Red Wine Sangria

This week seemed to last about a month and half. Our prize for the craziness is an absolutely outstanding late-summer weekend visiting with friends near and far. And this refreshing sangria.

Oranges, limes, lemons, and apples give it a nicely balanced sweet-tart taste and the Prosecco adds the perfect amount of fizz. Whip up a pitcher now and it'll be waiting for you once you're through with all your Saturday chores.

Cheers!

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles (750 ml) chilled dry red wine
• 1 cup peach schnapps 
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup simple syrup (or to taste)
• 2 oranges, cut into thin rounds
• 2 lemons, cut into thin rounds
• 3 limes, cut into thin rounds
• 2 apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 bottle chilled Prosecco

Method:

1. In a large pitcher, add the wine, schnapps, orange juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently to combine.
2. Add the fruit and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.
3. Serve in glasses over ice and top with chilled Prosecco.

8 cups of fruit....it's practically health food! ;-)

Source: Food Network

Sparkling Lemon Ginger Cooler

 Happy Sunday Funday!

I love all things lemon and ginger, so was super excited to find this recipe on Zite. It's like grown-up lemon aid, and it's delicious. The only change I'd make would be to add more ginger to the syrup...can't wait to make these again!

Cheers!

Ingredients:

• Ice
• 1.5 oz. lemon ginger simple syrup (recipe below)
• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 4 oz. (or enough to top off your glass) Prosecco

Method:

1. Please a good handful of ice in a tall glass.
2. Add simple syrup, vodka, and lemon juice - mix well.
3. Top with Prosecco - mix again.
4. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Lemon Ginger Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 C water
• 1 C granulated sugar
• 1 oz. fresh ginger, grated (a piece just a bit smaller than a golf ball)
• Zest of one large lemon

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves - just a couple of minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and let steep until it comes to room temperature.
4. Strain twice to remove all the pulp.
5. Use immediately or keep unused portions in an air tight container in he fridge.

Friday Cockail Hour: Citrus Limoncello Martini

TGIF! It wasn't quite the Friday we had last week, but it is definitely nice to see the work week come to an end.

We both liked this week's martini better than last. It's a little on the sweet side, but we swapped the amounts on the Limoncello and vodka on the second round and that did the trick. I think it would be nice with a splash of prosecco or champagne at the end, too.

Happy weekend!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C fresh orange juice
• 2 T Limoncello
• 1 T vodka
• Splash of fresh lemon juice

Method:

1. Combine in cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously then strain into a martini glass.

Source: Laura in the Kitchen

Friday Cocktail Hour: The Vesper

I broke my company's intranet yesterday.

Ok, I didn't break it. I am assured it's a known systems issue that's long been on the update list. But I happened to be the one entering an article when it broke.

Oh, and Chicopee schools had a half day yesterday so Brian's after-school program - all 42 students - was three hours longer than usual.

TGIF...and cocktail hour couldn't come soon enough!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1/2 oz. Lillet blanc
• Orange twist

Method:

1. Combine, shake like mad, strain into a martini glass and try not to guzzle it down.

Crimson Pear

This martini is from one of my favorite bars in Newburyport, 10 Center Street.

All you need is one part pear vodka, one part pomegranate juice, one part champagne.

Shake the vodka and juice in a martini shaker with plenty of ice. Pour into martini glass, and finish with champagne. Garnish with a lime wedge is desired.

Sip and enjoy.  Happy Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Saturday!

Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season

There are many ways you can prepare for a hurricane.

You can buy a generator, stock up on water and non-perishable foods, tie down or bring inside any free-standing deck furniture and house decorations, move to safer ground, and test your evacuation plan.

Or, you can sit back, watch the weather, and sip a tropical drink.

One guess which preparations Bri and I opted for....  Wait for it...

I adapted this recipe for New Orlean's original Pat O'Brien's Hurricane, making a pitcher-full to enjoy all evening.  This is what I did...

Ingredients
1 C light rum
1 C dark rum
1 C V8 Splash, Tropical Blend
1/2 C orange juice
1/4 C lime juice
1/4 C simple syrup
1/4 C Grenadine

The Hurricane
Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher and serve over ice, garnished with an orange slice.

Bring it on, Irene.