Peach Fizz!

Photo courtesy of CHOW

 

Peach Fizz! Or as some bartenders call them Peach Bellini are great at wedding or pre-wedding events like showers or brunches. And summer time is the perfect time to get great peach taste from those fresh picked peaches. When I first looked at this photo I thought--Peach Beer (well it does look like beer in a champagne glass you have to admit!) but then I read further and found it was Peach Bellini with a lot of fizz. So I promptly renamed them Peach Fizz--because that's what they look like.

 

CHOW, a great foodie site, has a great recipe for them but you can probably find recipes for them on a variety of sites.  Ingredients include fresh peaches, peach liqueur, lemon juice, sparkling wine and sugar as needed. For exact recipe head to CHOW (they have lots of other great ideas for your wedding shower or brunch too!

 

Bellini are the perfect drink to serve your guests at any summer event.

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry Margaritas For Summer Brides or Fouth of July Hostesses

Photo courtesy of Sweet Life

 

Love this deep red Cherry Margarita. Perfect for summer brides when cherries are in season. A little bit of work, but oh so good for your wedding signature drink or for rehearsal dinners or showers. The deep red will keep your guests coming back for more. How can you make it? Here's the recipe from Vianney Rodriguez/Sweet Life:

Cherry Margarita

makes 4 margaritas
salt
lime wedges
1 cup tequila
1 cup fresh cherry juice, about  1   1/2 cups of fresh cherries
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup Cointreau
ice cubes
On a small plate spread salt.  With lime wedges moisten rim of 6 ounce glasses. 
Dip glasses into salt.   Place glasses into freezer to chill.
In a pitcher combine tequila, cherry juice, lime juice and Cointreau. 
Remove glasses from freezer and serve margarita mixture over ice.
Garnish with lime slices.


Read more at http://sweetlifebake.com/2011/06/25/cherry-margarita/#ixzz2XlOzuenL

 

So if you love cherries and are looking for a margarita that not just any hostess is serving, try this crowd pleaser. Just be sure to buy yourself a cherry pitter, otherwise you are going to go insane pitting the fresh cherries.

Floral Champagne Garnish

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

 

If you are a bride who wants her champagne toast to stand out from the crowd and be memorable, try this Martha Stewart trick. The addition of tiny roses add elegance to each flute of champagne and make it a look really special, just like your wedding toast should be.

 

To garnish, put a toothpick in the bottom of each rose blossom at an angle less than 45 degrees. Cut the rose stems cleanly about 1 inch shorter than your toothpick. Adjust the length depending on the weight of the rose. Put each toothpick inside the rim, balancing the rose bud gently on top. Your guests are sure to be wowed by this extra creativity in presentation. ¡Salud!

 

Guest Post: Signature Drinks for Your 2013 Wedding

Recipe courtesy of Turning Stone Resort

 

Signature drinks are becoming very popular for 2013 weddings. Having a signature drink at your wedding is great way to save money on the bar bill, but more importantly it is a fabulous opportunity to add a touch of the personality of the bride and groom into your reception. Signature drinks are also very popular for destination weddings.

Signature drinks can be used at the shower, bachelor/bachelorette, and even rehearsal dinner.  The  recipe shown is an exclusive signature drink recipe from the Turning Stone Resort.  Known for their outstanding resort amenities, the resort is a very popular Central New York Wedding Venue.  This recipe would also make for a great signature drink for couples hosting a destination wedding, or a reception post destination wedding.

 

**My thanks to Michelle Pino for this drink recipe from Turning Store Resort's brochure and for providing useful information for brides planning a signature drink. Sometimes it's nice to hear another voice other than my own on Signature Drinks and my other blogs! Nancy Vecchione, Editor.

Ruby Red Pink Grapefruit Margaritas

Photo courtesy of There Goes The Cupcake

 

OK, I admit, I am a margarita junkie! These drinks not only taste good but they make fabulous signature drinks. The latest? A Pink Grapefruit Margaritas recipe by one of my favorite authors, Ina Garten, who is better known to cookbook junkies as The Barefoot Contessa.

 

What's the key to this wonderful refreshing drink (that packs quite a punch?) You have to use Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice. No hardship at my house, there's always some of it in my frig (the grapefruit juice not bottles of margaritas!)

 

Here Ina's recipe, ready for you to add to your list of favorite coolers, perfect for a signature drink for your shower, wedding or any party! Margaritas are well known for adding a tasty fun factor to any party.

 

Pink Grapefruit Margaritas
From: Barefoot Contessa’s How Easy Is That

• 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 1 cup triple sec orange liqueur
• 3 cups ice
• 1 cup silver tequila
• 1 lime cut in wedges, optional Kosher salt.

If you prefer to rim the glasses take a lime wedge and rim, then dip in salt, if you do not like a salted rim sprinkle a touch of salt in each glass, the salt really brings out the flavor.
Combine the ruby red grapefruit juice, lime juice, the triple sec and ice in your blender. Pour into a large pitcher (or just keep it in the blender) and pour in the tequila, stir. (I personally just added it all to the blender- I like slushy, that is totally up to you) Serve ice cold.
Makes 4 drinks.

Don't forget,be sure to use the ruby red grapefruit juice to achieve the pretty pink color as well as an added sweetness. Plain grapefruit juice just doesn't give you the same results.

Consider serving with Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs (another Barefoot Contessa favorite.) It makes a perfect light lunch or appetizer and it's a great way to combine flavors a la Ina Garten! You can get the recipe for these if you buy Ina's book on Amazon (or in your favorite bookstore.) I recommend buying the book, you'll love the other recipes as well.

 

Say Olé At Your Wedding

Photo and recipe from Ask Chef's Forum

 

Margaritas, are an all time favorite for cooling off and relaxing. This take off on the margarita, called a "Mangorita" has, you guessed it, mangoes in it!

 

I was doubtful anything could improve on the conventional margarita, I was wrong! The Mangorita is a smooth drink that combines conventional margarita ingredients but adds a twist--mango. Yum!

 

Be aware, this drink has a heavy alcohol content so drink slowly and savor it!

 

Planning to party with this drink? Make sure you have someone who is the designated driver to keep the roads safe.

 

Recipe Mangorita (from Chef's Forum)

 

Ingredients

2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers tequila
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger triple sec liqueur
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger fresh lime juice
1 mango - peeled, seeded and sliced
4 ice cubes
1/4 cup mango nectar

Directions

In a blender, combine the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, mango, and ice. Blend until ice is finely crushed. Sweeten with mango nectar to your liking.

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!

Skittle Bombs?

Source: a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net via Lisa on Pinterest

Not sure who would want to drink these but they are pretty! Skittle bombs! Take bottles of unflavored vodka and packs of Skittles. Pick a Skittle color and put them all in a bottle. Shake until they dissolve. Freeze to chill before serving. OK, who wants the first taste? Not a Skittle lover...not sure if the vodka would cancel out the flavor of the Skittles or not. What do you think? Is it worth trying?

Lavendar Lemonade with Vodka and Lillet Blanc

Source: designsponge.com via Hollie on Pinterest

This Lavendar Lemonade from Designsponge is not only worth the effort, it is gorgeous to look at and the taste is incredible! I love using lavendar at weddings, use it as garnish in drinks, tie a tiny bouquet at each placesetting, or have your guests toss lavendar instead of confetti (or all of the above).

Lavendar is eco-friendly and smells oh so good!

Recipe below is from Designsponge.  Be sure to visit their site for other great ideas for your wedding.

Not up to making your own lavendar lemonade? Head to your local Wegman's and buy some Adina Organics French Inspired Lavender Lemonade Juice (14 fl oz) ready made, just add some organic lavendar. Not quite as pretty as the above mixture and without the kick, but you can alwasy add those yourself too! Just be sure any lavendar you use is organic, you don't want to ingest pesticides!

Lavendar Lemonade Recipe from Designsponge.com:

INGREDIENTS:

Glass:

1.5oz Vodka (Ciroc seems appropriate but we used a local Pennsylvania vodka)
1.5oz Lillet Blanc
1oz Lavender Syrup (recipe below)
1oz Lemon Juice
2oz Chilled Soda Water
French Lavender Flower for Garnish

OR

Pitcher (makes 4 glasses):

3/4 Cups Vodka
3/4 Cups Lillet Blanc
1/2 Cup Lavender Syrup
1/2 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Chilled Soda Water for each glass
French Lavender Flower for Garnish

Lavender Syrup:
Add equal parts sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to boil. Add fresh organic French lavender to taste (or 1/2 cup dried food grade lavender for every 4 cups water/4 cups sugar) and boil for one minute over medium/high heat. Remove from heat and let steep for an hour.
Drink:
Mix first four ingredients with spoon, pour over ice, add chilled soda water and garnish with lavender flower (or lemon wedges if you can’t find fresh organic lavender).

8 Different Ways To Give Your Lemonade A Boost!

Source: ohthelovelythings.blogspot.fr via Audrey on Pinterest

A New Take On Gin and Tonic

Source: thekitchn.com via Audrey on Pinterest

The geniuses at The Kitchn have recommended this rosemary and cucumber gin and tonic! A new combo for me! They recommend Hendrick's splashed in a glass with a few slices of cucumber and the addition of some rosemary to give it an extra kick of flavor. For the recipe go here.

Source: The Kitchn

Be sure to read the comments where there are still more ideas posted by readers of The Kitchn.  It's always key to read the comments, you  never know what great nuggets you'll find there! 

Be sure to spend some time 'paging' through the website, it's filled with great photos and great ideas you are sure to love!

Pineapple Strawberry Lime Coolers

Photo and idea from Mom Magazine

Looking for a pretty and cool signature drink for your wedding? How about pineapple strawberry lime coolers?  Just looking at them makes me want to run to the kitchen and make a pitcher! (and it's six in the morning!) You'll need some pineapple juice, limeade, club soda, water, ice, strawberries, assorted fruits such as halved orange slices, halved lime slices, orange sections, raspberries, strawberries, sliced kiwifruit, and mint sprigs, and oh yes, a pitcher and glasses! Visit Mom Magazine to find out the exact proportions and to find other cool summer drinks you might enjoy serving your guests.  These drinks are perfect for a summer wedding or a shower, or face it, just anytime you are thirsty!  Add a little alcohol for those of you who can't live without it, but I love this just the way it is!

Watermelon Lemonade

Photo courtesy of: What's Cookin' Chicago

I know, it's the dead of winter, but as brides or mother's of the bride (or even grooms etc) wedding planning goes on regardless of the season.  So even though you probably couldn't find the ingredients for this drink right now (well not the watermelons anyway), you can plan for this summer's wedding.

This Watermelon Lemonade doesn't even have pureed watermelon, instead it has chunks of that pretty pink and green fruit floating in a pitcher of tart yellow lemonade, with each glass adorned with, you guessed it, a small triangle of watermelon.  It also has sliced lemons, limes and oranges to kick up the flavor. 

For the exact recipe, go to Delish.  Why not serve this pretty but non-alcoholic drink at your wedding?  Your guests will be so busy admiring the look and taste they'll forget about the lack of alcohol.  For couples who feel they MUST serve alcohol, just add some vodka.  Problem solved!

Follow Delish and What's Cookin' Chicago for other great ideas both for weddings and other great entertaining ideas.

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Is Coming To A Wedding Near You!

All Photos courtesy of Jack Rudy Cocktail Company

Jack Rudy Cocktail Company makes an 'Artisan Tonic' in Charleston, South Carolina.  A small batch cocktail syrup is an easy way to add uniqueness to the drinks at your wedding, adding a perfect 'signature' touch.  Perfect for the southern wedding, or one looking for a touch of the tropics.

What's in Jack Rudy Artisan Tonic? It's made from quinine, lemon grass and orange peel in the Company's own secret recipe which gives you a Gin and Tonic with a complexity and layers of flavor.  Add just the right amount of seltzer and you've brought the phrase 'signature drink' to a new level.  You can also make margaritas, daiquiris, gimlets and caipirinhas with a taste twist to startle your guests who never knew you were such an expert mixologist!

The Jack Rudy Tequila Sunset graces this menu (photo courtesy of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.)

Don't forget, shake their signature apothecary jar with it's letterpress label that will remind you of the historical origins of the first Gin and Tonic and the great tropical cures of the 20th century before you use it.

Visit Jack Rudy's  web site for some great drink recipes that you can enjoy taste testing before the wedding.

Butter Beer? You Put WHAT in Your Beer?

Having a autumn or Thanksgiving wedding? Butter Beer from 15 Romolo is a perfect signature cocktail! What? You've never had Butter Beer? Give it a try this weekend. Serve Butter Beer as your signature drink at your wedding.  It's pumpkin butter gives it a flavor that's perfect for fall weddings. 

Butter Beer is a combination of Black Bottle Scotch, pumpkin butter, hot water, Port Brewing Company's Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout foam (mix stout with ½ tsp. fruit pectin in whipped-cream canister). Combine Black Bottle scotch and pumpkin butter in a heated mug. Then add hot water, swirl, and top with foam. Recipe and photo courtesy of Daily Candy and 15 Romolo.

Ten Reasons to Serve Kahle as the Signature Drink at Your Wedding

 

Looking for a fresh and natural drink to serve at your wedding or shower?  Try any of these natural drinks made from Stevia leaves.  What's Stevia? It's a plant, first used by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay, the name means 'sweet herb.'  Pour these drinks over some crushed ice for a pretty and refreshing drink to serve at your wedding.  Add accents of mint or lavender depending on the flavor you are serving. 

 

Facts About Kahe:

 

• Naturally Sweetened with Stevia and Xylitol
• Low Calorie (40 to 65 per bottle)
• No Added Sugar
• No High Fructose Corn Syrup
• No Artificial Ingredients
• No Preservatives
• Gluten Free
• GMO Free
• Kosher Ingredients
• Glass Bottles & Paper Labels with Non-Toxic Ink

For more information about Kahle and to order some for yourself visit their web site.  Their site also has lots of recipes for making your signature drink with the addition of alcohol.  So whether you are looking for an alcoholic signature drink with fabulous juice or single bottles of non-alcoholic drinks for you wedding, Kahle is a great choice.  The addition of it being perfect for kosher weddings, or weddings that are gluten and GMO free make it more attractive to health conscious couples.

Summer's Here and Your Drinks Should Reflect It!

Do these drinks look great to you?  The folks over at Pizzazzerie have the recipes(and more photos too) to make your signature drinks stand out.  This is their photo above to entice you over to their web site! So head on over by using this link!  Pizzazzerie has more than just signature drinks though so take the time to browse their web site for everything to make your wedding day a WOW! Recipes for: Watermelon Berry Sparklers, Peach Summer Sangria, Frozen Cranberry Margaritas, Basil Lemonade, Pink Lemonade Cocktail -- hard to decide which to try first, although that Watermelon Berry Sparkler looks enticing!  What's your favorite? Why?

Add a Candy Twist?

Cocktail hours with candy twists? Hmm... well if these are the twists I'll take some! Pappabubble makes these pretty candy twists to use as drink garnishes that not only add flavor but add color and pizzazz to your cocktails.  Turn your cocktail into a guilty pleasure times two! Contact Papabubble at 2120966-2599.  Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Cocktails That Remind You of Your Childhood

OK, I admit, I only posted this initially because it cracked me up...and reminded me of my childhood...we used to do this with Kool-Aid and Pop-Rocks, so it's only fitting that we move Pop Rocks to a more adult beverage! For those of you who somehow missed out on the Pop Rock phenomena in your childhood, Pop Rocks are candy that makes a crackling sound as it hits your tongue.  They come in an assortment of flavors. 

For the bridal couple with a sense of humor, just rim your cocktails with these popping candies so they explode on the tongues of your guests.  These recipes found on Pizzazzerie's web site are just a few good combos for either cocktails or mocktails using these fun candy rocks.  Use these or make your own combos.  Half the fun of these is creating your own versions of Pop Rockin' Cocktails and taste testing them.  More recipes on Pop Rocks web site.

How do you make Pop Rock cocktails? According to Pizzazzerie "Simply dampen the edges of your glass with lemon juice. If you have trouble with the pop rocks clumping or sticking, you can try dipping them in a thin layer of caramel (but only use a small amount).Then dip the rims into a plate filled with the pop rocks of choice. You can also simply drop the POP ROCKS into your cocktail for a festive FIZZLE!

POP ROCKS ON THE BEACH

1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Midori melon liqueur
1/2 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur
3 splashes Pineapple juice
Drop Watermelon Pop Rocks on top

STRAWBERRY POPPER ROCKER

1 shot Strawberry Schnapps
Fill with 7-Up
Drop Strawberry Pop Rocks on top

MALIBU POP ROCKS

1 oz Malibu rum
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 splash Pineapple juice
1 splash Cranberry juice
Drop Fruit Punch Pop Rocks on top

Image via Food Network