Mid-week Cocktail Cool Down ~ Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiduiri from Real Simple

 

Now it's just wouldn't be summer if you didn't have a cool and refreshing Strawberry Daiquiri at your next soirée.  Here is a quick and easy recipe that your guest will love!

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients
1 pint strawberry sorbet
1 1/4 cups light rum
6 cups ice

Directions
1. In a blender, workin gin batches, puree sorbet, rum and ice until it is smooth
2. Transfer into a large pitcher and stir to combine.  Add water to the mixture if necessary to adjust the consistency of the drink.  Serve immediately.

Mid-week Cocktail Cool Down ~ Pineapple Mint Punch

Pineapple Mint Punch from RealSimple

 Pineapple Mint Punch

Serves: 20



Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
3 quarts pineapple juice
1 liter gin
1 liter club soda
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh mint leaves
ice, for serving

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and ½ cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes; let cool.

2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar syrup, pineapple juice, gin, club soda, lime juice, and mint. Serve over ice.

Mid-Week Cocktail Cool Down ~ Vodka Cranberry Cooler

Vodka Cranberry Cooler fom Real Simple

Vodka Cranberry Cooler

This is one of my all time FAVORITE "go to" cocktails that I love serving to family and friends on a "hot" summer night!

Ingredients

4 12-ounce bags cranberries (fresh or frozen)

4 cups sugar
3 liters tonic water
1 liter vodka
1 cup fresh lime juice
cream soda and ice, for serving

 

 

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar and 2 cups ofwater; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to a large bowl, starin the remaining syrup into the bowl and let cool.

2. Add the tonic water, vodka and lime juice to the cranberry syrup.  Serve over ice and top with a splash of cream soda.

 

Mid-week Cocktail Cool Down ~ Tequila Grapefruit Splash

Tequila Grapefruit Splash from Real Simple

Tequila Grapefruit Splash

This is the perfect punch to serve at your next summer cocktail party.  Make this cocktail the night before your get-together and serve in carafes so you guests can serve themselves.

Serves 20

In a large bowl, combine:

2 quarts of fresh pink grapefruit juice
1 liter of tequila
1/4 cup Triple Sec
3/4 cup Campari 

Directions:
Mix well and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.  Add 2 liters of ginger ale before serving. 

4th of July Cocktails

This 4th of July, celebrate the holiday in style by serving one of these amazing cocktails at your BBQ bash!

Fourth of July Cocktail from Guy Fieri

Fourth of July Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 ounce watermelon schnapps
• 1 big splash cranberry juice
• 1 very thin slice jalapeno or Serrano pepper
• 1 slice lemon
• 1 slice lime
• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1/4 ounce blue curacao
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.

Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired. 

Strawberry Sucker from Rachael Ray

Strawberry Sucker

Ingredients:

• Ice cubes
• 1 ounce vodka (2 tablespoons)
• 2 ounces strawberry schnapps (4 tablespoons)
• Club soda
• 1 strawberry, halved

Directions:

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add the vodka and schnapps and top with club soda. Garnish with the strawberry.

Watermelon Mint Cooler from Real Simple

Watermelon Mint Cooler

 

Ingredients

• 4 cups seedless watermelon chunks (about 1 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups lemonade
• 1/2 cup fresh mint

Directions

In a blender, puree the watermelon and lemonade; strain if desired.  Stir in the mint and serve over ice.  For an instant cocktail: Stir in 1/2 cup vodka or tequila before serving.

Patriotic Margarita from Coastal Living

Patriotic Margarita

Toast your country all year long with this red-and-blue beverage, one of many signature drinks featuring the vodka-based liquor HPNOTIQ.

To make this festive cocktail, follow these simple steps.

1. Puree thawed frozen strawberries.

2. Blend 2 tablespoons each of the strawberry puree, dark rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and ½ cup crushed ice in a blender until smooth.

3. Pour 2 to 4 tablespoons HPNOTIQ into a glass, and top with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the strawberry mixture.

Red, White and HPNOTIQ Blue Martini from Bar None Drinks

Red, White and HPNOTIQ Blue Martini

 

Ingredients

2 oz. Hpnotiq 

1 oz. Citrus Vodka 

1 splash(es) Lemon Lime Soda 

Grenadine 

Directions

Shake with ice, strain into a martini glass and slowly add a touch of grenadine. Garnish with chopped coconut.

Mid-week Cocktail Cool Down

Let's celebrate summer with this refreshing cocktail!  Nothing says summer like an Apricot Bellini. 

Photo and recipe - www.weightwatchers.com

Ingredients
3/4 cups of chilled apricot or passion fruit nectar
3 cups of Champagne or sparkling wine or Prosecco (chilled)
1/4 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
6 pieces of mint leaves

Directions
 Pour 2 tablespoons of nectar into a Champagne flute and top each glass with 1/2 cup of Champagne or sparkling wine or Prosecco.  Garnish each with a few raspberries and a mint sprig into each glass.  Serve immediately.

Mid-week Cocktail Cool Down

For my health conscious host and hostesses out there, this cocktail is just for you.  Although this cocktail is low is calories, you can rest assured that its NOT low on taste.  Make a batch of this yummy drink for your next soiree and your guests will love you for it!

Photo and recipe - www.weightwatchers.com

Fruity Sangria

Ingredients
3 cups low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail - make sure it's cold
2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped (if you can't get fresh, frozen will work too)
2 medium apples, chopped
1 cup dry red wine
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon or to taste

Directions
Place all of the ingredients in a large pitcher, stir together and allow to stand for approximately 30 minutes.  Pour into glasses filled with ice and enjoy!  This recipe yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

Event Diva's Drink of the Week - Sparkling Margarita

Image from www.bhg.com

Nothing says summertime like a delicious margarita!  I found this amazing margarita recipe on the BHG website the other day and I would have to say that this one is a keeper and will be in heavy rotation this summer. 

To make this yummy cocktail you will need:

1 cup blanco (white) tequila
1/3 cup agave nectar
2/3 cups lime juice (fresh lime juice is the best however if you have no desire to squeeze limes then lime juice from concentrate will work too)
1 1/2 cups sparkling wine or Champagne

Lime peel strips for garnish

Directions

Combine half of the tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake for 5 seconds and strain the mixture into three glasses. Repeat with remaining tequila, juice, and agave nectar. Top each serving with sparkling wine or Champagne. Add a lime peel strip. Add additional lime juice to taste.

This recipe yields 6 servings.

Cheers!

Spring is in the air!

According to the calendar it's spring and when I think of spring I think of my all time favorite cocktail; the Sea Breeze. This super cool and super easy drink will definately put you in a lazy spring day kind of mood.


To make this cocktail you will need:

• 1 3/4 oz. vodka
• 3 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• lime wedge for garnish

 

Directions:

 

1.  Pour the cranberry juice and vodka into a highball glass half filled with ice.
2. Stir mixture well.
3. Top off with the grapefruit juice.
4. Garnich with the lime wedge.

 

Cheers!

 

Great Holiday Cocktails

Tis the season to be jolly! Try these festive cocktails at your next holiday party. I’m sure they will brighten the spirits of your guests.

Candy Cane Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 candy cane, crushed for garnish

• 2 oz. strawberry vodka

• 4 dashes of white crème de menthe

• 2 ½ oz. cranberry juice

• Ice cubes

Directions

1. Place the crushed candy cane on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy.

2. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, crème de menthe, cranberry juice and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.

Photo and recipe from Martha Stewart

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 cups pear nectar, chilled
• 2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
• 2 cups seltzer, chilled

• 4 oz. (1/2 cup) bourbon whiskey

• 1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges

Directions

1. Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses and pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.

Photo and recipe from Martha Stewart

Gingerbread Apple Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz Domaine de Canton

• 1 oz vanilla vodka

• 2.5 oz apple cider

• A few drops of lemon juice

• Orange zest

• Agave syrup

Directions

1. Line a chilled martini glass lightly with agave syrup on a dish followed by spiced graham cracker crumbs.

2. Place all ingredients except for orange zest in a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into glass.

3. Freshly grate orange zest on drink and serve immediately.

Photo and recipe from Delish

~~Our First Show! Hosting a Fabulous Cocktail Party~~

Today we launched our new internet radio show on Blog Talk Radio - "Cocktails and Conversation with the Event Diva" (www.blogtalkradio.com/cocktailsandconversations)

March 20th marked the first official day of spring and for most this is also the official kick off to entertaining. With the weather getting warmer more people are finding themselves hosting parties...barbeques...open houses. Tonight we thought we would talk about how to host a fabulous cocktail party.

Tonight's Signature Cocktail

Sour Apple Martini

1 1/2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker

1/2 oz. Triple Sec

1/2 oz. Vodka

1 1/2 oz. Sour Mix

Add all ingredients in a shaker with a small amount of ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry in the bottom of the glass.

CHEERS!

What is a Cocktail Party?

A cocktail party is a social gathering, held early in the evening, usually for a period of about 2-3 hours, typically from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.or 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. It may take place in a home, at a private room in a restaurant or hotel, or in a business such as an art gallery or bookstore. Cocktails, wine, and soft drinks are served, though contemporary cocktail parties may offer wine and soft drinks exclusively and skip the cocktails. Beverages are accompanied by finger foods, which are meant to delight the palate, stave off hunger until dinnertime, and complement the cocktails. Cocktail parties are great for entertaining friends or business associates, or a combination of both.

Party Decisions

Your cocktail party can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it . As with any event that you host there are a few questions you should ask yourself when beginning to plan your party.

1. What is you budget for this event?
2. How many guests will be attending? This number will impact your budget greatly, so if you're working with a limited budget keep the guest list small.
3. Is this a casual event for friends or a formal business networking event?
4. Will there be a full bar or a limited cocktail menu?
5. Will the party be indoors or outdoors? If outdoors what is the plan B in the event for inclimate weather?
6. What type of foods will you serve?
7. Is there a theme/occasion for your party?

The Food

A full course meal is not necessary when hosting a cocktail party. Simple foods like hors d'oeuvres and other finger foods allow your guests to graze throughout the event. Serving something like cheese and crackers, a veggie platter and a nice fruit display is nice and simple for the novice cocktail host/hostess. You could also do a themed cocktail party where you serve just desserts or maybe a chocolate cocktail party and do a chocolate fountain with all the fixings! Remember it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. If you don't have the desire, time or talent for cooking then do what I do and call your favorite caterer or take-out restaurant for help.

The Drinks

Now we all know you can't have a cocktail party without having the cocktails!!! There are two options available to you when it comes to serving the drinks...

1. Have a full bar - this option gives your guests the option to choose their favorite drink. This is great if you have a well stocked bar or if your are willing to buy the basics (liquor and mixers) and are able to mix up a variety of drinks. Think the movie "Cocktail".

2. Come up with a drink menu or serve a signature drink - this is my favorite option because it encourages your guests to step out of their "cocktail" comfort zone and possibly try something new. This is also a great way to save money because you don't need to have a fully stocked bar. I like to select and ore-mix several cocktails that I will be serving through out the night right before my guests arrive. That way I can spend more time talking with the guest and less time behind the bar (or in my case in the kitchen) mixing drinks.

I would also like to share with you some helpful hints on making your next cocktail party a fabulous one...

• Make sure you have all the essentials for your bar. If having a full bar make sure to have a variety of liquor and mixers (soda, soda water, juice, etc.).
• Send your invitations out early but not too early. 2-3 weeks should be more than enough time unless it is a busy time of the year - like around the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas).
• Make sure you stock up on cocktail napkins, plates, and glasses.
• Plan on 50-75% of invited guests to attend when estimating the number of drinks you'll be pouring and how many bottles you'll need. A good rule of thumb is that on average each guest will have 2-3 drinks during the evening.
• Add a WOW factor to your event. This could be a speciality drink, garnish, food dish, decor element, or gift (take away).

Always remember that every good host/hostess is responsible for those drinking at their party. Be aware of guests who have had too much to drink and cut them off when necessary. When they are ready to leave call them a cab or arrange to have them leave with a designated driver. It's also good practice to keep in mind that everyone may not want to drink, so make sure you have a few non-alcoholic drinks or "mocktails" available for them.

But the most important thing to remember when hosting any event is to have fun. Planning early and properly will ensure that you will spend less time stressing and more time enjoying your guests.

Happy Planning!