3 Lemonade Cocktails

Each recipe serves 4. Combine the ingredients in a pitcher and serve over ice.

• Lemonade margarita  Mix 2¼ cups lemonade and ¾ cup tequila. Garnish with lemon rounds.
• Lemon-champagne sparkler  Mix 1 cup lemonade, 2 cups Champagne or some other sparkling wine, and 2 tablespoons cranberry juice cocktail.
• Gin shandy  Mix 1 cup lemonade, one 12-ounce bottle ginger beer, and ¾ cup gin.

Warm-Weather Wines

Real Simple's List of Warm-Weather Wines
(Here's the list...follow the link above for more details.)

René Barbier Mediterranean White
Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Rosé
2009 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc
2010 Remy Pannier Rosé d'Anjou
2009 MandraRossa Fiano
2009 Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc
2010 Bieler Père et Fils Rosé
2010 Flipflop Pinot Grigio
2010 El Coto Rioja Rosado
2009 Bogle Vineyards Chardonnay

Best Cocktail Mixes

Best Bloody Mary: Dave's Gourmet
Best Mojito: Purista
Best Cosmo: Freshies
Best Margarita: Williams Sonoma Lemon Lime
Best Pina Colada: Roland
Best Fruity Martini: Stirrings Simple Apple Martinia

(Pics here)

Frozen Blueberry Lemondae

Good recipe for frozen blueberry lemonade. And you can add 1/2 cup vodka for a cocktail.

Flavored Water

I saw a report the other day about making your own flavored water with flavorings that are helpful to your digestive system as well as giving you overall health benefits.

Mix 4 ingredients with your water:
LEMON
CUCUMBER
GINGER
MINT

Mulled Wine

Nice and warm for the winter...

1 navel orange
4 cups apple juice
2 Tb honey
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
6 whole allspice berries
10 cinnamon sticks
1 bottle dry red wine

Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest from the orange in long strips.
In a large saucepan, gently simmer the zest, apple juice, honey, ginger, allspice and 2 cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook just until heated through. Serve hot with the remaining cinnamon sticks.

Drink Pairings...on a budget

Backyard Bar-B-Q with burgers, franks, chicken, steak and ribs.
Red: 2006 Valentin Bianchi Elsa Malbec $9
White/Rose: 2006 McManis Family Vineyards Viognier $11
Beer: Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale $4

Happy Hour with cheese, crackers, nuts, olives, dip and chips.
Red: 2006 George Duboeuf Chiroubles Beaujolais $12
White/Rose: 2006 Big House Pink $10
Beer: Harpoon India Pale Ale $8.50

Casual Dinner with soups, salads, pastas, and light chicken dishes
Red: 2005 Michele Chiarlo "le Orme" Barbera D'Asti $14
White/Rose: Broadbent Vinho Verde $12
Beer: Blue Moon Belgian White Ale $8

Quick and Easy Cocktails

For Taran!

Margarita = 1 Corona + 1 can thawed Limeade + 1.5 cups Tequila

Strawberry Daiquiri = 1 pint strawberry sorbet + 1.75 light rum (blend with 6 cups ice)

Sangria = 1 bottle red wine + 3 cups apple juice + 1 peach (sliced)

Berry Vodka Spritzers

Halve four limes and squeeze into a pitcher. (If desired, cut the squeezed limes into small pieces and add to the pitcher.) Mix in 3 Tbs. sugar. Add 1 liter club soda, 1 cup berry-flavored vodka, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup raspberries. Pour over ice. Serves 8.