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Friday, July 6, 2012

{RECIPE} 5 Fab Fruity Summer Cocktails

So excited to welcome one of my new TEAM 'Eye Candy' contributors - Cineca, to the blog today! She will be bringing you IDEAS on tasty party food & drinks as part of the new team. 





Summer is in full swing. And for many of us, that means slip-n-slides, pool time, sunscreen & BBQs. But with the unusually high heat the summer has brought us, that list just doesn’t seem complete without an icy, cold, adult beverage!

Summer also brings an amazing assortment of fresh fruit. I am a big fan of browsing my local Farmer’s Market for the most colorful, fresh, and delicious fruits. The fruity cocktail possibilities are endless and are only limited by your own taste buds and imagination.
I have rounded up a few of my personal summertime favorites. They are all crowd pleasers, and would be perfect for an evening dinner party, afternoon pool party, or relaxing day in the hammock. I hope you are encouraged to get creative…crank up your blender…and cool down with a Fab Fruity Summer Cocktail!



{Banana Pina Colada}
{via Delish}


Ingredients:
2 Ripe Bananas
1 Cup Diced Pineapple, extra wedges for garnish
1 Cup Pineapple Juice
½ Cup Coconut Milk
3 Cups Ice Cubes
¾ Cup Light Rum
Directions:
Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and ice in a blender
After you have reached a smooth consistency, stir in the rum
Pour into cocktail glasses and garnish with a pineapple wedge
Makes 4 servings





{Summer Fruit Sangria}

Ingredients:
6 Cups Assorted Fruit (Mango, Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, etc) cut into chunks
1 Cup Fresh Basil or Mint Leaves
½ Cup Orange Liqueur (Cointreau, for example)
1 Bottle White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
1 Lemon, juiced
Ice
Directions:
In a large pitcher, combine fruit, basil or mint, and orange liqueur
Mash gently with the back of a wooden spoon, until herbs are bruised and fruit has released juice
Add wine, lemon juice, and stir completely
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 day
Fill wine or cocktail glasses with ice and top with sangria
Makes 8 servings





{Watermelon Gin Fizz}
{Via Delish}

Ingredients:
5 Cups Watermelon, diced
6 Oz Gin
8 Tbs Lime Juice
1 1/3 Cups Ginger Ale
Lime Wedges, for garnish
Directions:
Freeze 1 cup of watermelon for garnish
Puree the remaining 4 cups of watermelon
Add gin, lime juice, and ginger ale
Mix well
Fill a rocks glass with ice, fill with cocktail mixture
Garnish with the frozen watermelon and a lime wedge
Makes 4 servings






{Strawberry Mojito}
{Via AllRecipes}

Ingredients:
2 Limes, cut into quarters 
½ Bunch of Mint Leaves
7 Strawberries, cut into quarters
1 Cup Sugar, a small amount reserved to rim glasses
1 Cup Light Rum
2 Cups Club Soda
8 Cups Ice Cubes
Directions:
Pour ¼ inch of sugar onto a small plate
Run a lime quarter around the rim of each glass, then dip into the sugar
In a large pitcher, squeeze limes, add strawberries, mint and 1 cup of sugar
With the back of a wooden spoon (or muddler) lightly crush and combine fruit, mint and sugar
Stir in rum and club soda until the sugar is dissolved
Fill cocktail glasses with ice and pour in mixture
Makes 8 servings



{Triple Berry Margaritas}


Ingredients:
2 Pints Strawberries, sliced and frozen at least 1 hour
1 ½ Pints Blackberries
½ Pint Raspberries
½ Cup Fresh Lime Juice
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 ½ Cups Gold Tequila
2/3 Cup Grand Marnier
5 Cups Ice
Directions:
Puree blackberries, raspberries, and lime juice in a blander until smooth
Strain into large measuring cup
Add sugar and stir until dissolved
Refrigerate puree at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day
Mix tequila and Grand Marnier into berry puree
Add half of the puree into a blender, add half of the frozen strawberries and
2 ½ cups of ice
Blend until smooth
Transfer to a large serving pitcher
Repeat with remaining berry puree, frozen strawberries, and ice
Pour into a sugar-rimmed Margarita glass and serve
Makes 8-10 servings



Grab a cold beverage…slather on the sunscreen…dip your feet in a pool…and enjoy your summer! 

Xoxo~Cineca

So which one is YOUR favorite drink?

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Party Food/Drinks Contributor: Cineca Newburn
 


Cineca is a mommy, wife, lover of music and traveling, and a self-proclaimed food junkie. When not experimenting with new recipes, watching cooking shows, and building tent forts, she’s a busy wedding and event planner. 

You can follow Cineca
 website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest



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