Stop Blogging and Cook

If God hadn’t given us water we would have had to invent it.  ~Author Unknown

Club soda.  Soda water.  Sparkling water.  Fizzy water.  Seltzer.  All generic monikers for carbonated water.  I urge you to discover this fun little beverage. When in restaurants and asked if you want “still or sparkling” water, ask for “club soda.”  You’ll save a few dollars each time, and you mouth won’t feel a thing.  If you want a greater bubble infusion, have a Perrier.  I’ve found the French soda to have the greatest amount of carbonation, and will treat myself when I want a mouthful of bubbles.

But usually I buy store brand seltzer.  Four liters for two bucks on sale – or five liters for three, regularly priced – you can’t beat those prices with a stick.  No salt, no sugar, just how it should be.  You can’t beat this refreshing beverage for value in price and purity, and it won’t cramp your style when wetting your whistle before, during or after meals.  Kind to your teeth, your arteries and your waistline.

I’ve begun adding flavorings to the bottle when first opened.  The longer they’re in there, the stronger the flavor.  Try some of my favorites:

• Lemon, lime or orange peel – If you don’t want to squeeze citrus every time, just add about a square inch of peel.
• Mint – One large sprig, with leaves and stalk intact, so it doesn’t float out into your glass when pouring.
• Ginger – Peel a half inch of fresh ginger root; gives a taste of very mild ginger ale.
• Clove – Three cloves for a delicate savory flavor; five if you’re looking for something more robust.  They will float out into your glass when pouring; just toss them back into the bottle.
• Beet juice – No flavor enhancement, but if you’re trying to sell this to the kids, a little natural coloring doesn’t hurt.  Just save the water from cooking beets and add no more than a quarter cup per liter.  More will begin to dilute the bubbles.
• Chocolate – Mix 2 TBSP heavy cream, 2 tsp powdered cocoa and 2 tsp sucanat or turbinado (unrefined) sugar to a liter of seltzer for a delicate chocolate soda.
• Crème de Menthe – This is a minty addition to an already refreshing drink.  Just add a teaspoon to a glass or a tablespoon to the bottle.  A few drops give a light green, more a darker color.
• Marashino cherry – Added to a glass, with a stem, adds a festive touch with far less sugar than a soft drink.

Tags: healthy choices, sparkling water, whole food