The Vineyard's Citrus Cooler

The Vineyard's Citrus Cooler

My dear friend and neighbor Tracy Laverty ( you can visit her great design blog at http://rightupmy-alley.blogspot.com/)  spends every summer at their family’s summer house on Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts.  I love hearing Tracy tell stories of picking fresh blueberries on the lane, sailing trips out on the ocean, cookouts on the beach and new culinary delights she tried.  Plus she always has a great story to tell with a famous person or two.  Like when President Obama and his family stayed in the house next door!  One of their favorite things to do while on the island is to visit to the local farmer’s market. They always pick up fresh beautiful fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables and this amazing and refreshing citrus cooler.  So fresh they squeeze the citrus fruits right before your eyes.  Tracy treated me to a glass and showed me how they make it on Martha's Vineyard.  If you don't have time to make the simple syrup...just stir a tablespoon or two of sugar into the citrus juices, add ice and enjoy a taste of the Vineyard! If you want to make a whole pitcher full of the Citrus Cooler, simply squeeze equal amounts of lemons, limes and oranges into a pitcher and sweeten with simple syrup or granulated sugar, add ice and water to taste!

½ a lemon

½ a lime

½ an orange

3 tablespoons simple syrup

ice and ice cold water

Simple Syrup:

4 ¾ cups water

2 ¼ cups sugar

In a sauce pan combine water and sugar and boil gently for 10 minutes.  Cool and store in refrigerator for up to 2 months.  Squeeze half a lemon, half a lime, half an orange into a pretty glass.  Stir in 3 tablespoons, more or less to taste, simple syrup.  Fill glass half full with cubed ice and fill glass with ice cold water.  Add a cute paper straw and stir well. Enjoy immediately.