I feel like I've spent the past 3+ months sweating in the sticky weather that haunted the area all summer; and I wasn't the only miserable one--it was the hottest summer on record in our area! Living in the South it gets pretty steamy during the summer and I knew that, but this was just plain awful. Who want to spend their summer weekends sitting inside under the fan and air conditioner just to survive at a comfortable temperature? According to the local newspaper, we had 67 days of highs of more than 90 degrees during June, July, and August (another record)! 67 DAYS?! 67 days! That's just plain crazy talk! It was nearly impossible to run outside or enjoy any outdoor activity, for that matter, when the average summer temperature .
Now that the first days of fall are beginning to creep up on us (even though it probably won't feel like fall until Thanksgiving), I have begun to marvel at how I survived some of the hotter weekends. Since options were limited, there was one particular "outdoor activity" that A and I did perfectly -- sipping superb summer cocktails by the pool.
So in honor of it being Friday (hallelujah!), I wanted to share some of my favorite summer cocktails I happily enjoyed!
There are appropriate cocktail glasses for specific drinks. Most drinks can be served in any glass, but some (like the one below) specify a glass for a reason. Here's a quick guide to drink glasses (you'll be a pro bartender in no time!):
I have to begin the summer cocktail list with my mom's favorite summer indulgence (and naturally, like mother like daughter, they're my favorite too)!
MOJITOS
A Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball drink. The highball refers to the type of glass the cocktail is served in: a tall, narrow glass designed to help preserve the bubbles and fizz in drinks served with soda and ice. Now don't be ridiculous - just because you don't have a highball glass doesn't mean you should sacrifice the minty deliciousness of your Mojito. A pint glass or a rocks glass will do just fine, especially if you're like me and have a hard time sipping slowly when the cocktail tastes so good; it will be gone before the drink has time to fizzle out!
A traditional Mojito is wonderful in its simplicity, only using 5 ingredients: white rum, sugar (often sugar cane juice), lime, sparkling water, and mint. I like to use extra lime and extra mint in mine to make it a refreshing summer drink. Mojitos are so delicious because of the perfected combination of sweetness, refreshing citrus, and mint flavors to complement the kick of the rum. Good Mojitos do require a little extra time because you really need to muddle the mint leaves at bottom of a shaker. To "muddle" is simply to crush the ingredients at the bottom using a rounded wooden stick, allowing the flavors and juices to release and become more apparent.
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| Traditional Mojito |
A traditional Mojito is wonderful in its simplicity, only using 5 ingredients: white rum, sugar (often sugar cane juice), lime, sparkling water, and mint. I like to use extra lime and extra mint in mine to make it a refreshing summer drink. Mojitos are so delicious because of the perfected combination of sweetness, refreshing citrus, and mint flavors to complement the kick of the rum. Good Mojitos do require a little extra time because you really need to muddle the mint leaves at bottom of a shaker. To "muddle" is simply to crush the ingredients at the bottom using a rounded wooden stick, allowing the flavors and juices to release and become more apparent.
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| Muddling the lime and mint |
Although the traditional Mojito is probably my favorite, the one I enjoyed most often (responsibly, of course) this summer was a:
STRAWBERRY-LEMON MOJITO
Ingredients:
For 4 drinks (or 2 extra aggressive drinks, depending on how you pour)
8 lemon wedges
4 strawberries, plus 2 halved strawberries to garnish
24 fresh mint leaves, plus 4 optional mint sprigs for garnish
8 ounces gold or aged rum (get a decent rum, don't jip yourself)
3 oz fresh lemon juice (be generous if you enjoy citrus drinks)
2 oz prepared sugarcane syrup or agave nectar (I liked the agave better)
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| Strawberry-Lemon Mojito in a Highball Glass |
Preparation:
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lemon wedges with the whole strawberries and mint leaves.
- Add the rum and ice, lemon juice, and sugarcane syrup; SHAKE WELL
- Us the shaker's strainer to strain into highball glasses filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with the strawberry halves and the mint sprigs for a beautiful, party-worthy cocktail!
FROZEN LEMONADE WITH COCONUT RUM
This is a cocktail I made for a summer dinner party and it was a HUGE (and delicious) success. Cooking Light has yet to fail me, and the FROZEN LEMONADE WITH COCONUT RUM was no different. It's perfect for a hot day because it's basically a Slushie for grown ups! For a party, I would recommend doing the recipe (which makes ~1 serving) x8 and put it in a big pitcher so your guests can refill as they please. It can really be served in any glass, but an old fashioned glass is easy and probably best. To really enjoy the little pleasures of summer, I put 2 decorative party-appropriate cups out next to the pitcher and fill 1 with summer-themed party stirrers and 1 with drink umbrellas. I suggest small beach ball stirrers (wholesale; only $1.59 for 1-11 or for a bigger party $1.30 for 12-35 at(http://www.centurynovelty.com/detail_431_093-182.html)
or these fabulous palm tree stirrers (only $3.69 for 12 at: http://www.birthdaydirect.com/palm-tree-drink-stirrers-12-p-15267.html
And lastly, and the most fun party drink accessory, the drink umbrella (although Mac would probably argue that the swords for olives and cherries is cooler). I suggest these Hawaiian-themed umbrellas, and at a price of $3.98 for 144, you better invite a lot of people! This website has all sorts of themed party tchotchkys: (http://4funparties.makesparties.com/Catalog.aspx?intDisplayableCategoryID=3281&intDisplayableProductID=68504&gclid=CKCNpY6G_aMCFVNY2godbFDnGg)
And if you're the type that likes things to serve more than 1 purpose, these are perfect for you: UMBRELLA STRAWS! ($4.95 for 12 at http://www.amazon.com/OTC-12-Hibiscus-Parasol-Straws/dp/B001024Z30)
Who doesn't love an umbrella in their drink?!
FROZEN LEMONADE WITH MALIBU
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| in an Old Fashioned Glass |
**You need a blender for this one guys and gals**
Ingredients:
Makes about 1 serving
(I did 1 big batch for the party, so I did x4 in 2 separate batches--x8 total)
1 1/2 cups ice cubes (preferably crushed)
3 tbsp frozen lemonade concentrate (I like the Minute Maid Light in the freezer aisle)
2 tbsp Malibu* coconut rum
Lime wedge (optional, for garnish)
*Normally I reserve Malibu for "girlie" drinks, but in this it is the PERFECT coconut rum (get the original flavor) for this drink, and both the boys and girls liked it!*
*I also recommend using extra rum to your taste, because the lemonade concentrate can be a little overpowering for some people*
Preparation:
(easy breezy, just like the Malibu)
- Put the ice, lemonade concentrate, and Malibu in a blender
- Blend until slushy
- Garnish with a lime wedge (add a drink umbrella or party stirrer too!)
The Mojito has always been an oldy, but a goody. The Frozen Lemonade with Malibu is a newbie and a definite recipe to repeat as necessary! Finally, I want to share a drink that I haven't made yet, but am going to try it this weekend!
WOO WOO
I have to admit two things: 1) that the name alone made me want to try this tempting drink and 2) I found the recipe in Marie Claire (insert Heidi Klum's glorious accent here and add Nina Garcia at the end), which made it seem all the more glamorous! The color of the WOO WOO is tantalizing and just begging for you to enjoy it; it's a beautiful pink/red that's a little lighter, pinker, and prettier than cranberry red. Making a "cocktail of the night" is a great excuse to have people over or throw a full-blown party. This is another great drink to spruce up with some fun party accessories/garnishes. It's traditionally served in an old fashioned glass and I bet it would look great with a fun drink stirrer.
I've ALWAYS wanted an excuse to do this, so I'm going to recommend it and hopefully I concede soon. If you want a party pleaser, you can PERSONALIZE your own M&M's! You could do coordinating colors with the drinks: white/light green for Mojito, green/yellow for the Frozen Lemonade, or pink/red for the Woo Woo! I designed them for the WOO WOO in red/pink with "Happy Summer" on one and "WOO WOO" printed on the other. Get as creative with the colors as you do with the personalization, but remember to order ahead of time so they'll make the party.
WOO WOO
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Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka (again, don't skimp on the liquor - get a good one)
- 1/2 oz peach schnapps (makes any drink better)
- Cranberry juice, lime wedge (also good with orange or lemon), and ice
Preparation:
Makes 1 serving.
- Fill 1/2 of cocktail shaker with ice.
- Squeeze in lime (can substitute an orange or lemon anywhere you see lime).
- Add vodka and peach schnapps; Shake well!
- Strain into glass 1/2 filled with ice.
- Add the squeezed lime wedge on top.
- Top off with a splash of cranberry juice
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| Woo Woo with Lemon and a Sassy Pink Straw |
WOO WOO, don't let me down!
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