Strawberry Sparklers - A 4th of July Drink with Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Strawberry Margaritas

For the past couple of years, I have posted a fun, colorful cocktail, perfect for the 4^th of July…and this year is no different.  In 2013, I shared a recipe for Patriotic Punch, complete with a Pop Rock rim - in 2014, a Flagarita.

This year, I’m excited to share these Strawberry Sparklers made with Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™  Strawberry Margaritas!  There is a Cocktail Time™ Key Lime Margarita available as well. These ready to serve products are infused with real key limes and strawberries, pure cane sugar, premium blue agave silver tequila, triple sec liqueur and other natural flavors.  

I’ve followed Sandra Lee for years – she’s creative, shows how entertaining can be easy, designs beautiful tablescapes and of course always knows when “It’s Cocktail Time!”

These Strawberry Sparklers come together very quickly – I made them individually, but you could also multiply the ingredients to combine in a pitcher and then serve.  I thought the striped paper straws and “firework” picks were perfect for the holiday!  But, if you aren’t celebrating the 4^th, you can skewer a couple of strawberries and blueberries and lay across the top of the glass for garnish. 

Earlier this year Sandra Lee launched her Cocktail Time™  products and they can be found in liquor stores such as Total Wine and BevMo.  Unfortunately, in May, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bilateral mastectomy but is recovering well and is ready to beat this and get back to her life.  This hit close to home as I received my own breast cancer diagnosis in January 2013 – you can read my story here. 

Independence Day is one of Sandra Lee’s favorite holidays - I am excited to share this idea for your 4th of July festivities this year!  

Toasting to you on your birthday today, Sandra Lee, with these Strawberry Sparklers!  Happy Birthday and keep fighting the hard fight - you’ve got this! 

Strawberry Sparklers
Makes 1 Cocktail

5 ounces dry sparkling wine (I used Depreville Extra Dry)
4 ounces Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™  Strawberry Margarita
1 lime wedge
Ice Cubes
Blueberries – 3 to 4

Fill glass with ice cubes.  Add the sparkling wine and then top with the Cocktail Time Strawberry Margarita.  Squeeze in the lime wedge and gently stir to combine.  Drop in a few blueberries and serve.  

4th of July Cocktail Roundup

I wanted to share some of my favorite 4^th of July Cocktails that I have seen and “pinned” (including a couple of my own) to help you celebrate this Independence Day.  In this roundup, I have also included a kid friendly drink that I don’t think any child will pass up! 

You won’t find any alcohol soaked fruit or patriotic jello shots – I never serve anything like this when there are kids around…I don’t want to take a chance that a child will consume one of these!

I will go through the drinks from the top left of the collage and work my way around the images.  The first cocktail featured is the Flagarita I posted in 2014 – this is a margarita with Blue Curaçao to give it that patriotic color.  

Top middle is an easy Red, White, and Blue Sangria from Punchbowl – complete with star-shaped pineapples!  

The TomKat Studio Blog recently posted these Red + Blue Piña Coladas featuring Seagram’sEscapes – the image was so beautiful, how could I not include it?  Kim Stoegbauer is local too – you can visit her shop in Chandler, AZ.

Bottom left is our Kid-Friendly Patriotic Punch from Mom Endeavors – what kid could resist a colorful drink topped off with a Twizzler? 

The Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey Cocktail is only for the brave!  This fiery drink will likely set your mouth of fire this 4^th of July – but why not just try one...you know, for fun!  The details to make this cocktail is featured on Better Recipes.  

Last but not least, the final image on the bottom right is the Patriotic Punch I posted to The Bubbly Hostess in 2013 – complete with a rim of Pop Rocks, this rum based cocktail is one fun drink to consume!

I hope you have enjoyed this roundup and that you have a safe and happy 4^th of July!!!

Flagarita - A Cocktail for the 4th of July

It’s that time of year again – 4^th of July!  A day we pay tribute to our brave military forces for protecting us and fighting for our freedom.  A day when we also spend time with family and friends enjoying BBQs, swimming, and of course fireworks. 

Last year I featured a Patriotic Punch cocktail to help you celebrate the day.  This year I went for another super easy cocktail you can make in no time.  This is a simple margarita recipe that swaps out the Triple Sec for Blue Curaçao still giving you that yummy orange flavor that makes a margarita perfect while at the same time coloring it blue to help celebrate our country.  Note that I didn’t add any sort of simple syrup to it – I kind of liked the tartness of the drink without it.  Play around with the recipe though – make it so that it pleases your palate!

Flagarita
Makes 1 Cocktail

1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
1 part Blue Curaçao
1 part Silver Tequila (I used Tequila Jose Cuervo Especial Silver)
Crushed Ice
Salt (optional)

Put your glass in the freezer before you begin making the Flagaritas.  If you haven’t done this and you are short on time, you can add crushed ice to your glass and fill with water to chill while you mix your drink.

Fill your cocktail shaker about 2/3 full with crushed ice.  Add the lime juice, Blue Curaçao, and Silver Tequila.   Shake!  Get your glass ready (dump out ice water if you did that) and rim with salt, if desired.  Remove the entire top of the cocktail shaker and fill glass with drink and crushed ice. 

Enjoy – and Happy 4^th of July!

Patriotic Punch - Cheers to the USA!

In the spirit of 4th of July being right around the corner, I decided to make a fun cocktail that we can enjoy while we swelter in the over 110 degree heat is in the forecast for that day!

A couple of nights ago, I made a very impromptu decision to invite over a girlfriend to drink champagne and come up with a patriotic cocktail.  After staying up way too late and drinking lots of champagne, this is where we landed.   Blue Curaçao gives it the beautiful color and adds the flavor of oranges.  This is super easy to find at your local liquor store.   You can make these by the glass or whip up a pitcher of them as the parts are equal for each liquid.

It's the perfect combination of tropical, refreshing, AND patriotic!  I hope you'll serve this at your 4th of July parties and come back to leave feedback on what you think!

Cheers to the USA!

Patriotic Punch

Makes 2 drinks

4 ounces Blue Curaçao

4 ounces white rum

4 ounces pineapple juice

Frozen Maraschino cherries

Red Pop Rocks

Chill two tall glasses in the freezer.  To freeze the Maraschino cherries, pat them dry with a paper towel.  Then lay them out on a sheet of wax paper on a baking sheet and freeze for several hours or overnight.

Before opening the bag of Pop Rocks, smash them into smaller pieces with a mallet or hammer.  Pour them into a shallow dish.  Wet the rim of your glass with water or you could also use a wedge of lime.  Turn the glass upside down into the dish and let the Pop Rocks stick.

To make the drink, in a shaker full of ice, add Blue Curaçao, white rum, and pineapple juice.  Shake, shake, shake!  Carefully fill your Pop Rock rimmed glasses with ice then pour in cocktail.  Garnish with frozen Maraschino cherries.