I wanted to tell you more about the Joy Retreat but I’m kinda BUZZED right now. One more sip of this Boozy Cucumber Cooler and I’m gonna turn into a sappy drunk on you. Must temper that!  Anyways…I’ve been SOO excited for Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day Cookbook to come out; it’s been sitting in my Amazon pre-order cart for MONTHS. When I came home from my trip, GUESS WHAT WAS WAITING AT MY DOORSTEP??!! As if my creative spirit wasn’t already triggered!

I had a brief moment to look through the cookbook last night and CUCUMBER COOLERS went straight on my TO-DO list for today. It was right next to pay doctor bill over the phone & reschedule hair appointment. Of course I had to be naughty and add gin to the original recipe. It was a rough day at work…what can I say?? I also didn’t have honey so I added agave syrup. Wait. I did have honey but it was all chunky & crystallized and I didn’t feel like melting it. I dove for the agave out of ease (gin is my truth serum).  I’m kind of obsessed with this drink…and the cookbook (I have soo many recipes marked to try!) This cocktail is like a spa drink gone WILD. Cucumber is balanced with a dash of salt & a spike of lime… rounded out with my good buddy, GIN. I could get in trouble with these. Serious trouble. I’d better stay away from Twitter tonight!
And we’re off!

Gather your ingredients!

Cut up the cucumbers and put them in a blender.

Add in the ice, water, agave, salt & lime juice.

BLEND!!!

Look at that froth!

And here’s where the fun BEGINS!

Pour gin into icey drinks!

One for me and one for you.

Let’s get toasted.

Boozy Cucumber Coolers

(adapted from the Super Natural Every Day Cookbook)

Makes 2-3 hefty cocktails

• 1 cucumber (about 10 oz.), partially peeled
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 3 cups ice cubes
• 1/3 cup agave syrup
• juice of 1/2 lime (or more to taste!)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 oz. gin (more if you want!)

Put the cucumber, water, ice, agave syrup, lime juice & salt into a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into two cups and add the gin! More gin if you need it, less if you have to be “responsible.” Also! Check the drink for tang! You might need an extra squeeze of lime.

***Shutterbean Notes***

-Original recipe calls for honey, not agave

-If you don’t wanna get your drink on, omit the gin! I bet vodka would be great though…

-I used an English cucumber for this drink

-It’s a good idea to serve these with a straw, so you can stir it up throughout the drinking process. It tends to separate.

-Since my gin was at room temp, I added a few ice cubes to my cup! I like my drinks COLD.