Saturday, July 7, 2012

Spirited Spirits

Stellar Mojito 

Makes 2 drinks:

20 mint leaves, plus mint sprigs for garnish
4 tbsp. fresh lime juice (2-3 limes), plus 2 lime slices for garnish
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. white rum
crushed ice
1/2 c. club soda

In tall glasses, combine 8-10 mint leaves with 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice and 1 tbsp. sugar. Crush mint leaves into the mixture. Add 1/8 c. white rum to each glass and lots of crushed ice. Top each glass with 1/4 c. club soda and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slices and serve!

Watermelon Margarita

Makes 4 drinks:

3 c. chopped watermelon
Juice of 10 limes (3/4 to 1 c.)
1/3 c. sugar
2 cups ice cubes
1 c. tequila
1/2 c. Grand Marnier or triple sec

Blend watermelon, lime juice, sugar, and ice and blend until smooth. Add tequila and Grand Marnier/ triple sec and pulse to mix. Fill tall glasses with more ice and serve.

White Sangria

Makes 4 drinks:

One 750 ml bottle of dry white wine (sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio will do)
1/2 to 1 c. brandy, to taste
1/4 c. sugar
2 limes, sliced into wedges
2 lemons, sliced into wedges
1 orange, sliced into wedges
1 green apple, sliced
1 small bunch of white grapes and sliced in half
1 c. seltzer
ice cubes

Combine wine, brandy, and sugar in a large pitcher until sugar is dissolved. Add fruit and seltzer to the pitcher and let it sit for 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator before serving. Add ice before serving!


These are from 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know by Cindi Leive and the Editors of Glamour Magazine

Leive, C. (Ed.). (2010). 100 recipes every woman should know. New York, NY: Hyperion.


Lemonade with Strawberries

Perfect Lemonade with Strawberries

Serves 6 to 8:


2/3 c. sugar
5 cups cold filtered
Zest from 2 lemons
1 c. fresh lemon juice (5-7 lemons)
1 pint strawberries (fresh or frozen), chopped in half and with hulls removed
2 dozen ice cubes

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, 1 c. water, and lemon zest. Simmer gently over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

2. Strain the syrup into a 2-quart serving pitcher. Stir in lemon juice and remaining 4 c. water.

3. In blender, puree strawberries.

4. Pour strawberry puree into the pitcher, stir in the ice, and serve.


These are from 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know by Cindi Leive and the Editors of Glamour Magazine

Leive, C. (Ed.). (2010). 100 recipes every woman should know. New York, NY: Hyperion.