Sunshine means it's Iced Coffee Time!

MmMmMm been lovin' this weather. Soaking up the sun as much as possible, letting the Vitamin D revitalize and rejuvenate my soul after a not-so-fabulous month of rainy cold weather. To keep refreshed in this weather I have three favorite beverages: iced coffee, lemonade, and agua de sandia. There's something about these three delicious drinks that cools you down and leaves you feeling fresh. I figured that I would share my recipe's with you...as well as the best store-bought version, in case you don't have a few minutes on your hands.

Iced Coffee: Iced coffee is not just coffee poured over ice. That's where many are mistaken and are left with a watery, less-than-desirable sweaty glass of bleh. Underwhelming. The key is strong coffee, cold coffee, whole milk or cream, and WHEN the sweetener is added. Follow these simple steps and you are golden:

1. brew coffee an hour or so ahead of when you are going to want the iced coffee. in the summer i usually make a big brew and leave it in a pitcher in my fridge. you want the coffee to be EXTRA strong, so double up on your coffee grinds {whether its drip, bialetti, percolator, or french press -- definitely definitely add an extra few tablespoons of grinds}.

2. now - if you refuse to use fake sugar {aka splenda}, then add your sugar as soon as the coffee is finished brewing....if you wait until the coffee is cold and add your sugar then, than it won't dissolve. mix the sugar into hot coffee.

3. put your extra-strength, sweetened coffee into the fridge.

4. now comes the time to pour the coffee over ice and add milk. i recommend whole milk or cream {or soymilk..given it's creamy texture} because otherwise you are left with a watery iced coffee -- which is AWFUL. bah, i shudder just thinking about it. so please, use a thicker milk or cream, it is truly the only way.

5. for the advanced coffee drinker - i recommend making coffee ice cubes. YES, coffee ice cubes. that way, when the ice melts, it's not watering down your coffee!! real simple - just pour some of your leftover brew into an ice cube tray and set in the freezer.

If you want to get fancy, top with some whip cream or add some chocolate syrup - but I'm an iced-coffee purist. For those who are on the go, then MC DONALD'S iced coffee is a pretty phenomenal substitute for the homemade goods. I gotta hand it to McD's...they make a hell of a cup of coffee. I ask for mine to be unsweetened, light on the cream, with splenda on the side. I know, it sounds obnoxious - but otherwise you get 3/4 cream with a boatload of sugar. Trust me, if you order like I did: unsweetened, light on cream w/ splenda on the side you will be truly delighted with the results.

My second favorite warm-weather beverage, Lemonade. This is a delicious, easy twist on that. All you need are 2 lemons, 1 lime, sweetener {sugar, agave or splenda}, water, ice, a blender and a strainer. Fresh mint is optional, but adding only a few leaves really perks it up. Quarter the lemons and lime and put in the blender. The whole lemon...including the rind. Everything. Then add 1/3 ice and about 2/3 water. Add however much sweetener you'd like {I like my lemonade tart, so I only add a few tablespoons of Agave Nectar}. Blend. Let the blender work it's magic for a minute or two. Pour through a strainer (so it can catch the ground up rinds and seeds} and then serve over ice. Perfecto. Cloudy Lemonade. Garnish with some fresh mint and serve to your friends. If you're on the run, pick up a NANTUCKET NECTARS "Iced Tea Lemonade". Bah, it's EPIC.

Last, but not least, is Agua de Sandia. So deliciouso. And SO easy to make. Cut up some watermelon and fill up the blender with the chunks. Add a bit of water so it blends nicely, add handful of fresh mint, and some lime juice (1 lime). Hit the blender for about a minute, add water if it starts to stall in the blender, and then chill in the fridge for around an hour. Serve over ice. I'm not sure what you could substitute on the run for this one, so this perfect recipe will have to be saved for a lazy afternoon.