The Happiest Hour {Pineapple Sangria}

If you follow me Twitter, you probably saw me post about this delicious pineapple sangria we concocted this weekend. One of my favorite things to do with fruit that is going bad is make a delicious batch of sangria. With a bit a pineapple that was headed for the trash, we decided to run to the store and pick up some white wine instead of tossing it. Using what we had in the house and guessing our way through it, it turned out exceptionally good. Light, fruity, and just the right amount of sweetness makes this sangria a great drink for afternoons spend outdoors. Here's the mix up...

:: Ingredients :: (All of these measurements are estimates. We just began throwing things in a dispenser and ended up with a tasty beverage!)
2 Bottles White Wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
2 oz. Coconut Rum
4 oz. Triple Sec
1 Cup Pineapple Juice
1 Cup Blood Orange Sorbet (I used Talenti brand, and melted it)
4 Cups diced Pineapple
1 Lime Sliced

Cheers!

The Happiest Hour {Red Razzie}

Hello! Today we are expanding. Seeing as cocktails are such an important part of any soiree, I'm taking cocktail posts to a whole new level with their own post, The Happiest Hour. And even though it's early in the day to be talking happy hour, it is, after all, five o'clock somewhere. So in honor of the inaugural post, I'm bringing to you today a refreshing Red Razzie. Yes, I did just make that name up, but the outcome is well worth the experimentation. Light and refreshing, this fruity cocktail is lovely for sipping on a hot afternoon. By mixing fresh raspberries with raspberry vodka, you get a sweet flavor explosion. Here's the mix up...

:: Ingredients ::

2 parts Raspberry Vodka

2 parts Club Soda

1 part Simple Syrup

Handful of fresh Raspberries

Lime wedge for garnish

:: Directions ::

1. Muddle fresh raspberries in a shaker, add raspberry vodka and simple syrup. Shake.

2. Pour into a rocks glass over ice.

3. Add club soda, stir, and garnish with a lime wedge. 

Cheers!

Indulge In {Strawberry Sangria}

The week is nearing to an end and it's time to start planning the weekend's festivities. While my Saturday will be full of back to back events, I plan on spending my Sunday relaxing with light, fruity cocktails and celebrating the day. 

This past weekend while celebrating the Easter holiday, my step mom had me recreate a recipe she found for strawberry sangria. It's light and full of flavor, perfect for celebrating any occasion, even if it's just a Sunday. Plus the vibrant color is bound to improve your mood just by looking at it. Seeing as it has to sit overnight, this sangria is perfect for making in advance and pouring when ready. Here's the recipe for your sipping enjoyment...

:: Ingredients ::

8 C strawberries, halved with the top cut off

2/3 C white sugar

1/2 C water

1 Bottle (750 ml) white wine

1 orange, sliced

1 C strawberries, sliced 

1 Bottle sparkling water

:: Directions ::

1. In a medium sauce pan, combine 8 cup strawberries, sugar and water. Bring just to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar. Turn burner off and cover. Let cool to room temperature. 

2. Strain strawberry syrup mixture through a fine mesh colander. Discard the solids. It should make about 3 cups syrup.

3. In a large pitcher, combine wine, syrup, 1 cup sliced strawberries and orange slices. Place in the refrigerator and let sit over night.

4. Serve with a splash of sparkling water. Sip and enjoy!

The Pink Drink

Because there's not really a better name for it. I love my family more than anything. They are probably one of the funniest, most random groups of people you will ever meet. Living three hours away can be difficult, but they always try to include me when they can through pictures, texts, and phone calls. One Saturday night I was enjoying a relaxing evening at home with R when I get my scheduled weekend update. This one came from my aunt. It was a simple text stating that my Dad's "Pink Drink" was great. In my 23 years of existence, never has he made a "Pink Drink". Confused by this so called "great" drink I had never heard of, I was dying to know what was in it. A combination of prosecco, limoncello, and raspberry, my aunt was convinced that it was absolutely fabulous. Ever since I got that text a couple months ago, I've been dying to recreate it for myself. Of course I couldn't pass up this "great" drink recipe, and this weekend I headed off to the store to pick up the necessary ingredients. Skipping the outrageously priced raspberries, I opted instead for strawberries. With bottles, and fruit, in hand, I headed home and here's what I created...

:: Ingredients ::

6 Strawberries, pureed, plus more for garnish

Prosecco

Limoncell

:: Directions ::

1. Puree the strawberries

2. Mix one part strawberry puree, one part Limoncello, and two parts Prosecco

3. Garnish with a strawberry and Enjoy!

After a little afternoon indulgence, I realized my aunt was right. The "Pink Drink" truly is great! 

This Party Inspired By...Bars

If you don't know by now, I love bars. I think it runs in the family. But I have this new obsession of turning everything into a bar. Seriously. I'm talking champagne bar, trail mix bar, cereal bar, hamburger bar, taco bar, s'mores bar. The list could go on forever. And better yet, I have this new plan for my very distant future wedding, a bar theme. It could very well happen. Forget the passed hor d'ourves, I want the cocktail hour to be fill with a mini bar. Ha! Seriously, there was no pun intended there. I want a bar of all things mini. Fix your own mini taco, or slider, or whatever. Then when mini bar hour commences, I would like a full bar spread with who even knows what! I'm completely convinced bars are the party food of the future! Tell me. Love the bar idea or hate it?