Mary Bilyeu, Contributor

On one of those wretchedly hot days we had recently, when the heat index was hovering miserably around 100 degrees, Jeremy and I went out to get a snack. A cold, cold drink and a cookie... that was the perfect antidote for the excessive kiln-like conditions outside.

We headed to Sweetwaters Cafe (there are three locations in town), a perfect place to feature for today's Frugal Floozie Friday.

Not only can you get the requisite coffee and tea at these sleek, modern, but always friendly cafes; but there is also a housemade ginger ale, called Ginger Fizz. And it was this — which has even been mentioned in a New York Times article on ginger ale's resurgence in popularity — that we'd specifically craved.

There is a distinct ginger flavor in the soda, but even someone I know who doesn't particularly care for the spice really loves the drink. It's vibrant and refreshing, familiar and yet so much more sophisticated than plain ol' ginger ale.

We also enjoyed cookies — huge cookies that we really should have split, but why? Jeremy ordered a chocolate chip cookie, which he ate with great enthusiasm, while I savored a rich, crumbly peanut butter one.

There are lots of iced teas and luscious treats to be had at Sweetwaters within the Frugal Floozie Friday budget of $5 per person or less. But my favorite is absolutely the Ginger Fizz, which I cannot recommend highly enough!

Time spent with my son, a sweet, and a cold beverage on a hot, hot day... a perfect afternoon.

Sweetwaters Cafe
3393 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-327-6330

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Mary Bilyeu has won or placed in more than 60 cooking contests and writes about her adventures in the kitchen. She was thrilled to have her post about Scottish Oatmeal Shortbread named as one of the daily "Best of the Blogs" by the prestigious Food News Journal.

Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — on which she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related. Her newest feature is Frugal Floozie Friday, seeking fun and food for $5 or less ... really! Feel free to email her with questions or comments or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.

The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers as they cook along with her ... may you always be happy here.