Summer is
officially here! Every year, my excitement for this season remains: a tank top
and shorts is always better than a coat and gloves! Some of us are excited for
the extra vacations, some us are excited for the chance to be out doors more, some
of us may be firing up the grill more often. Summer puts some of us into party
mode. I’ve hosted a few summer parties of my own. No, I was not the cook because
I believe in caterers, but I did not have a problem mixing up a few adult beverages.
Do you have a summer party to host?
Outfit~Check! Food (to be catered in of course!)~Check! Music~Check! Drinks~Well..Don’t
fret. I have a few drink menus to share with you. Since you don’t have time to
search for drink recipes, both menus are post below..just for you!
Tell me
about your Summer plans in the comments section. Let’s connect on Instagram (tamuinc) so that I
can see your version of these drinks!
*Salty
Dalmatian*
½ tsp sea
salt flakes ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 recipe Salted Simple Syrup (To make this Syrup, do this: Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 4 tsp gray sea salt and boil for 1 minute. Pour into a jar. The syrup is good for one month.)
3 0z fresh grapefruit juice
2 oz vodka
1 recipe B&W Ice Cubes (To get these fancy ice cubes, do this: Mix 1 cup crushed ice with 1 tsp each of cracked black and white peppercorn. Divide mixture among ice trays and fill with cold water then freeze.)
Mix salt and
black pepper on a plate
Moisten the
rim of a glass with the Salted Syrup, then roll the glass in the salt mixture Mix 1 tbsp of the Salted Syrup, grapefruit juice, and vodka in a shaker with plain ice. Pour into a glass then add B&W Ice cubes (makes 1 serving)
*Hibiscus
Mimosas* (A good mimosa never gets old!)
2 cups water
¾ cup dried
hibiscus flowers (aka flor de Jamaica)
½ cup sugar
1 lime cut
into wedges
1 bottle of
chilled sparkling wine
To get the
tea, boil water then add ½ cup of hibiscus flower; reduce to a simmer for 5
minutes. Let flowers sit in water for 10 minutes (steep the flowers like you
would do with a tea bag!) Strain to get the tea and discard the flowers
Using a
grinder, grind the rest of the hibiscus flowers, then mix with ¼ cup of sugar;
leave mixture on a plate.
Place tea in
a saucepan and add the rest of the sugar; cook mixture over medium heat until
it’s reduced to ½ cup; This will take 15 minutes. Be sure this “tea” is cooled before
serving.
To serve:
Moisten rim of glass with a lime wedge, wiggle rim in hibiscus sugar mixture to
coat completely. Pour cooled “tea” into a glass and top with the sparkling
wine.
This should
give you 6 servings!
CHEERS TO
THE SUMMER!
Source:2017, May. Food Recipes. Better Homes & Gardens, 144 & 150.
