• Yield: Serves 14 to 16

  • Time: 10 minutes prep, 10 minutes total


This cooler is an old standby at our house. With no alcohol, no sugar and lots of tart-sweet citrus, it’s what to drink when the heat index is up in the stratosphere. As you sip, the mint leaves are bruised by the ice cubes just enough to let loose some of that cool snap.

Ingredients

  • 3 quarts chilled orange juice

  • Freshly squeezed juice of 8 to 9 lemons

  • 2 cups water

  • 2 limes, thinly sliced

  • 2 lemons, thinly sliced

  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced

  • One large bunch fresh spearmint

Instructions

1. Blend the orange juice, lemon juice (start with juice of 8 lemons and sample before adding more), and water in large pitchers. Stir in citrus slices. Serve by filling glasses with ice, tucking in 2 mint sprigs and pouring in the cooler.


From A Summertime Grilling Guide by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift. Copyright © 2012 by American Public Media.

Sally Swift
Sally Swift is the managing producer and co-creator of The Splendid Table. Before developing the show, she worked in film, video and television, including stints at Twin Cities Public Television, Paisley Park, and Comic Relief with Billy Crystal. She also survived a stint as segment producer on The Jenny Jones Show.
Lynne Rossetto Kasper
Lynne Rossetto Kasper has won numerous awards as host of The Splendid Table, including two James Beard Foundation Awards (1998, 2008) for Best National Radio Show on Food, five Clarion Awards (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014) from Women in Communication, and a Gracie Allen Award in 2000 for Best Syndicated Talk Show.