Cool Waters is a book that makes health and nutrition refreshing, and just coincidentally offers a treat to the taste buds. Instead of relying on bottled waters that are laced with sugar and artificial flavorings, the recipes in Cool Waters are natural and help, rather than harm, the body. They are also more economical to make than most of the bottled drinks we consume. As the author Brian Preston-Campbell tells us, "The average price of an ounce of bottled water is higher than the average price of an ounce of gasoline in the United States."
Preston-Campbell is concerned with the waste produced by the numberless bottles tossed into landfills, with the chemicals used in manufacturing plastic. Those environmental concerns underlie this book, but they serve as inspiration to the author, and free him to be creative. There are drinks made with ordinary tap water, some with carbonation. Many of the flavorings are turned to ice cubes which can be pulled out of the freezer at the last minute to infuse a drink on the spot.
The recipes are clearly written and are so quick, so easy that a trip to the store to purchase already-flavored water seems more complex. Preston-Campbell discusses ingredients, equipment and techniques and has a chart that guides the reader to unleash his or her own creativity.
Cool Waters begins with a chapter for Quick Quenchers. These recipes are the fastest and the easiest using just a few ingredients. You'll find ideas such as Honeydew-Mint Mist, Blueberry Twist, Lychee and Lime Water, and Red Cherry Spritzer.
We use infused waters as quenchers, but also for sports drinks and the author has recipes for sports vigor and general nutrition such as a Workout Fuel, Antioxidant Power, Liquid Iron, and Wind-Down. In the Special Sippers chapter, he creates globally inspired beverages such as Orange and Tamarind Elixir, Sangria de Agua, and Rain from Spain.
Though any of these can be made into ice cubes, Preston-Campbell has a special chapter on flavored ice cubes where you will find recipes such as Jamaican-spiced pineapple, grape cubes (with the grape in the cube) and Orange Blossom and Vanilla cubes.
There are beautiful color photos by Jerry Errico throughout the book.
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