How to Make Infused Water with Children Underfoot

I know I tend to write about heavier things, and my close friends know that a deep conversation with no time restraints is one of my love languages. But! I also think about regular things like what the sticky stuff is on the floor of my car, how come there are always empty candy wrappers in the pantry when I don’t buy candy, where all my hair ties went, and how to survive a South Texas Summer.

A friend who greatly sympathizes with my last conundrum sent me a detailed recipe for making your own infused water. She even left an extra pitcher on my porch when I told her my children had broken mine by using it as a step stool in the bathroom.

At first I thought I would experiment with flavors (oh such high hopes), but soon realized that I didn’t have time or energy to be creative and that my house would be more peaceful if I just followed the prescribed recipe.

So, we dragged out multiple step stools, fought over who would “juice” the lemon, wrestled the knife from the three year old and assigned her the task of placing (throwing/tossing/shredding) the mom-cut cucumber into the bowl, watched as half the liquid sloshed over the sides as the girls “took turns” holding the bowl while another “muddled” the fruit… until finally step-1 was complete.

(Are you getting confused by all the air quotes? I’m trying to express how haphazard this production was, and how I used up every ounce of patience as I watched my girls uncover new and exciting ways to argue with each other.)

After about 30 minutes in the fridge we pulled out our concentrated concoction, strained it (I did this myself when the children weren’t looking), and diluted it with the appropriate amount of water. I should rephrase that… I have no idea if it was the appropriate amount of water because two kids were fighting over who could fill the pitcher the fastest and neither of them was measuring.

Miraculously, it ended up delicious and refreshing. Hopefully this leaves you optimistic about your ability to make this drink too.

It was especially good with a handful of ice cubes in the glass. Rob offered his input by saying it would be even better mixed with some sparkling water. He might be correct. But I hesitate to give him too much credit since he didn’t have to wrestle a three-year-old during this process.

You can find the recipe for Lemon, Cucumber, and Mint Infused Water HERE.

Let me know if you try it! And if you have a recipe getting you through the remainder of summer – send it my way!

love, marissa