Homemade "Orangina"

I very accidentally just made something that is a wonderful discovery! I juiced several oranges for a dessert I am making for my husband's birthday....Raw Orange and Ginger Glazed Donuts

I am also making Raw Cherry Tarts with Hazelnut Crust, but with strawberries, because I have lots of fresh strawberries, no cherries.  

I think it will be pretty darn good though. I always have my own "available ingredients" alterations on recipes. I haven't gotten to taste much yet, so I will have to get back to you on how that goes. However, in general I am yet to have the raw desserts fail me. Even if they look nothing like the picture that is shown with the recipe (which they always inevitably do the first few times), they do taste darn good! My opinion has shifted to believing that raw desserts actually taste way better, with much more flavor and sweetness than baked goods.

Anyway, back to why I am writing this. I juiced the oranges, but had way more oranges than I needed- already had the citrus juicer out so I juiced the rest. I gave the juice to James (my husband), he drank a sip or two, but I noticed he put it down. I decided to give it a taste. It was pretty tart. It needed something. We have some "agua mineral" (carbonated water) in our house at the moment. I poured half a glass into the o.j., added a few drops of organic agave nectar and BAM! I was back in the mall at age 8, after my mom had her hair cut on the top floor of Bloomingdales at the King of Prussia mall. My treat afterwards was always one of those cool teardrop shaped bottles of "Orangina". This tasted way better today though. I have this childhood attachment to the drink, but after drinking it once last year, I was so disappointed in all the other flavors my mouth was noticing, I vowed never to drink it again. It is full of all other ingredients, including my favorite "natural flavor".  But THIS is really good, tastes so similar, but only has 3 ingredients, all ones I can control where they come from! You should try it if you are an "Orangina" fan but don't want all the other stuff that comes with that flavor (and besides, they don't use those cool bottles anymore either).

HomeMade "Orangina"

1 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice (preferably from organic oranges)
1 cup of carbonated water
1/2 teaspoon of agave nectar (or organic sweetener of choice)

Stir and enjoy (preferably in the sun)

Enjoy!