Thanks to my better half’s family recipe, I am able to share this refreshing summer beverage! Made with fresh fruit, lightly sweetened and stirred together with water, this Pineapple and Cantaloupe Fresca is deliciously light and a perfect way to quench your thirst on a hot summer day. It’s perfect for the whole family and a great alternative to iced tea or lemonade.

*Makes: 1 gallon

ingredients

• 1 Ripe Pineapple, fresh
• 1 Ripe Cantaloupe, fresh
• 1/2 lemon, fresh
• 8 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of white sugar, or to taste

directions

• Place the pineapple on its side on a cutting board and cut off the stalk
• Cut off the top of the pineapple then cut off the bottom of the pineapple
• Stand the pineapple on its side and cut the skin off the sides in strips until you have cut all the skin off of it
• Discard all the skins and cut the pineapple in chunks; place in a bowl
• Take your cantaloupe and cut in half
• Scoop out all the seeds and pulp with a spoon and discard
• Cut the cantaloupe in thick slices and mark out even pieces but only cut to the rind
• Run the knife carefully in between the peel and the flesh to separate the pieces
• Place the chunks of cantaloupe in the same bowl with the pineapple and discard the rinds
• Take the chunks of pineapple and cantaloupe from the bowl and place in a food processor or blender, set bowl aside
• Puree the fruit until smooth
• Working in batches, pass the puree through through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl to eliminate the pulp and clarify the juice
• Pour the juice into a pitcher
• Add 8 cups of cold water
• Stir in sugar and squeeze out the juice from 1/2 of a lemon
• Stir until combined
• Refrigerate until very cold or you can serve immediately over ice into glasses or mason jars

Enjoy!