Citrus Mint Crush

(serves 4-5) - yields about 5 cups

Ingredients:

• 1-¼ cups cold water
  
• 2 cups lemon-flavored sparkling water
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• ½ cup tightly packed mint leaves
  
• ¾ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  
• ¾ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  
• 1 tbsp grated orange zest (no pith)
  
• Crushed ice (optional)
  
• Mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
  

Preparation:

• In a medium saucepan, add water and sugar and cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool.
  
• Coarsely chop mint leaves and set aside.
  
• In a medium sized bowl, add the cooled sugar-water then stir in orange juice, orange zest, mint and lemon juice. Cover bowl and refrigerate until chilled through.
  
• Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Discard remaining orange zest and mint leaves.
• Stir in sparkling water then serve over crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving (¼ of recipe (121 g)): 128 Calories, 1 g Protein, 33 g carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 11 mg sodium