Tuesday, August 01, 2006

boozy summerlicious drinks

Slushy Watermelon Mojitos

Like the best Icee you've ever had! And much easier than regular mojitos which require you to squeeze limes and muddle mint.

5 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1 cup sparkling water, chilled
3/4 cup white rum
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1 6-oz can frozen limeade concentrate (undiluted)
mint sprigs, raspberries, & lime slices for decorating (optional)

Arrange watermelon on a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze about 2 hours. (Cut very small pieces if you're in a hurry--they'll freeze faster.)

Combine frozen watermelon, sparkling water, rum, mint, and limeade in a blender; process until the consistency is very smooth. (Note: I have to do this in two batches even with a decent-sized blender.) Garnish as desired and serve right away!

Nonalcoholic version (also very good and kid-friendly): Substitute more sparkling water for the rum.

Serves 4-6 (depending on the size of the glass--I say, make it a big one. It's been a hot summer!)

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light magazine.


Sarah's Garden Sangria

Feel free to substitute with whatever you keep in your cupboard, fridge, or backyard. Quantities of the flavorings are approximate, depending on how fruity, sweet, or alchoholic you like your sangria.

1 nectarine or peach, cut into wedges
1 nectarine or peach, finely diced
1 cup raspberries or sliced strawberries
1 cup whole raspberries or finely diced strawberries
4 or more long sprigs of mint and/or lemon balm and/or lemon verbena
2 sliced lemons
2 cinnamon sticks
4 or more Tbsp spiced or white rum
6 or more Tbsp orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier or Triple Sec)
6 or more Tbsp sugar (I like to use vanilla sugar)
1 bottle dry red wine (like a Spanish rioja)
club soda or sparkling water, chilled

Mix all ingredients except for diced fruit and club soda.
Muddle them to release the juices.
Let sit for at least several hours.
Strain mixture into pitcher, pressing on fruit to extract juices.
Fill tall glass with ice, add wine mixture halfway, and finish with club soda. Top with finely diced fruit.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am glad to this post because at some point this summer (at least in my head) I declared that it would be the summer of cocktails. So far, all that has amounted to is a very tasty lime cordial and traditional mojitos (and maybe you can count the cassis I threw into some mixed berry granita, the making of which was prompted by cleaning out the fridge). Since I only have three weeks before the semester begins, I'd better get drinking.

11:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

uh, that should say I am glad to see this post.

11:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really very good. Sarah made these for us on Sat. Now I just need to find an audience for more of these. On the other hand, husband and I could probably finish off the batch.... we wouldn't be walking afterwards.... but hey

11:40 AM  
Blogger Sarah @ Baby Bilingual said...

Tara--I'd try something flavorless, like cantalope, unless you wanted to make it particularly fruity with, say, an orange-flavored liqueur.

4:53 PM  
Blogger Sarah @ Baby Bilingual said...

Good grief. The wrong spelling of the wrong word. I meant "something flavorless, like vodka," as opposed to, say, rum. I wish we could edit comments after we post them!

8:22 PM  
Blogger Sarah @ Baby Bilingual said...

Or Tara, what about a melon-flavored liqueur, like Midori?

7:34 AM  

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