Pineapple Margaritas - with Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Key Lime Margaritas

With Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas being available just about EVERYWHERE now - including my favorite grocery store, Safeway,  I wanted to give the Key Lime one a try.  I used the Strawberry Margarita in these Strawberry Sparklers that I made this summer and they were delicious.

Over the weekend during a visit to our cabin, we had plans to make all kinds of different concoctions.  However, we stopped after just one.  One try and it was perfect.  I had to give all of the credit to the margarita mix.  We did come up with another recipe - but I'll keep that to myself for now, stay tuned for a second variety.

This can easily be multiplied out to make a pitcher's worth - which I probably should have done in the first place.  I couldn't keep up with the rate of consumption!

Pineapple Margaritas
Serves 1

Salt (poured onto a small plate)
Crushed ice
4 oz Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas
2 oz pineapple juice
Splash of dry sparkling wine
Lime slices and pineapple wedges, for garnish

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass, then add salt by dipping the rim of the glass onto the plate.

In a cocktail shaker, add ice, margarita, and pineapple juice.  Shake well.

Add crushed ice to the glass and pour in Pineapple Margarita from cocktail shaker.  Top with a splash of dry sparkling wine.  Garnish and serve.

Summertime Entertaining Ideas

Summer is a GREAT time to gather friends and entertain!  Outdoor parties are always fun - not always the easiest to pull off here in the Valley of the Sun - but if you have misters or even outdoor air conditioners, it isn't impossible!

While planning your event or party, it's important to think about color palette, theme, and what will make your guests most happy.  I pulled together this list of ideas to hopefully inspire you!  I would keep this particular one to a "no kid" party so that the adults can spend their time relaxing and enjoying the company of their friends.  These entertaining ideas can certainly be used for an indoor or outdoor party.

If you have followed me for awhile, you know that I am big on serving lots of appetizers at a party rather than a meal.  These ideas are intended to that as well as to provide ideas on what you can prepare ahead of time so that you can ensure you enjoy the event to the fullest.

To set the tone of this "grown-up" party, I'd suggest starting with an invitation.  Paperless Post is a wonderful resource for all of your invitation needs - either paper or online.  They are passionate about the overall experience for their customers seeking unique invitations.  You can see their awesomely extensive invitation selection here.

For the above inspiration board, I was drawn towards the colors of plum, green, and gold.  On The Wedding Chicks site, you'll find more images of the gorgeous Bohemian styled tablescape here.  Small vases filled with colorful flowers are the perfect way to decorate the table such as the ones pictured above from Tulipina Floral Design.  Using brightly colored sliced fruit is another great way to line a vase and then fill with flowers as a centerpiece.   Adding some colorful candle holders around your event space, such as these ribbed glass lantern candle holders from World Market is easy.  They come in lots of colors and are currently on sale!

Even if you stick to serving appetizers only, having a beautifully decorated table will invite your guests to sit down, savor their food, and take a moment to relax.

When it comes to serving drinks, it's good to serve a variety - and always making sure to  have water, or even sparkling water, available.  The three cocktails shown in the above image can all be found on this blog.  Shock Top's Lemon Shandy, my mom's favorite margaritas, and the Blackberry Mojitos are all not only beautiful in color, but also cool and refreshing - perfect for summertime entertaining.

I am a big believer of serving your food on simple dinnerware and platters.  This allows the food to present itself.  Now I can't say that I don't have some decorative serving pieces myself, but for the most part, it's pretty simple!  Sur la Table had some great products that would look fantastic. Pictured below are the Chilewich Scribble Table Runner, their set of 4 Ochre Fiore Napkins, this Myko Serve Platter (currently a bargain - on sale for $17.96) and these Bistro Round Plates.  Now I'm not saying you have to go out and buy new plates, but having a set of white plates on hand, isn't THAT awful of an idea, is it?  :)

When you are ready to starting thinking about the food you will actually be serving, in my opinion, dishes you can prepare ahead is key - at least some of them!  Having a variety (including vegetarian options) will make your guests most happy.  From the inspiration board above, here are the links to the food ideas for your summertime party.

An easy make-ahead appetizer is this Blue Cheese Dip - for those who love blue cheese, this will be devoured.  Along with this, you can set out some cut veggies and hummus.

The Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sliders with a Berry Sauce and Blue Cheese Butter look absolutely delicious to me! However, not everyone is a fan of blue cheese so I would recommend having the butter on the side. Serving salads on a larger scale for your party goers are also popular during the summer as they are light and refreshing.  This Tuscan Melon and Blackberry Salad with Prosciutto and Yogurt Chèvre (a.k.a. Goat Cheese) Dressing from LunaCafe is not only beautiful in color - but meets the summer salad criteria perfectly.

Sliced avocados drizzled with olive oil then sprinkled with salt and pepper and finished off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice is another easy dish to prepare.   The Blood Orange Caprese Salad pictured above is one of my favorites.  Make a large portion and serve on a platter.  Your guests will thank you.

Shrimp and scallops are also ideal for summertime entertaining.  Flavorful but not too filling - and quick to make.  The Grilled Shrimp with Serrano Mint Sauce from Saramay's Specialties is easy and the sauce could certainly be made ahead of time.  Another seafood idea are these Sauteed Scallops with Peas in a Lemon Tarragon Sauce - some of these dishes will take you away from the party, but enlist a couple of foodie friends to pull these together, I'm sure they'd love to cook with you!

When it comes to dessert, you've got this.  Last summer I posted these make-ahead Mini Ice Cream Sundaes and they are PERFECT for entertaining!  They aren't huge, they are ready to go when you are ready to serve dessert, and they are devoured in an instant.  What's not to love?

I hope that you will "pin" this post and use as a reference as you plan your summertime parties - and if you do - please come back and tell me all about it!

Passionpolitan - A Cocktail Recipe from Sandra Lee

With Sandra Lee's announcement of her breast cancer diagnosis last week, I wanted to make a pink cocktail from her extensive library of drink recipes.  Last fall, I shared that I am a breast cancer survivor - 5/15/15 marks 2 years from the day that final drop of chemotherapy entered my body.  My first "clean" PET scan was in December 2013 and every scan since then has been clear.

I have been a fan of Sandra Lee for many years and while I know this is shocking news to her, I know she will fight hard and will get through this.  She is doing a great job of bringing awareness to the need for young women to ensure they are getting screened.

As I continue "Cocktail Month", I chose this Passionpolitan to make and share - mine didn't come out quite as pink as the photos on her website, but it was still delicious and ALL Sandra Lee! Lots of different alcohols in this mixture but it comes together beautifully.  After the first drink, we topped off the next one with some bubbly and named it The Forbbiden Punch.  This is a gorgeous drink, full of flavor, and perfect for the summer months.

Stay strong, Sandra Lee!  You've got this!!!

Passionpolitan
Makes 1 quart
Recipe from Sandra Lee

2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups cranberry juice
1/2 cup white tequila (Don Julio® Blanco, suggested)
1/2 cup vodka (Cîroc®, suggested)
1/2 cup passion fruit rum (Captain Morgan Parrott Bay® Passion Fruit, suggested)
1/2 cup gin (Tanqueray®, suggested)

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, serve over ice.  

Pineapple Refresher

It’s week 3 of “Cocktail Month” and I am excited to share a concoction that is new to me – but is sure to be an ongoing favorite.  This Pineapple Refresher couldn’t be easier to make and excellent on the palate during these hot summer months! 

A friend of mine told me about this and I may be hooked!  I’m sure you could use any flavored vodka to make this drink – I even saw a strawberry lemonade vodka at the store that might just be impeccable as well! 

I used a pineapple vodka made by New Amsterdam that I purchased at my local Safeway.  Topped off with some carbonated water and garnished with a slice of pineapple, it is the perfect drink for summer.  

Seltzer water was my choice, you could certainly use a mineral water such as Perrier or San Pellegrino – I just try to stick with something that doesn’t have sodium.

Another new product I tried while making this drink are silicone ice cube trays that produce perfectly square 1-inch cubes.  These were super easy to get out of the tray and the cubes look great in the glass.  There are bigger 2-inch trays you can purchase, but those are more for whiskey on the rocks – allowing for a slower rate of melting.  The name of the trays I purchased is called Elbee Silicone Ice Tray – 15 cube set of 2 and I bought them through Amazon for a mere $8.99.  These will see plenty of use!

Enjoy this one while the temperatures are warm – I’m sure you will love it!  Hint:  It’s even better in a chilled glass.

Pineapple Refresher

Makes 1 cocktail
Ice Cubes 
1 ½ ounces Pineapple Vodka 
Carbonated Water 
Sliced pineapple, for garnish

Fill chilled rocks glass with ice cubes.  Add 1 ½ ounces of pineapple vodka.  Top with carbonated water, stir, garnish and serve immediately.  

“Mad Men” Inspired Cocktails - Guest Post by Popsiculture

I was excited to have Angela from Popsiculture write a guest post for me!  We have known each other since high school and hands down, she knows more about pop culture than anyone I have ever met. You'll want to make sure to check out Angela's blog, here, so you can follow her too.  She also does freelance public relations and marketing and you can contact her through her site.  Thanks again, Angela, for writing this guest post!  These cocktails are perfect to sip while watching "Mad Men" on AMC - cheers!

The final episodes of “Mad Men” are now showing on Sunday nights on AMC.  “Mad Men” takes place in the 1960’s New York advertising world and specifically the Sterling Cooper agency and its many incarnations as the years go by.  Creative genius Don Draper is the center of the series and as you can guess he’s a complicated soul. 

I was late to the “Mad Men” party, but it’s a good one to be in attendance at, regardless of when you get there.  It’s smart, nostalgic, and really well written, so there are twists and turns you didn’t know existed on Madison Avenue. 

If you’ve got something to celebrate, or if you want to drown your sorrows knowing that Don Draper will never be in your life, ever again {don’t forget, there is streaming on Netflix, so you can re-watch any episodes you want,} here are a few of my favorite drink recipes, inspired by Sterling Cooper & Partners, or course.

"Mad Men" Inspired Cocktails

Below are the recipes for each of these cocktails - cheers!

Kir Royale with Chambord

Kir Royale with Chambord

Serves 4

3 oz. Chambord

1 bottle Champagne

Raspberries, for garnish

Pour 1 tablespoon Chambord into each glass.  Fill with Champagne, and garnish with raspberry.

Tom Collins

Tom Collins
Serves 1

1 oz. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. sugar

1 ½ oz. gin

Lemon or lime slices

Club Soda

Mix sugar, gin, and juice over ice in mixing glass.  Stir, strain in cocktail glass with ice, and top off with club soda.  Garnish with lemon or lime slices.

Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre

Serves 1

2 oz. light rum

1 oz. fresh lime juice

3 oz. Cola

Served in a highball glass, pour over ice in order given.  Garnish with a slice of lime.

Happy viewing and enjoy! 

For more ideas, check out AMC’s Mad Men Cocktail Guide here.

Gin Fizz - For a Crowd

For our annual Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt, my friend Gretchen over at Gretchen Wakeman Photography, brought this gorgeous dispenser filled with Gin Fizz.  She has delivered on a signature cocktail in the past too - bringing Mojitos last year and Citrus Sangria the year before.  If you haven't seen the post about this year's Easter Brunch, you can see the photos and read about it here.

I wanted to share this recipe with you - if you are hosting a big event, it is always nice to have something like this for your guests. It's easy for them to serve themselves and you aren't making individual drinks as they need more.  Gretchen was first served this drink by Angela over at Popsiculture and remembered how much she liked it.  Thanks Angela for sharing your recipe!  (P.S. stay tuned for a future guest post from Popsiculture!)

Gin Fizz
Amount shown in dispenser is what this recipe delivers :)

2 (2-liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 (12-ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup lime juice
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 1/2 cups gin
Ice

Combine all ingredients and serve.

Blackberry Mojitos

It’s the final week of “Cocktail Month” for my column over on The Southeast Valley Ledger and why not finish out the month with a fun drink like a Blackberry Mojito?

Mojitos are super easy and perfectly refreshing in the summer. The classic version is a mixture of light rum, limes, mint, and club soda – adding a few blackberries while muddling the mint gives the cocktail a beautiful color and fruity taste. You don’t necessarily need a “muddler” to make these, but you will need a cocktail shaker and the back of a spoon.

 

 

Blackberry Mojitos

Serves 2

 

4 ounces light rum (I use Bacardi)

12-14 mint leaves

2 tablespoons sugar

10-12 blackberries

2 limes, cut into quarters then each quarter cut cross-wise. Save a little bit to slice for garnish.

Club soda

Ice

 

To your cocktail shaker add the mint leaves and sugar. Using a muddler or the back of a spoon, mix them together, breaking up the mint. Add the blackberries, muddle more. Squeeze all of the limes into the cocktail shaker and drop them in there, muddle just a little bit more. Add rum. Put top on shaker and start shakin’!

 

Fill two rocks glasses with crushed ice. Strain the liquid into each glass, then remove top to add some of the limes and blackberries. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Mom's Favorite Margaritas - Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This is the 2^nd week for “Cocktail Month” and Mother’s Day is also rapidly approaching.  So, I decided to ask my mom for her favorite cocktail to feature in this week’s column and she was happy to share.

Typically Mom is a wine or champagne drinker, but in the summertime, she also loves a good margarita with Mexican food.  My dad had a tried and true margarita recipe that he would always make and they are her favorite.  She was kind enough to share the recipe with me – I made it for friends, and they loved it. One of them even said, “Probably the best margarita I have ever had.  No joke.  Something to be said for family recipes vs. Pinterest recipes!!!”  I was happy to see all of my friends enjoying this concoction. 

Mom was even kind enough to take a photo of the recipe my dad taped inside of the liquor cabinet.  He used to use Mr. & Mrs.T Margarita mix, but then Costco stopped selling it so he started using their Kirkland Signature Classic Lime Margarita mix.  The Tequila?  Well, another item you an find at Costco, Hornitos Reposado Tequila.

Mom’s Favorite Margaritas
Serves 4
12 ounces Kirkland Non-Alcoholic Premium Margarita Mix – Classic Lime (available at Costco)
6 ounces Hornitos Reposado Tequila
4 ounces Triple Sec
4 ounces orange juice
Sliced limes (for garnish)

Combine all of the ingredients into a pitcher, stir to combine.  If desired (never done by my mom…..or dad – no salt on their margarita rims!) wet the rim of the glass and dip in salt.  Fill margarita glasses full with crushed ice.  Add margarita mixture and garnish with a slice of lime.

I certainly hope that you try this recipe for margaritas, it is certainly a favorite for Mom!  Once you do, please visit this post and leave a comment giving me your thoughts!

Apple Cider Sangria

This week, I was fortunate enough to have Frank Palazzolo share one of his recipes with me and I think you are going to love it! 

Frank and his wife Angelina own and manage Nonna Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria {named after his grandmother} located in Oracle, AZ.   I can’t wait to make a special trip to Oracle just to check out this restaurant – from the website and the menu, it looks delicious! 

This will be a perfect cocktail for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.  While I’m not hosting Thanksgiving dinner in my own home, I plan to make a pitcher at our friends’ house where we will be celebrating, to consume while we are preparing the feast and enjoying appetizers.    

Apple Cider Sangria
Makes 1 pitcher
Recipe courtesy of Frank Palazzolo, owner and operator of Nonna Maria’s.

1 bottle of pinot grigio
2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider
1 cup club soda

1/2 c brandy
3 apples chopped (a mix of red delicious & granny smith)

Fresh Rosemary 3 sprigs

3 tablespoons sugar

Wet the rosemary & drudge through sugar.  Use this rosemary as a garnish and place in pitcher to serve. 

Combine remaining ingredients together in a pitcher and stir, stir, stir. Refrigerate for an hour or so (or longer!) before serving. 

If you are interested in visiting Nonna Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, you can find it at 2161 Rockcliffe Blvd., Oracle, AZ.  It is approximately 15 minutes north of the junction of Highway 79 (Florence Hwy) and Highway 77 (Oracle Road in Tucson). You can visit their website at http://www.nonnamarias.com/ or call them at 520-896-3522.  I understand that it has one of the best sunset views of Oracle. 

Kila Cava - Who Doesn't Love A Good Cava?

This is a super tasty Cava that is a must share with you.  I learned about this particular bubbly last November while visiting San Francisco celebrating my best friend's 40th birthday.  Kila Cava.  Remember it - it's delicious!

Cavas are a sparkling wine straight out of Spain and this is one you'll want to try.  It's dry - my favorite - it's apple-y, citrus-y, and very refreshing.  A bottle will run you around $13 - what a bargain!

I hope you'll give Kila Cava a try - I think you'll enjoy it!  Please stop back by this post to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

 

Whiskey Sour

Here is another cocktail I recently featured in my column for the Southeast Valley Ledger.  It's important to keep track of such deliciousness - so a must to add to the blog!

Whiskey is not my first drink of choice, but as far as hard alcohol goes, it’s one I can certainly tolerate.  Back in my 20s, I used to drink Jack and Coke’s like they were going out of style.   Proudly, I introduced the woman, who I now call my best friend, to this scrumptious cocktail at my bachelorette party almost 17 years ago.  Today, it is still her drink of choice.

Another favorite whiskey drink of mine is the Manhattan.  A good friend of mine re-introduced me to this one a couple of years ago.  I’ll drink them on occasion now and usually it’s always with him!

This week I wanted to focus on a whiskey sour.  This is a yummy drink to sip on a warm summer afternoon.   

What do you think of that glass in the photo?  It came straight out of my Great Grandma Valente’s house.  I have four glasses and a pitcher, yes, an entire set that has to be at least 60 years old.  My paternal grandpa saved those, specifically for me when I was just a little girl. I think they are awesome!

I hope that you’ll give this recipe a try and leave a comment here or on my Facebook page!

Whiskey Sour
Makes 1 cocktail

1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce sugar
2 ounces water
1.5 ounces whiskey (I used Jack Daniels)
Ice
Maraschino Cherry for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine lemon juice, sugar, and water.  Stir or shake to combine and dissolve the sugar.  Add whiskey, mix again.  Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.  Garnish with cherry. 

Orange Julius Cocktail

During our Easter Brunch over the weekend, my good friend and neighbor offered to make Orange Julius Cocktails for interested guests - man was this a hit! 

After texting her mother who was at her house while her little one napped, a bottle of Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka was quickly passed over the fence (we have "fencelined" many things over the years!) and the cocktails began flowing. 

This is super easy and quite refreshing.  It became a great transition from mimosas to an afternoon cocktail for our guests! 

Orange Julius Cocktail
Serves 1

1/3 part Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
1/3 part orange juice
1/3 part Sprite (or diet Sprite)

Fill a rocks glass with ice, add ingredients, stir, and enjoy!

Orange-tini

Now that summer is winding down and everyone is getting back into their normal routines, we have returned to our weekend get togethers with our good friends - trying out new cocktail ideas and recipes!  

This weekend our friends hosted and served Orange-tinis - they were excellent!   We took the idea for rimming the glass with Tang from one of the martinis served at Blue Wasabi.  Freshly squeezed oranges are most important - it helps that our friends have 44 orange trees on their property! 

I hope you give these a try and let me know what you think!  Cheers!

Orange-tini
Makes 2 (good sized!) drinks

3 shots mandarin orange vodka
1/2 shot triple sec
juice of one orange
1/2 shot dry vermouth (optional)
Tang, on a small plate for dipping the martini glass

Keep your martini glasses in the freezer until ready.  Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add above three ingredients to the shaker, shake to combine.  Take the orange and line the rim of the glass with some of the juice.  Dip the martini glass into the Tang.  Pour cocktail through strainer from shaker into glass.  Enjoy!