Italian Sodas at Simply Sweet Blog
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Italian Sodas -- Delizio!
Bubbling Red!
Photo courtesy of Korbel Rouge
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Unforgettable Champagne Cocktail With a Twist (and I DON'T Mean Lemon!)
Throughout history, flowers during winter have always been a luxury. This sparkling cocktail, made with edible hibiscus petals, lends a note of extravagance to any party. Hibiscus has been used to make herb teas for thousands of years and is safe to mix with foods and beverages. A drop of rose water adds an extra floral note. This signature drinks guarantees your guests won't forget your wedding!
Chandon Hibiscus Royale
Ingredients
1 Hibiscus flower (wild hibiscus flowers in syrup). Made by the Wild Hibiscus Flower Company of Australia; available at Whole Foods.
½ tbsp syrup from the jar of wild hibiscus flowers
1 small drop of rose water
Chandon Blanc de Noirs
Instructions
Combine Hibiscus flower, syrup and rose water in a Champagne flute. Top with Chandon Blanc de Noirs and serve immediately. Suggested glassware: Champagne flute.
Italian Amaretto Margaritas
This drink is perfect for a signature drink for your wedding. The recipe comes from All Recipes web site.
Italian Amaretto Margaritas
Ingredients
4 fluid ounces amaretto liqueur, plus additional
white sugar
6 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate
6 fluid ounces tequila
1/2 cup orange juice
6 cups ice
Directions
Dip the rims of 4 margarita glasses in amaretto, then into sugar; set aside. Pour the limeaid, tequila, amaretto, orange juice, and ice into the bowl of a blender. Puree until smooth, then pour into prepared glasses. Serves 4.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Ice Pops and Snowcones Cool Your Guests Off At Your Summer Wedding
Ice Pops cool your guests off and cleanse their palates.
Having a summer wedding in a hot location? Why not consider having a snow cone buffet? Think how great it would be to have a nice and cool snow cone after dancing up a storm! Another option is ice pops in gourmet flavors from Hammerpress in Kansas City MO. Imagine going back to your childhood and enjoying a nice and cool ice pop! Yum! Fresher than Fresh Snowcones and yummy ice pops are bright and cold specialty items for your wedding reception.
Greet Your Guests With A Pretty Drink
Serve Guests a Refreshing Greeting Drink
Having an outdoor wedding or destination wedding? Consider serving your guests this refreshing 'greeting drink'. Serve while you guests are waiting for the ceremony to start. Garnish your drink with pretty fruit slices, edible flowers and more. Photo courtesy of blog for wedding planning, you might want to take some time browsing through their blog even if you are from out of town, they have a lot of inspiring photos and ideas for weddings. If you are in the Dallas area give them a call for your wedding planning.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Dry Soda -- For the Health Concious Bride and Groom
For a great non-alcoholic option for wedding drinks try Dry Soda. Photo courtesy of: Dry Soda
Dry Soda offers you flavors like cucumber, vanilla bean, juniper berry, lavender, lemongrass, blood orange and rhubarb in a healthy drink option. Serve with springs or pieces of fruit, veggies or herbs. These drinks are great as non-alcoholic options for your wedding or shower or you can check out the alcoholic drink recipes on their web site. They also offer recipes for interesting food options that you may want to try for a romantic night at home. Isn't it about time to try something that not only tastes good but is good for you? Dry Soday is it!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Kissed by A Strawberry Champagne Cocktail
Kissed By A Strawberry Champagne Cocktail
1.5 ounces of Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz strawberry liqueur
Splash of Cran-Pineapple Juice
Champagne
Combine first three ingredients, add champagne and garnish with a ripe strawberry.
This pretty and easy to make drink is a perfect option for a signature drink at your wedding or shower. I had it at a wedding shower a few weeks ago and was entranced! My hostess didn't say where she got the recipe but was nice enough to forward it to me. So enjoy!
Pink Pearl Cocktail Highlights Non-Alcoholic Drink Options At Your Wedding
Photo of Little Pink Pearl Cocktail courtesy of http://www.chow.com/
Red grapefruit juice and orgeat provide this pretty drink with it's pearlescent color. You can choose to add a some vodka or rum but this floral, citrusy blend can hold its own as a non-alcoholic drink.
You can purchase the Orgeat (an almond-sugar made from whole blanched almonds). The nut oil is what gives the syrup and this cocktail the richness, so don't stint and buy a cheap syrup with almond flavoring. Look for high quality brands like Trader Tiki's or Small Hands Foods.
Ingredients:
Makes: 1 drink2 ounces freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce orgeat
Ice
1 thin red grapefruit slice, for garnish
Chill your cocktail glasses.
Place the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and orgeat in a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted. Strain into the chilled glass and garnish with the grapefruit slice.
This beauty of a drink will add a pretty and delish accent to your wedding or shower.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Colorful Lemonades
Photos and recipes at: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Refreshing-Cucumber-Lemonade/Detail.aspx
Cucumber is the perfect complement to the traditional summer lemonade. Display it in the pitcher with cucumber and/or lemon slices.
Hot Pink Lemonade is a refreshing, fun recipe for blueberry lemonade! Tart and sweet with a boost of antioxidants from the blueberries and pretty for a wedding.
Photos and recipes at: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hot-Pink-Lemonade/Detail.aspx
Sunday, February 13, 2011
French Teas
Photo courtesy of: http://www.kusmitea.com
Planning a wedding with a Parisian theme? Serve Kumi Tea to your guests. Kusmi was founded in 1867 in Russia. Post Russian Revolution the company relocated to France. The original Russian Kusmi was the official supplier of tea to the Tsars of Russia. How can anyone resist green tea perfumed with rose petals? Or one perfumed with orange and cinnamon? Having a summer wedding? Try a frosty Strawberry Iced Tea or Four Fruit Iced Tea. There's one to detox you, one to relax you, and one to increase your natural interest in the other sex (called Sweet Love). Perfect for a wedding.
Kusmi teas are available in the United States online at http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/herbal/be-cool/c5/p98/product_info.html. Their web site also offers special recipes made with a variety of their teas. Even if you are not planning a brunch or picnic wedding order some for your kitchen at home.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Personalized Swizzle Sticks
Photo courtesy of Etsy.com from: becomingmrsford store
Give your drinks your own signature by adding these creative swizzle sticks from Etsy.com. Personalize the bar at your wedding by personalizing your swizzle sticks. At the Etsy.com store, becomingmrsford you can have swizzle sticks handmade from cardstock that is personalized with your monogram on one side and a photo of you and your groom on the other side. The site offers four different images on each order. The swizzle sticks are about 2" round and the photos are on the end of a typical wooden swizzle stick. Check out the becomingmrsford store on Etsy for other personalized products.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
A Drink For Country Fans
The 'Carrie Underwood' courtesy of http://www.bakespace.com/
Looking for a signature drink your guests will remember? Try the 'Carrie Underwood.' Made with sweet tea vodka and strawbery liqueur (like Fragoli) it will be a sure fire top of the charts hit with your guests.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE 'CARRIE UNDERWOOD'
Servings: 1
Preparation Time: 0
2 parts sweet tea vodka (recc. Firefly or Sweet Carolina)
1 part wild strawberry liqueur (recc. Fragoli)
3 parts lemonade
optional garnish: 1 strawberry
DIRECTIONS
Fill highball glass with ice.
Add all ingredients.
Optional garnish: slice strawberry in half & place on rim of glass.