FLAVORED FRUIT & VEGGIE WATERS

Slaying thirst is essential on New Year’s Day, and ideally you will choose lots of water with which to do it! But what could be less inspired than filling your cup straight from the tap? With the addition of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, a plain glass of water goes gourmet.

Pineapple Mint Water

2 cups water or sparkling water

2 (½-inch-thick) slices pineapple, cut into quarters

¼ cup fresh mint leaves

Combine the water, pineapple, and mint in a pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Serve cold. Garnish each glass with a pineapple slice and some mint from the pitcher.

Kiwi Cucumber Lime Water

2 cups water or sparkling water

2 kiwis, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch-thick slices

1 lime, thinly sliced

12 thin slices English cucumber

Combine the water, kiwis, limes, and cucumber in a pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Serve cold. Garnish each glass with a kiwi, lime, and cucumber slice from the pitcher.

Blackberry Water

1 cup blackberries

2 cups water or sparkling water

½ orange, cut into quarters

Put half the blackberries in a pitcher. Using the back of a spoon, gently mash them. (This not only releases a bit of their juice, but tints the water a gorgeous pink.).

Add the remaining whole blackberries, the water, and the orange and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Serve cold. Garnish each glass with some blackberries and orange from the pitcher.