About three days ago, the sun stood still. Or it appeared to as the sun's path north or south, reversed direction. If you were one of my sophomore English II students whom I tortured with a reading & lesson on Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, you should, if you were good students (i kid), remember that the Summer Solstice is what today's Midsummer festivities centered around.
Yes. That's right. People really do still celebrate Midsummer's day, the triumph of light over darkness. Though there might not be many Maypoles or green gowns, there are still parades, festivals and bonfires. And new iPhones.
And if you're lucky enough to be a little girl in Norway, and you place flowers under your pillow on Midsummer's night, you will dream of your future husband. (Let's just hope that he's not a non-cowboy.) How's that for a Midsummer's Night dream?
Unlike the droves of lucky individuals who pre-ordered their fabulous new gadget, I will not be celebrating this Midsummer's Day with a new iPhone. But I will celebrate with a vodka spiked Watermelong-Ginger Agua Fresca. The next best thing.
Watermelon-Ginger Agua Fresca
Bon Appétit | August 2007
Molly Stevens
Why you'll make it: Because it's an all-purpose refresher — drink it straight, top with sparkling water, or spike with vodka, gin, or tequila.
Yield: Makes about 8 cups
10 cups 1-inch pieces peeled watermelon (from about 8-pound watermelon), seeded, divided
3 cups cold water, divided
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup (or more) sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger juice* (from one 3-ounce piece of ginger)
Ice cubes
Lime wedges*To make ginger juice, peel a 3-ounce piece of ginger and grate it over a plate. Wrap in cheesecloth; twist at both ends to squeeze out the juice. Or put the grated ginger in a finemesh sieve and press to release the juices. In a pinch, bottled ginger juice is available at natural foods stores.
Place 2 1/2 cups watermelon and 3/4 cup cold water in blender. Puree until smooth. Pour agua fresca into large pitcher. Repeat 3 more times with remaining watermelon and cold water. Add lime juice, 1/4 cup sugar, and ginger juice to pitcher and stir to blend. Add more sugar by tablespoonfuls, if desired. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep chilled. Stir before serving.
Fill glasses with ice cubes; pour agua fresca over. Garnish each glass with lime wedge and serve.
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Comments
Stacy of KSW
How fun, sorry I missed this one in time to celebrate this year but you can bet I’ll be doing it up right next year
So glad we found each other, your site is super cool and I’ll be keeping up with you from now on. I saw your tweet about the $1 cupcake day. I’ve never been but was invited by a friend yesterday. Maybe we could plan a cupcake day with the kiddos (then head out and do something to burn off all that energy, ahem sugar)