery drink for you today!

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Oh, this lemonade is just so good.

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I’ve been drinking it non-stop. I really need to control myself.

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The inspiration for this started at market when I got a cucumber-basil fresh squeezed lemonade. It was so refreshing and delicious and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

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Fresh squeezed lemonade is always good, just as is. Lemons, water and a touch of sugar = the perfect refresher. But, when I tasted cucumber in my lemonade? It was next level good. Cucumber took the goodness of fresh squeezed lemonade to a new level of good.

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I knew I wanted to create a version at home so that I could enjoy this amazing drink anytime.

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I knew that I wanted to do lemons + cucumber, but when I thought of adding peaches, I could barely contain myself. I had to make this, asap!

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And let me tell you, the peaches take this to an even higher level of amazing! (Especially peaches from here :)).

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Remember pink lemonade? I used to drink it when I was little, and now that I think about it, what was the pink part of that lemonade? What made it pink and what flavor was that supposed to be representing? The peaches in this lemonade make it pink. But, something tells me that fresh peaches were not the pink in the pink lemonade from my youth. 🙂

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Now, cucumber in a drink does sound a bit strange. It’s not commonplace. But trust me, you will like it. I would bet that you will like it. Even traditional lemonade lovers. It tastes like fresh. It does not taste like vegetables. And, if you have any reservations at all, try scaling the amount of cucumber back. I do suggest using a whole cucumber, but if it scares you at all, try half a cucumber at first. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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I made this lemonade on Monday and have been enjoying since. I could see this being made for a family get-together or a little party and it being the perfect beverage option. Especially with this hot weather, it is the perfect refresher!

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Ingredients
I based the lemonade part of this on this recipe, from The Faux Martha
1 cup of fresh lemon juice (I used 6 lemons)
1 cup of water
1/2 cup sugar
For the peach + cucumber part:
3 ripe peaches, sliced
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup water
+ An additional 4 cups of water
Optional, but recommended, for serving:
Ice cubes
Sliced peaches
Sliced cucumbers

Start by juicing the lemons. You will need one cup of lemon juice and I used six lemons to get that. Set aside.

Add once cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

Add the sliced peaches and cucumbers to a blender with 1/2 cup of water. Blend on high until the mixture is liquidy and no chunks remain.

Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the peach/cucumber mixture into the strainer. Let the liquid drain into the bowl. A small amount of peach/cucumber pulp will remain. (Discard the pulp or save it for smoothies).

Add the cucumber/peach liquid, lemon juice, sugar/water combination and the additional 4 cups of water to a blender and blend for several seconds, just to combine everything well.

Serve the lemonade with ice cubes, additional sliced peaches and cucumbers, if desired.

Enjoy!

Carrot + Cucumber Peanut Salad

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This little salad dish was born from farmer’s market loot.

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On Sundays, Greg and I have been working at Headhouse Farmer’s Market for the always amazing Three Springs Fruit Farm.

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Each week, we come home with our hands full of bags of market goodies.

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This week, I am determined to base the dishes I make around what I got at market, rather than think of a recipe and have to buy groceries.

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First up is this salad.

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Crisp carrots and cucumbers slathered in some of this light and delicious peanut sauce and topped off with crunchy peanuts and sesame seeds and cool cilantro. This refreshing salad comes together quickly and is seriously awesome.

ingredients

I am obsessed with using the vegetable peeler for these veggies. It is not a way that I have been used to enjoying raw veggies, but I think that I will be doing it much more often now. The veggies become almost noodle-like, but retain that great, juicy vegetable crunch.

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The carrots and cucumbers + peanut sauce together are delicious, but it is really the toppings that make this dish. Most recipes I share on here are so customizable, but in this dish, the chopped peanuts, cilantro and sesame seeds are mandatory. You have to use all three if you make this, or it just won’t be the same. Amounts are customizable, but omitting one of those three ingredients will change the dish.

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This summer salad is very good on its own. I would just make it as a side dish for a summer dinner. But I have big ideas for it too. Tomorrow I will share with you one of those ideas, so be sure to check back for a delicious meal featuring this salad.

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I hope that you enjoy this tasty summer dish!

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Ingredients:
2 cucumbers
3 large carrots
For the peanut sauce:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 large garlic clove
Juice from 1/2 a lime
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup hot water
Toppings:
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Large handful fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Using a vegetable peeler, slice the carrots and cucumbers into long and thin strips. Add the sliced vegetable to a large bowl.

To make the peanut sauce, place peanut butter, garlic, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and hot water into a blender or food processor and blend/process until completely smooth. This made 3/4 cup sauce for me.

Pour 1/2 cup peanut sauce over the sliced veggies and toss very well.

Top with chopped peanuts, cilantro and sesame seeds and toss again.

Enjoy!