Watermelon Cucumber Cooler

-Take the rind off of and then cut up 1 large or 2 small watermelons.

-Set a large fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl or pitcher.

-In a food processor or blender, puree watermelon.

-Pour watermelon puree through sieve, pressing on solids with a rubber spatula (you should have about 2 cups juice).

-Peel then cut 1 cucumber into chunks.

-Puree cucumber and then pour through sieve into watermelon juice.

-In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together 1/4 cup lime juice and 2 TBS honey.

-Add to watermelon and cucumber juices, along with 2/3 cup vodka.

-Adjust sweetness with more honey if desired.

-To serve, fill four glasses with ice and top each with cocktail.

-Garnish with cucumber slices.

Tomatillo Bloody Mary

Light and citrusy, this drink can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours. Pour over ice before serving.

-Take the skins off of 1 pound of tomatillos, then rinse them well.

-Roughly chop them.

-Peel 1 large cucumber and roughly chop.

-De-seed 1 jalapeno pepper.

-Puree the following together until smooth:

The juice from 2 limes

1 TBS sugar

A generous pinch of cayenne pepper

½ tsp salt

The tomatillos

The cucumber

The jalapeno

¾ cup cold water

-Stir in 1 cup chilled vodka.

-Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.

To serve, stir together 2 tsp salt and ½ tsp cayenne pepper on a small plate.

-Wet the rims of 4 glasses with a lime wedge and dip each in salt mixture, turning to coat.

-Stir Tomatillo mixture well, and divide among 4 ice-filled glasses.

The Green Lantern

-In a blender, puree the following together for 1 minute:

1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves

The zest from 2 limes

½ cup fresh lime juice

1 cup cold water

½ cup sugar

-Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass-measuring cup. 

-Add ice to 6 glasses and divide mixture between glasses. 

-Add a shot of gin or vodka if you wish, and top with:

Club soda

A lime slice

A small sprig of parsley