Recipes for Three-Ingredient Summer Cocktails - Interactive Feature
« PrevNext » Adapted from Lydia Reissmueller, Central, Portland, Ore. This aromatic summer spin on the traditional gin martini takes its vivid hue from Strega, an Italian liqueur infused with saffron. For an added aesthetic boost, try garnishing with a long curl of cucumber cut with a vegetable peeler. Ingredients 2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce dry vermouth 1/4 ounce Strega 1 lemon peel strip, for garnish 1 cucumber strip (a long ribbon made with a vegetable peeler), for garnish. Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Preparation Combine the gin, vermouth and Strega in a cocktail shaker. Yield: 1 drink.
Party Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Sangria
Sangria is right up there with tequila as one of those alcoholic beverages that it seems everyone has a story about. It’s always either a “I’ll never drink that again” story or a “well last time I had that things got a little crazy” story. As much as I like the potent, red wine version of the Spanish summer sipper, there is something about white wine (and of course, plump red strawberries but that goes without saying around herre) that screams summer and tempts me to shelve the red vino until September. I have no aversion to sangria (tequila is another story) but even if you do, I recommend that you give this a try. My friend Angie and I made a double-batch for a friend’s birthday party over Memorial Day weekend and it would be an understatement to say that none of the party guests have sangria aversions either. Tequila? White Strawberry Sangria Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens What you need: What you do:
Perfect Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is my life. When I wake up, often around the time party animals on the west coast are just heading home, I start each day not with a cup of freshly brewed hot java, but with a tall, blessed glass of creamy iced coffee in a glass. I’ve been an iced coffee freakazoid for years and years. To say I couldn’t live without it is an understatement. It gives me the tools I need to cope. Iced coffee is a complicated thing, and there are many different approaches. 1. Given the previous set of facts, one would assume that the logical solution would be to brew hot coffee, then transfer the brew to the fridge, allow it to cool, and use it to make iced coffee from there. There are reasons this method results in a smoother, richer, more delicious concentrate than simply brewing strong coffee and refrigerating it. (Note: I’ve totally adapted/tweaked coffee/water amounts to suit my own tastes. I start with a big ol’ container. Rip open a pound of ground coffee. Pour in the coffee. Glorious.
Watermelon Frosty
I've been planning on making this Watermelon Frosty recipe for a while now. But it seemed every time we had fresh watermelon in the house it was gobbled up in just a few hours. Fresh, juicy watermelon has that instant gratification effect on people. Hot Saturday. Smoothie Tip! Watermelon Frostyserves 2 2 1/4 cups frozen watermelon cubes 1/2+ cup water 2 Tbsp maple syrup 1 large lemon, squeezed (lime juice also works very well! party version - make it a margarita: add 2 shots of tequila (or sub with more water or fruit juice) spicy version: a few dashes of cayenne powder in the blender or over top when you serve! Garnish: a few slices of watermelon - with rind on - frozen. Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender - plus 1/4 cup of water. Blend Pour. Blending Tip! Also check out my Summer Chia-Seeded Watermelon Frosty.. Get more smoothie recipe in my book 365 Vegan Smoothies!
italian sodas
June 30, 2011 | Sweet Recipes | Comments Growing up, these Italian sodas were my favorite!! My mom and I would always stop by a little coffee shack on our road trips to Oregon. Photo Credit: Sugar and Charm
Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
A couple weeks ago I posted a Strawberry Basil Mojito and it started me on a beverage kick. I wish I hadn’t waited until the end of summer to start thinking about creative, fruity and refreshing drinks, but being the procrastinator that I am, I did! Sweet drinks are tasty, and they’re a simple way to liven up a party. A random Friday night with friends and a deck of cards is fun for sure… but add in a sweet vodka drink and SNAP! The night instantly got better. I especially love this drink because it combines 2 of my favorite flavors: lemon and strawberry with my favorite alcohol: vodka. I made a pitcher of Strawberry Lemonade Vodka mere days after the mojito so I had leftover simple syrup. Use a food processor to puree a pint of fresh strawberries and water Pour it into a pitcher with ice Pour in the lemon juice Plus the water and simple syrup And vodka Perfectly tart and sweet! Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Ingredients Instructions Adapted from My Baking Addiction
