Summer drinks

I have just returned from an achingly beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy.  It will take me some time to craft the blog I want to write about it - especially given that we're taking Noah to college on Friday and Corey to her new school the following weekend.

So, in the meantime, I wanted to post this in celebration of the last (and best?) month of summer.  One of the wonderful people with whom I spent the magical Italy week, Linda Osterchrist, and I were talking about the quest for perfect summer drink,  the critical color of an excellent cosmo, and the way a good drink makes a summer night perfect.  I've posted most of these drink recipes within prior posts, but to celebrate August I thought I'd give summer drinks their due.

Cin Cin, Salute, Sláinte, Cheers.

 Hop, Skip & Go Naked

1 can lemonade concentrate

1 empty lemonade concentrate can full of vodka

4 beers (we prefer Miller Lite or Bud Lite but any mild beer like corona is good)

mix in a pitcher and serve over ice.  

COSMOPOLITAN

1 part fresh lime juice

1 part cranberry juice

2 parts triple sec or Grand Marnier

4 parts vodka

For two drinks I use 1 jigger each lime & cran, 2 jiggers triple sec, 4 jiggers vodka.

Add to a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.  Shake for 30 seconds.  

Pour into a cold martini glass.  Ahhhh.

 

 Fresh Lime Margarita 

•  1 1/2 cups gold tequila
• 3/4 cup Triple Sec
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 8 cups crushed ice
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 6 lime wedges

Combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons sugar in large pitcher; stir to dissolve sugar. Add crushed ice. Mix salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in shallow bowl. Moisten rim of 6 Margarita glasses with lime wedge. Holding each glass upside down, dip rim into sugar-salt mixture. Pour Margarita into glasses. Garnish with lime wedges.

 

La Paloma

rim a highball glass with kosher salt.

put a jalapeno slice on the bottom

add:

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

2 ounces silver or blanco tequila

fill the glass with ice

top with grapefruit soda.  (sometimes hard to find but persevere, it's worth it.)

 

Moscow Mule

• Ice cubes
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup
•   chilled ginger beer
• 1 lime wedge

Fill tall glass with ice. Add vodka and lime juice, then ginger beer; stir to mix. Garnish with lime wedge.

My favorite Sangria Recipe

Sangria

2. 2 bottles chilled dry red wine
3. 1 cup cognac
4. 1/2 cup Triple Sec or Cointreau
5. 1/3 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
6. 1 orange, sliced thin
7. 1 lemon, sliced thin
8. 2 cups chilled seltzer or club soda
9.  
10. In a bowl, combine wine, cognac, Triple Sec and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the orange and lemon slices and chill for 1 hour. Transfer to a punch bowl, stir in seltzer, and add a block of ice or ice cubes.
11. 
    
    
    
    
    
    and, one of my new favorites:  the vodka gimlet
    
    1. 
       
    3. Vodka Gimlet

       1 1/2 ounce gin or vodka

       1 ounce fresh lime juice

       1ounce simple syrup (optional - I prefer it more tart so do without the syrup)

       Ice cubes

       Lime wheel or lime zest for garnish, if desired

       Directions

       
       

       • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
       • Add the vodka, lime and simple syrup.
       • Shake rapidly for about 20 seconds.
       • Strain into rocks glass filled with ice.
       • Add desired garnish.