I used to grab whatever soda or sweet tea was in the fridge just to survive the dinner rush. But once I started making simple fruit-based drinks like this, everything changed. The kids love it, I feel good about what I’m serving, and it’s become one of our favorite summer sips.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe peach, pitted and sliced

• ½ cup fresh raspberries (plus more for garnish)

• 4–6 fresh mint leaves

• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, depending on sweetness of fruit)

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 1 cup sparkling water (or plain water if preferred)

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Muddle the fruit:
   In a small bowl or cocktail shaker, gently mash the peach slices, raspberries, and mint leaves together using a muddler or the back of a spoon.

2. Sweeten & mix:
   Add honey (if using), lemon juice, and stir or shake to combine.

3. Strain or keep rustic:
   If you prefer a smoother drink, strain the mixture into two glasses over ice. Otherwise, pour it all in for that rustic, homemade charm.

4. Top with fizz:
   Add sparkling water to each glass and stir gently.

5. Garnish & serve:
   Garnish with a raspberry, peach slice, and a mint sprig. Enjoy immediately while it’s cold and bubbly!

Sarah’s Tips:

• If peaches aren’t in season, frozen peaches work just fine — just thaw them a bit first.

• Want to turn this into a cocktail? Add a splash of vodka or white rum.

• This is a beautiful drink to serve at brunches, baby showers, or summer picnics — it's just as pretty as it is tasty!

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 55

• Carbs: 14g

• Sugar: 11g

• Fiber: 2g

• Protein: 0.5g

• Fat: 0g