Keeping Cool in the Summer

From Tuscany. 

And those Italians (my people) are so smart...

Clear bottle is for spring water.

Green bottle  is sparkling water (San Pellagrino)

It's easy to say that it has been awfully hot and humid here in Philadelphia.  And, in the back of my mind, all I can hear is my sainted mother saying, "Drink some water if you want to cool off."  I grew up in a generation where, if you wanted water, you got a glass, turned on the faucet, and drank some water.  Easy.  Done.

But today, you are easily assaulted at the grocery store with a plethora of beverages that are generally primary colored, artificially sweetened, or riddled with sugar.  What to drink is still the question.  And the answer still remains, water.  For some strange reason, though, I cannot drink it from the tap.  And even though I've purchased all sorts of filters and devices, I feel as though it is okay to indulge with bottled water. I know, I know, it isn't good for my carbon footprint, but I do recycle.  I buy clothing from the thrift shop.  And I make a lot of soup which tells you that I really recycle.  It balances out, right?

Two things that I love.  One is Italian natural spring water. Acqua Panna is my preferred favorite.  Chilled in a glass bottle, what could be better.  And not to worry, because I will fill an empty bottle with tap water, place it on ice, and use it as "back up" to the sacred Acqua Panna.

And the other thing I love, love, love? Sun tea.  I still have a stash of Paromi tea from my Whole Foods Market days, and will soon venture to loose teas (more cost effective).  I make 6-8 jars of sun tea per week.  Different flavors, so I am not bored with a half-gallon of one monotonous flavor.  And making it in jars makes it very portable.  I also think that my coolness factor goes up, because let's face it, how good does drinking tea from a recycled glass jar look?

This goes back to my Mother, who was always right.  Drink the water.  Simple as that, just drink the water.