Is it the weekend yet?  I’m not sure why, but this seemed like a really long week.  It may have started when my younger daughter – upset at her sister for trying to make her take a shower first – ripped the towel hook off the wall (and made a nice big hole in the wall) when her older sister asked her to hand her the towel.  Or when my older daughter called from school because her ear hurt, when I was just about to leave work to take my younger daughter to the doctor.  Or when I got an email about my younger daughter’s school that was in lock-down because of a man who robbed a bank 15 blocks from the school – and actually escaped.  Or maybe when I dumped rice all over the my office, and I had to pick up the pieces one by one before I stepped on them and smashed them into the dark brown solid colored carpet – who thought that color was a good idea?

I know these are all little things (ok, maybe not the bank robber), but they take their toll.  I am ready for a break.  I am ready for a drink.  When it comes to drinks, I am definitely partial to cucumber drinks.  I have posted my share on this site, and each one has been delicious in their own way – but this one was exceptionally good.  This one was actually healthy – there was no peeling of the cucumber – you just cut off the ends, and put the entire thing in a blender.  After you strain the solids, you end up with this beautiful green cucumber juice – crisp and clean.  Wow.

So, for those of you who don’t drink alcohol – you can still enjoy this refreshing drink, the cucumber juice with lime juice and simple syrup is definitely a treat.  Better yet, you can get your kids to eat their vegetables, and they would never in a million years believe you that this was good for them.  My mind is starting to churn…there is a lot I can do in this space.

Here’s to the weekend – that is not here yet, but soon enough.  For those of you on the east coast – blend your cucumber tonight, before the storm hits.  You will thank me later.  Stay safe and warm everyone – and Cool as a Cucumber!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons strained cucumber, made from blending an English cucumber
• 3 tablespoons Effen Cucumber Vodka
• 1 tablespoon elderflower liquor
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup or agave nectar

Preparation

Mix all ingredients together in a shaker with ice.  Serve in a martini glass with a garnish of cucumber (peel a long strip of cucumber and fold it onto a toothpick).

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Cool as a Cucumber