Lime, Cucumber & Mint Infused Water

So this post is inspired by large hotel chains I've stayed at across the US -  no, really :)  I travel a lot for work, and in the midst of crazy hours on the job site, long nights programming in the hotel room and the extra stresses that come with being away from home, it seems to be the little things that really help make my time traveling even just a bit nicer.

A lot of the hotels where I've stayed will have an iced water dispenser in the lobby with fresh fruit soaking inside.  It's really nice to have something so fresh tasting and refreshing after a long day, that I decided to bring the concept home.

The hotels usually have oranges, strawberries, lemons, limes, or some sort of combination of these.

Here I've decided to go a step further and infuse some slightly more complex flavors.  I have a pitcher made pretty much exactly for this purpose, as it has a center tube to put your veggies/fruit in with slits to help the flavors infuse.  You could just as easily use a standard pitcher and enjoy the chunks of fruit as you drink :)

Lime, Cucumber & Mint Infused Water

• 1 Lime (a lemon would be great with this combo as well)
• 1/2 to a whole Cucumber, depending on size
• A few sprigs spearmint leaves

Chop up the lime and cucumber into rounds and then half them - this size fits nicely into the center tube.  Tear off the mint leaves and either scrape them while you chop (to help release the mint flavor) or use a mortar and pestle to grind them a bit.

Drop everything into the center tube, layering a bit.

Fill your pitcher with water, twist the center tube on the top, and let everything start to infuse.  Leave the pitcher in the fridge to keep chilled. 

This is an especially refreshing drink after an intense workout, or on a warm afternoon just chilling on the deck :)