A well mixed margarita is much more than just a simple cocktail. Kick it up a notch with tangy fruit flavors, fresh ingredients, and interesting liqueurs. Celebrate the long, lazy days of summer ahead with one, or several of these amazing margaritas!

Berry Rita

Get your blender ready! The tangy sweetness of summer berries blend perfectly with Chambord , an intensely flavored raspberry liqueur. This delightful libation is a must have for a sultry summer day.

MintyRita

Here’s a new twist on the ever-hot mojito. Instead of rum, tequila adds a tasty and powerful punch, pairing precisely well with the mint and lime. Serve them by the pitcherful and strike up the salsa music!

Spring has sprung! It’s the perfect time to have your friends in for a Spring Fling! Mix up a signature cocktail like this delicious libation, a light mix of  vodka, a dash of passionfruit liqueur, and strawberry juice, stir it up and your good to go!

I recently made a batch for a Sip & See, and the ladies were loving it!

Lights, Camera, Oscar!

Create your own glamorous Hollywood-inspired Oscar night at home for this years 84^th Academy Awards, complete with your Oscar inspired cocktails.

The key to winning night? Making everyone feel at home and relaxed to take in the big show.

The Artist

With it’s stunning international cast, this modern day black and white film is a must see, with a classic cocktail, of course.

The Starlet

1oz. orange juice

2 oz. peach liqueur

4 oz. champagne

Lemon twist for garnish

In a champagne coupe pour the orange juice and peach liqueur. Top with Champagne, garnish with twist of lemon and serve.

The Descendents

Set on the majestic islands of Hawaii, the scenery in the movie keeps your senses alive with the lush tropic landscape. This cocktail mimics that perfectly.

Tropic Touch

2oz. light rum

1 oz. freshly squeezed limejuice

½ oz. agave nectar

2 oz. puree of tropical fruits

Lime wheel for garnish

Seltzer to top

In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine ingredients and shake well. Strain into a glass filled with ice, top with seltzer, garnish with lime wheel and serve.

The Help

Set in Mississippi during the 60’s, the help is a collaboration of black women and their stories of working for white women in a small southern town. The messages in the movie are strong and pure, much like the flavors in this southern bourbon and sweet nectar cocktail.

The Skeeter

6 mint leaves plus one for garnish

2 lime wedges

½ oz. agave nectar

1 oz. peach nectar

3 oz. Maker’s Mark bourbon

Splash ginger ale

In a cocktail shaker muddle the mint leaves, lime wedges, and agave syrup. Add ice, bourbon, and peach nectar.  Shake well and strain into a glass filled half way with ice. Top with a splash of ginger ale, garnish with mint sprig and serve.

Midnight in Paris

Ooh Paris, in the morning, afternoon, or evening is splendid, but Paris after midnight is magical. This cocktail is a combination of Hemingway’s’ go to libations with just the balance of sweet and sour to get your create juices flowing.

Hemingway’s Demise

2 oz. Gin

1 oz. Triple sec

2 oz. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

Squeeze of fresh lime

Money Ball

Make sure you get all the stats before you mix up and serve this delightful cocktail. A sure hit, make a batch before this one is going, going, gone!

Home Run

2 oz. Vodka

1 oz. Limoncello

2 oz. Pomegranate juice

Ginger ale to top

Lime wedges for garnish

Mix all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Pour into glass, add lime wedges and serve.

Punch is a definite party pleaser. A colorful batch of punch adds instant personality and a dash of panache to the party. Best of all, its economical, and self-serve, so it frees you up as host, so you can enjoy the party too!

A sparkly favorite for any occasion, this punch has miles of style! Pink grapefruit juice gives the punch great color and sweetness, while the pear nectar balances, adding a smooth finish.

Serves 10

8 oz. St. Germain Liqueur

2 cups Ruby red grapefruit juice, chilled

2 cups Pear nectar, chilled

Two bottles chilled brut Champagne

In a punch bowl or drinks dispenser, pour the liqueur, grapefruit juice and pear nectar. Slowly pour in the champagne and serve.

Great for breakfast, brunch, or early afternoons, this tangy mango infused punch has a fresh exotic fruit taste. You can find the tropical juices in the international aisles of most major grocery stores.

serves 10

3 cups pineapple juice

2 cups mango nectar

2 cups passionfruit nectar

1 cup orange juice

21/2 cups light rum

1/2 cup Cointreau

1/2 cup Apricot Brandy

Orange slices

6 cups ice

Mix all ingredients in a punch bowl or drinks dispenser and serve.

This yummy gin punch is light enough to serve to the party crowd before, during , and after dinner!

Serves 10

3 cups gin

1 1/2 cups orange juice

1 cup apricot brandy

8 cups chilled club soda

6 cups ice cubes

3 limes and lemons sliced

2 tangerines, sliced

Combine the gin, orange juice, and brandy in the bowl or drinks dispenser and mix well. Just before serving pour in the club soda. Add the ice cubes, and fruit slices and serve.

This winning combination of rum and tropical flavors will have you leaving the coffee behind!

Serves 10

4 cups mango nectar

2 cups pineapple juice

2 cups dark rum

2 cups light rum

1 cup guava nectar or juice

1 cup apricot juice

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Orange slices for garnish

Mix all ingredients in punch bowl or drinks dispenser and serve.

Mary’s Mess

This is an old standard with a touch of fresh citrus to round out the flavors. I leave a bottle of hot sauce out next to the punch bowl for those more willing to fire it up!  This Bloody Mary punch is full flavored and some say, the perfect hangover cure!

Serves 10

8 cups tomato juice

3 cups vodka

3/4 cup worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup horseradish

2 tsp. hot red pepper sauce

1 tsp. each, freshly ground pepper and salt

6 cups ice cubes

12 lemon wedges

12 lime wedges

12 large pitted green olives

celery stalks, trimmed and cut lengthwise

In  a punchbowl, whisk together tomato juice, vodka, worcestershire , lemon and lime juices, horseradish, hot pepper sauce, pepper and salt. Add the ice cubes and stir. Garnish each glass with a citrus swizzle and serve.

The Mayflower

serves 4

8oz. Cranberry juice

8oz. Sparkling red grape juice

8oz. lemon-lime soda

Pour all ingredients into a pitcher filled half-way with ice. Serve immediately.

Appletastic Mocktail

Serves 4

16oz. Apple cider

8 oz. Gingerale

Dash of cherry juice

Pour all ingredients in a pitcher filled half-way with ice. Stir well and serve.

Pilgrim Sparkler

Serves 4

16oz. Sparkling white grape juice

8 oz. Pineapple juice

dash of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Pour pineapple and lemon juice in a pitcher filled with ice. Let chill at least 10 minutes. Strain or remove ice cubes and add sparkling white grape juice. Serve immediately.

Are you Ghost Hosting?

Entertaining Trick-or-Treaters and their bigger goblins?

Take a look at these fun and easy cocktails and pick your poison!

Bloody Red Martini

Vampires everywhere would kill for a sip of this tasty temptation, complete with bloody rim!

Serves 4

80z. vodka

4 oz. triple sec

4 oz. pomegranate juice

20z. freshly squeezed lime juice

ice

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Strain into glasses.

For Bloody Rims: In a shallow dish, mix 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, I tablespoon lemon extract, and 1 drop red food coloring. Turn glasses over and swirl the rims to coat the edges. Turn glasses up right and set aside to let bloody rims dry.

Witches Brew

Stir up a sinister batch of these colorful cocktails, they’ll be no skeletons in closet after one or two!

8oz. Gin

2 oz. limoncello

20z. peach liqueur

20z. passionfruit nectar

ice

In a cocktail pitcher filled half-way with ice  mix all ingredients, pour into glasses and serve.

Butterflies fly away on these colorful and tasty treats. The just right way to celebrate a summer playdate or warm weather birthday.Kids will certainly be all aflutter for them!

Summer Days are perfect for outdoor craft projects, and these colorful water bottles are ideal for kids to decorate with whimsical stickers and foamy shapes.

Lights, Camera, Oscar!  There’s still time to create your own glamorous Hollywood-inspired Oscar night at home for this weekend’s 83^rd Academy Awards, with tasty cocktails, and an easy but divine meal, all for your guests’ viewing pleasure. Add a few stylish decorations and you’re sure to top the ballot for best host along with Anne Hathaway and James Franco. 

Invite your Social Network over and open the curtain for a night of fun and partying Hollywood style. The key to a winning night? Making everyone relaxed to take in the big show.

Signature Cocktail: No event would be complete with out a signature cocktail. My Chocolate Martini, aka “The Black Swantini,” is delectable, easy to whip up, and has a dark and light side, just like Natalie Portman’s character in the film. It’s a winner for sure!

“Black Swan”tini

8 oz. Absolut Vanilla vodka

4 oz. Kahula

Chocolate shavings for garnish

Raw sugar crystals for garnish

Pour vodka and Kahula into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and mix well.  Wet rims of glasses and dip in sugar. Strain shaker evenly among glasses. Garnish with chocolate shavings. 

Menu:  Mini Crabcakes with Cajun dip, Beef Tenderloin, Fruited Wild Rice, Mixed greens with champagne mustard vinagrette, Chocolate Mousse Flutes, Fresh berries and Cookies will do the trick. Serve the food buffet-style, so guests can help themselves at commercial time. Most of the menu can be ordered in advance or picked up day of from your local market. I also make buckets of cheesy popcorn beforehand to put out on a snack tray with bowls of candy favorites like chocolate covered raisins, Sweedish fish, and non-pareils. This is a favorite with the Toy Storycrowd, Yum! 

Invitations: Send out an e-mail invitation with attachments of some of the Best Picture nominees. Be sure to include the time, dress (I love “Red Carpet Relaxed” which means anything with sequins) and a ballot that they can print and fill out before-hand.

Décor: Go for a bit of glam with sparkles. Gold statues can be found at party stores, pick up a bunch and place them around for accents. This black and white setting tablescape takes a cue from old Hollywood and is suited for our Black Swan dancers or royalty like the divine Colin Firth. Add some feathers and send it twirling or mini gold tiaras fit for a King’s Speech.

Music: Download the soundtracks for the nominated movies and make a playlist to go from cocktails to coffee.

Ballots and Hollywood trivia: During the commercials, have trivia questions ready for the crowd, I had fun here with equations and data from The Social Network, (good luck my friends) fun prizes that are always welcome, a bottle of champagne or gift certificates to the local movie theater or a disc with the evenings playlist are all great choices.

Most of all, relax and enjoy, and you’ll feel like a star.  

Love Potion #9

serves 4

8 oz. Absolut vodka

1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

2 oz. limoncello

Prosecco to top

In a blender puree frozen berries. Strain into cocktail shaker or small pitcher. Add in vodka and limoncello, fil with 2 cups ice and shake or stir well. Strain evenly among glasses, top with Prosecco and serve.

Here’s to love!

Cheers

Colleen