Share a Straw - Summertime Sipping

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Share a Spoon
Summertime Swigs
There's nothing quite as refreshing as a cool drink in the summertime.  It doesn't matter if it's an iced drink, a slush type drink, an adult beverage, a cold beer, whatever your taste buds like, when it's hot outside, and the drink is ice cold....it's...ahhhhhhhhhh refreshing!
Mixing the other thing that I love about summer, which is SWEET FRESH fruit with a cold icy sweet beverage is so much fun.  I experiment a lot with flavors that I love!  I am not a big fan of my kids drinking too much soda or sugary artificially flavored crap so we make citrus "ades" a lot, or mixed fruit drinks. 
I thought I would share one of my favorite things this week though.  I am a huge fan of cantaloupe.  But you can substitute honeydew melon if you like for this as well.

Cantaloupe Granita Spritzer
1 cantaloupe cubed and pureed1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup water1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1 tsp orange zest3 cups SeltzerSliced orange for garnish
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat bring the sugar and water to a boil.  Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Remove from heat and cool.
In a blender, puree the cantaloupe in batches.  Pour the pureed mix through a fine mesh strainer and add to a glass or non-reactive 8in dish.
Zest an orange and mix into the strained puree.  Juice the orange and stir in as well.  Add the cooled simple syrup (water/sugar).  Mix well, cover and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Scrape granita with a fork.  Spoon about a cup into six glasses.  Top each with 1/2 cup of seltzer and garnish with a fresh orange round.
(Note:  If you use honeydew melon in place of the cantaloupe, substitute lime zest and juice in place of the orange.  Also, with either granita, if you are a fan of fresh mint, add a small bunch to the melon when you puree it.)

Killer Smurf
1 oz Blue Curacao1 1/2 oz Bacardi RazzSprite Zero
Fill a glass with ice.  Add Blue Curacoa and Bacardi Razz.  Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite Zero.  Stir.
This is a drink that my friends love.  I don't drink them, but everyone who comes over to play RockBand seems to really enjoy!  I'm sure that this drink probably has another name as well, but here at Casa di Romano, amongst the best of friends, they are Killer Smurfs.  Best thing?  They won't KILL your diet!
Now, it's your turn Smackers!  Share your favorite summertime thirst quenchers!