Lo Scintillante - An Italian Apertif

Photo courtesy of CHOW

Lo Scintillante, it's a feast for the eyes and it titillates your taste buds!

The recipe for Lo Scintillante calls for Cocchi and Prosecco. The combination results in a slightly sweet cocktail with just hints of spice and cloves. Perfect for the Italian wedding!

Where to buy: Cocchi Aperitivo Americano is a wine-based apéritif. It can be found at high-end liquor stores and online. If you can't find it, consider substituting any white/dry apperitif - your favorite vermouth or Lillet Blanc.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 white sugar cube
• 2 ounces chilled Cocchi Aperitivo Americano
• 2 ounces chilled Prosecco
• Orange twist, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Place sugar cube in a champagne flute, add Cocchi Apertivo Americano, and stir briefly. Top with Prosecco and garnish with orange twist.

Start Muddling! Apricot Whiskey Smash!

Apricot Whiskey Smash from CHOW

How rich does this Apricot Whiskey Smash look to you? CHOW sent this to my email and I immediately went to check and see if I had any apricots! Yum! Even without the whiskey this looks good, but for whiskey fans who are looking for a cool summer or spring beverage this looks very promising. Fans of Mojitos and Juleps will likely enjoy this drink as a nice change of page.

Visit CHOW for the exact recipe, but I'll give you some hints: apricots (of course), ice (it is summer after all!) Cointreau, lemon, simple syrup and rye whiskey (oh yes, and a sprig of mint of course!) For exact proportions visit CHOW. They also suggest using peaches and nectarines if you don't have apricots.

This recipe was included in a group of drinks on CHOW under the heading "Summer Fruit Cocktails." A slideshow of fruity drinks perfect for those hot days, and great to serve at a bridal shower or wedding offers you a lot of summery options for your wedding signature drink. But if you like this one? Start muddling!

Strawberry Basil Sangria

Source: treehugger.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Strawberry Basil Sangria from Treehugger.com and Cooking Stoned and Jerry James Stone on YouTube--Yum! This Sangria is perfect for serving guests at a picnic wedding or a spring bridal shower. What do you think?



YouTube video of fruity sangria

Treehugger and Jerry James Stone have a variety of fruit sangrias, all well worth taste testing--a fun day for you and your bridesmaids, testing out all the varieties! Just think fruit, wine, sugar and add some club soda (and in this case basil) to the mix and  you're good to go. Visit Treehugger or the YouTube video above for the exact recipe.


These look really pretty in Riedel 'O' Wine Glasses--the bigger the better!

Harvest Gold Signature Drink

Harvest Pumpkin Cocktail for Fall Weddings from Daily Candy

Planning an autumn wedding? Looking for a signature drink? Daily Candy has a great cocktail for you! Their Harvest Pumpkin Cocktail is sure to go down smoothly and taste great! Not only that the rich color of this signature drink is sure to be a great accent in both color and taste.

I love food that is attractive, smells good and goes down smooth! Try it... you are sure to enjoy it. Even if you decide to serve it as the signature drink at your first Thanksgiving Dinner together, it's a great recipe to hold onto.

Harvest Pumpkin Cocktail from Daily Candy
Serves two

Ingredients
3 oz. pumpkin-infused vodka (see below)
1 oz. grade A maple syrup
½ oz. fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)

Pumpkin-Infused Vodka
2 l vodka
Roasted flesh of one small pumpkin (sugar pie variety preferred)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole nutmegs
1 fresh bay leaf
5 whole cloves
1 vanilla bean, split

1. Combine pumpkin-infused vodka ingredients in a glass jar. Let infuse for a minimum of five days.

2. Strain solids from pumpkin-infused vodka. Filter through a coffee filter or funnel to remove remaining bits and pieces.

3. Combine vodka with syrup and lemon juice and shake over ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

4. Garnish with a lemon twist or roasted pumpkin seeds

Frozen Lime Margaritas

Source: realsimple.com via PSMM on Pinterest

Fall in love with these cool and simple margaritas that originated from Real Simple Magazine.  Just salt your glasses with lime and salt, add some lime sorbet and pour on the tequila! Oh yeah! What a nice cool way to enjoy your summer wedding festivities when it's hot outside!

For the exact recipe visit Real Simple's web site. 

Love the 'white' wedding look! Perfect for a wedding shower or the wedding itself. Having a baby shower? You guessed it, choose a pink or blue sorbet (except for the mom to be, she might want to skip the tequila, maybe a nice smoothie for her?)  Or if the expectant mom doesn't know if it's a girl or boy, choose mint or lemon colors!

Planning a 4th of July picnic? You got it, go for the red, white and blue margarita. Some in each color to suit every guest and their palate! (If you can't find blue sorbet just use some food coloring on some lemon/lime sorbet when it's soft, mix it up and refreeze)

Frozen drinks are all the rage, no matter what kind of party you are planning. Look for other frozen drinks on my blog (or at Real Simple where they have some other great ideas!)