Agua de Fresa

It. Is. Hot.  I love sunny, warm days.  It just feels good.  And when the day starts to feel unbearable I know it is time to chug down a coooold drink.  In Mexico that translates to Agua de Fresa (strawberry).  The great thing about strawberries are-well everything.  They have that balance of sweet and tart; they scream “Warm weather!” and they go with practically everything.  Agua Frescas are generally served with meals or as a refreshing way to cool down on a hot day.  So grab a good book, sit outside and drink away.  You don’t have to tell me twice!

I Want to be a Jarritos de Tamarindo (Tamarind Soda)

Agua de Tamarindo is a favorite drink in Mexico. Tamarind offers this amazing blend of sweet and sour so how can it not be a fav? Tamarind pods may look a little funky but if there is ever a time to not judge a book by its cover, tamarind eating is the time. A little sweet, a little tart. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.
So there are these brightly colored (neon) Mexican sodas named “Jarritos”. They usually come in tropical flavors like pineapple, mandarin and lime but my favorite happens to be tamarindo. I prefer it to just your regular agua de tamarindo because the carbonations cuts through the sweetness just right (and fizzy water always makes any drink better) creating a more refreshing drink. So why not make a faux Jarritos tamarind soda? Well, can’t think of a reason not to. So here we go:

Pepino con Chile Paletas (Cucumber & Chile Popsicles)

Paletas are a gift from the heavens. Nothing is better on a warm day (but let me tell you they are not too shabby on a cold day either). Paletas are made using either a milk or water base, fruit and sweetener. Just like that. It really could not be any easier. Mix everything together, pop in the freezer and a few hours later you have an amazing treat.

Mexican Capirotada

Mexican style bread pudding, capirotada, consists of a mixture of veggies and fruits such as onions, tomatoes, apples and raisins on top of stale bread, nuts and cheeses. It is a staple during lent. The day old bread is moistened with a simple syrup infused with several warm spices. Capirotada is a balance of sweet and savory; although this recipe lends more to the sweet side. For this recipe I used apples and apricots and a bit of mild Monterrey jack cheese in order to keep it more on the sweet side (that’s how I like it) but some recipes involve sharper flavors like onions and cotija cheese. The ingredients are up to you. I am sure there is no way to ruin bread pudding!

Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)

Agua de Jamaica is a classic drink throughout Mexico (and for good reason).  It is this delicious combination of tart and sweet.  Agua de Jamaica is normally served with meals or as a refreshing way to cool down on a hot day.  As an added bonus it is said that Agua de Jamaica aids in digestion and is loaded with vitamin C.  So not only is it delicious it might also be healthy.  Score!

Spinach, Pineapple and Lemon Agua Fresca

There are all kinds of agua fresca throughout Latin America.  It is simply just water, fruit and sugar blended up and as the name states: it is very refreshing (agua fresca=fresh water) and very delicious if I may say.  Standard flavors for agua fresca include strawberry, cantaloupe, mango and watermelon.

Pumpkin Empanadas

Why is there this misconception that pumpkin is only a fall time favorite?  It is always time for pumpkin.  And pumpkin empanadas, or turnovers, of course.  Oh they are sooo good.  Buttery, flaky and soft on the inside.  I especially love how fragrant they are.  Be ready to have a kitchen filled with aroma of pure deliciousness.

Café de Olla

Coffee is coffee.  Wrong!  This old school method is very different from that of the tried and true coffee maker.  When drinking coffee is meant to be relished this is the way to do it.  This is definitely not an I’m-late-and-running-out-the door kind of coffee.  It is an I-have-nothing-but-time-on-my-hands-let-me-sieze-the-opportunity-to-slowly-enjoy-my-coffee coffee.  The rich, sweet, spiced aroma leaps out of the mug and entices you to sit down.  It grabs you by the hand and gently reminds you to savor the moment.  Enjoy it. 

Orange-Infused Camote Enmielado (Candied Sweet Potato)

If you ever visit Mexico you will notice the vendors lining the streets and sidewalks selling snacks to passersby.  Some vendors offer some sort of candied vegetable or fruit (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, banana, etc.).  It is more of a snack than a full fledged dessert; just something to munch on while you walk through the streets.  Most of the time it is a sugary sweet treat, swimming in syrup.  The kind that drips down you arms and you eat hunched over so not to stain your clothes with the gooey caramelized syrup.

Vegan Toasted Almond Horchata

Several Latin American countries consume horchata, a rice and milk beverage often infused with cinnamon.  It is rich, creamy and sweet.  What more can you ask for?  Served chilled, horchata offers a great way to refresh oneself on a warm sunny day (or when it is freezing cold outside and you want to convince your brain you are not witnessing rain outside but instead you’re on the beach in Cabo.  Eh, either/or).