Posts Tagged ‘signature drinks’

Double Cider Bourbon Punch

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Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Inspired by a punch made by my gal pal La Femme Epicure, I combined a few of my favorite things into a large drink dispenser and served it with a side of ice. Festive fall happiness in a glass.

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Double Cider Bourbon Punch

Serves 10

2 Quarts Spiced Apple Cider

375 ml. Bottle of Bourbon (1/2 a bottle)

1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Bottle Sparkling Water

24 ozs Hard Apple Cider (we like Strongbow, Crispin and Angry Orchard Dry)

3-5 mini apples and whole cloves for studding (optional garnish)

Fresh Ice for Serving

Mix the spiced apple cider, bourbon and lemon juice and chill well. Stud a few mini apples with whole cloves and plop into the cider mixture to seep. Just before serving add the fizzy elements, sparkling water and cider. Mix well and serve over ice!

 

xo,

Lydia

 Photos by Bridget Pizzo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Watermelon Margaritas

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Hi friends, we redeveloped our most requested summer drink for The Daily Meal!

Watermelon Margaritas

Our antidote to the post-holiday blues, a margarita that’s just different enough to make any long Thursday feel like the start of a four-day weekend.  We’ve been making these for four years and we still can’t think of a better way to sample summer melons.  When they are perfectly in season, you don’t need the agave, your juice will be sweet enough as is.  Now, where’s the pool?

 

Watermelon Margaritas with a squeeze of lime

Fresh Watermelon Margaritas
make 1 big pitcher

8 cups fresh chopped organic watermelon, about 1 small seedless
1-1/2 cups premium white tequila
Juice of 5 organic limes, about 2/3 cup
½ cup Triple Sec or Cointreau
2 tablespoons organic agave syrup, to taste

Optional:
Kosher salt for the rims

Lime wedges and watermelon triangles for garnish

Purée the watermelon cubes in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain into a pitcher and then add the fresh lime juice, tequila, triple sec and a pinch of salt. Test for sweetness, adding agave syrup if the watermelon juice is not sweet enough. Chill for at least one hour before serving. Mixture will separate so mix well before serving over ice in glasses with salted rims.

 

Watermelon Margaritas

 

Cheers!

xo,

us

Lydia’s Dinner Party Advice

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by Lydia Ellison

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Got this question yesterday from a dear friend…

“So I have 5 women coming over (in their 50’s, 40’s and 30’s) and I want to really do it up. Something impressive, but also, not terribly hard to make as I am an amateur.”

This was my response…

Ok this is my advice on entertaining, much of it I learned from Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa books and cooking show. Her two biggest rules are…

1. Only serve 3 dishes for dinner and a dessert and only cook 2 of the dishes (i.e. a store bought dessert, or one dish a green salad.) Trust me, cooking is fun but tiring and you have to shop and get the house ready so don’t over do it. Just make 2 really yummy dishes and simplify the other dishes.

2. NEVER make a dish that requires lots of last minute work, you won’t be able to hang out with your guests if you are stirring risotto during cocktails!

So for your party based on that above advice these are my suggestions…

Do 1 store bought appetizers and a signature drink (the sig. drink adds the “wow” factor)
Appetizers ideas-
soft goat cheese drizzled with honey, wafer crackers or bread and walnuts
proscuitto wrapped around bread sticks
sliced cucumber and pita bread with store bought taziki
sliced baguette topped with blue cheese, melt in the oven and then top with a drizzle of honey
olive tapenade and bread and mini mozzeralla balls

Signature Drinks-
prosecco with a spoonful of lemon or raspberry sorbet mixed in the glass
Gwyneth’s dirty martinis
white wine sangria- fruity Savingon Blanc with sliced citrus fruit and a cup of lemonade all mixed in a pitcher
bottle of rose champagne (so chic)

Salad Course– (you  must make your own dressing, this one is good)
grilled eggplant with goat cheese
mixed greens with a round of goat cheese on a baguette round toasted in the oven
butter lettuce with a creamy vinaigrette
roast butternut squash salad

Dinner Course-
Vegetable Lasagna this recipe is SO GOOD and you can make it in advance warm it up during cocktails
Indonesia Ginger chicken with garlic smashed potatoes (so so yum)
Baked Shrimp Scampi– incredible!! serve with white wine, french bread and this

Dessert course- no bake ideas
store bought pound cake served with fresh berries and lemon yogurt sauce
good chocolate cookies (from a bakery) and fresh strawberries
good brownies (from a bakery) warmed slightly topped with vanilla ice cream
chocolate sorbet with this raspberry sauce (very light which is good for women) salad

Thought this might be helpful to some of you out there!

xo,

LE