August has come to TEXAS and with her she brings a HEAT WAVE. I have primarily lived my entire life in Texas and at the age of 46 {creeping up on 47 quickly} I have just given in to the notion that God allows Texas to be hot. You may ask, 'why would He allow such heat'? Now that is a good question that deserves an equally good answer. But sorry to say, 'I do not know why God allows such heat'. Maybe because we are Texans and as such we are TOUGH and can take it! Could be. Or Global Warming maybe? I don't think so....and please don't send me tacky e-mails about your politics. All I do know is, I am a menopausal woman in the middle of an oppressive heat wave. My internal body temperature hovers around 120 degrees on a good day. I have a theory that if my internal body temperature ever meets the external air temperature I will actually spontaneously combust. Wouldn't that be a sight!
So instead of focusing on the oppressive
heat let's look at this thing differently. Let's ask ourselves, 'how can we stay
cool'? Here are a few of my ideas.
Turn
Your House Into a Cave
Keep
your blinds and shades SHUT! Keep as much sunlight from
coming
into your home as possible. Window reflectors are a good
start:
cardboard wrapped in aluminum will keep the light and heat
out.
Just make sure you have the reflective side on the outside.
Take
a Shower
Take
a cool shower or bath to fully appreciate the cooling and
cleansing,
powers of water.
Have
a Cookout or Get Take-Out
This
is not the time for cooking indoors, you are just going to raise
the
temperature in your home. This gives you a great reason for
take-out!
Take
a Nap
HELLO!
This is my favorite idea so far! A nap is the perfect
antidote
to dealing with all this heat. Taking a nap in the middle of
the
day also has proven health benefits, so it’s a win-win situation.
Eat
Things That are COLD!
Ice
cold watermelon, 7-11 Slurpees or an Icee, Ice cream, Frozen
fruit,
COLD WATER!, Frozen lemonade, Root Beer floats, Shaved
Ice,
SNO-CONES....anything and everything that's COLD.
PROCRASTINATE
Yeah,
you read that correctly. Do not use your washer/dryer or
dishwasher
in the hottest part of the day. Just like the oven it's just
going
to make your house hot. Throw a load of wash in as you are
headed
to bed and into the dryer on your way out the door.
Have
An Extra Spicy Lunch
Spicy
foods actually cool your body off, so eat the hot salsa!
Pillow
In The Freezer
If you are experiencing a heat wave as all
good Texans are, here are a few thirst quenching drinks to cool you down.....way down.
good Texans are, here are a few thirst quenching drinks to cool you down.....way down.
Berry Berry Smoothie
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup blackberries
1/2 cup strawberry ice cream or frozen yogurt
1 cup of milk
What To Do
Combine raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
in a blender with ice cream and milk.
Blend until smooth.
Cucumber and Lime Spritzer
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
2
12-ounce cans club soda
1/4
cup fresh lime juice, from 3 to 4 limes
1
cucumber, thinly sliced
What To Do
In a
pitcher, combine the club soda, lime juice,
and
cucumber. Serve over ice.
Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
1
12-ounce can ginger ale
1
1/2 cups pineapple juice
4
pieces fresh pineapple, cut into triangles
What To Do
In a
pitcher, combine the ginger ale and pineapple juice.
Serve
over ice with a piece of pineapple.
Fresh Strawberry Shake
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
3
cups fresh strawberries, hulled,
plus
extra
unhulled
berries for garnishing
1
cup sugar
2
3/4 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
What To Do
Cut any
large strawberries in half. Place the berries in a single layer on a baking
sheet and freeze for 2 hours.
In a
blender, combine the sugar and cream or half-and-half. Blend for about 20
seconds or until the sugar dissolves. Add the frozen berries and puree. Divide
the mixture among 4 glasses and garnish with the whole berries. Serve
immediately.
Cranberry Spritzer
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
2
cups cranberry juice cocktail
2
cups sparkling apple cider
5
strawberries
2
1/3-ounce packages strawberry-flavored
Pop
Rocks candy, optional
What To Do
In a
large pitcher, combine the cranberry juice and cider.
Cut 1
strawberry in half, rub the rims of 4 glasses with the cut pieces, and dip the
rims in the Pop Rocks to coat, if using.
Serve the
juice mixture over ice in the prepared glasses. Garnish with the remaining whole
strawberries.
Try
these summertime drinks and
stay
cool in our Texas heat wave.....you'll be glad ya did!
ENJOY!
the domestic
curator ~ ronda
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