Category Archives: Drinks

Watermelon Granita Cocktail

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We’ve been having some 90+ degree days here in Seattle and for us.. well, that’s pretty hot. We start melting. Especially since no one has air conditioning. Anyway, we put on fans, eat icy treats and pretend we can deal with the heat.

I plant myself in the shade while the kids splash and run around.. I like to think we look like we’re in the serene setting a Pottery Barn summer catalog.. you know the double fold showing a gorgeous patio with a large glassy pool and beautiful outdoor furniture with lush greenery in the background? But really it’s just the blue plastic kiddie pool and my chaise lounger on the yellow straw that is Seattle grass in summer.

Anyway, if you have some leftover Watermelon Granita, add some vodka or tequila, shake it up and call it a summer frozen refresher. The natural watermelon flavor says summer!

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen Watermelon Granita
  • 1 shot Triple Sec
  • 1 or 2 shots vodka or tequila
  • Mint for garnish

Directions

  • Shake everything up well and pour in two glasses
  • Garnish with mint
  • Serve immediately
  • Happy summer! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Princess Pink Drink (or Red Currant Flavored Water)

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Red Currents are a lovely berry and I planted a bush for the kids to graze on a few years ago. It’s a berry that grew in abundance in Norway where I grew up (read more about red currants in last years blog post) and I have fond memories of snacking on picking berries that were warming in the sun. To me, they taste like summer in Norway.

Ava loves little cooking projects and making drink concoctions. She loves feeding them to test bunnies like her Grandma. Here, Ava and I turned sparkling water into a ‘festive and pink’ party drink. No sugar, no other additives.. simply mash berries and strain juice. Discard solids. Mix with sparkling water and top with some berries as garnish! Voila! Berry water for the princess party!

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of red currants and a small handful for garnish
  • Sparkling water
  • Ice

Directions

  • Mash berries in strainer
  • Discard solids and save the juice
  • In a large glass pitcher with ice and sparkling water, add berry juice
  • Stir and garnish each glass with some fresh berries
  • Pinkalicious would approve!

dit-elle-Esther

Watermelon Mint Infused Water

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I’ve been wanting to try more infused waters lately.  In my mind, they are a lot of work, but really…they aren’t!

I carved up a watermelon for the 4th of July, and we had some pieces left over in the fridge that I didn’t think were going to get eaten.  SO…I poured some of the left over juice and a few pieces of watermelon with some mint into a few water bottles.

I mean to let them sit for a day, but… “LIFE”

Two days later, I tried them, and YUM!!!Blog Watermelon Mint Infused Water-1 Blog Watermelon Mint Infused Water-2 Blog Watermelon Mint Infused Water-3Maya wasn’t as sure.  She was more consumed with getting the watermelon out of the bottom haha 🙂 Blog Watermelon Mint Infused Water-4What you need…

  • 2 cups of Watermelon (depending on how much water you want to infuse!)
  • 1/4 Cup Watermelon juice (I made this after I had cut a watermelon a few days earlier and there was juice at the bottom of the dish.  You could also muddle a few pieces if you are doing this all at once.)
  • 5-6 sprigs of mind torn into pieces

What you do…

  • Put water, watermelon, watermelon juice, and mint into (individual water glasses or a giant water container).
  • Let it sit overnight….or two 🙂  Then…

Enjoy!dit-elle-Lauren

Frozen Strawberry Lime Coconut Margaritas

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Nothing says summer like a Frozen Strawberry Lime Coconut Margarita! Totally delicious and I made mini frozen slushies for the kids with the ingredients (except alcohol!). It was a nice cool treat for them, and you could serve this as a fun (non alcoholic) and festive dessert drink for grown-ups as well!

strawberry lime coconut margarita blog (3) strawberry lime coconut margarita blog (2) strawberry lime coconut margarita blog (1)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut milk (full fat)
  • 1/4 cup Simple Syrup
  • Zest from 1 lime
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 cups strawberries
  • 3 Tbsp lime juice
  • 3 oz tequila
  • Lime and shredded coconut for garnish

Directions

  • Combine first four ingredients in blender, blend until smooth and then pour into ice cube tray or a large Ziploc bag and freeze for 2-4 hours
  • Combine strawberries and 3 Tbsp lime juice in blender and blend until smooth
  • When ready to make margaritas, put frozen coconut lime mixture in blender and puree. At this point you can remove some for the kids. then add in tequila and blend until smooth.
  • Pour coconut lime mixture into four margarita glasses, add some strawberry puree to each glass and garnish with lime wedges and shredded coconut
  • Serve! Enjoy!

Inspired by Tequila Avion’s mini video on Instagram.

dit-elle-Esther

Blackberry Jalapeno Margaritas

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Blackberry season is upon us and so is Margarita season! Stir up some Blackberry Jalapeno Margaritas for a spicy and delicious summer drink! 🙂

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Ingredients (serves 4)

  • ¾ cup tequila
  • ½ cup triple sec or grand marnier
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 cup blackberry Jalapeno Syrup (see below)
  • Ice cubes
  • Fresh blackberries and lime wedges for garnish
  • Blackberry Jalapeno Syrup (recipe here)
  • Blackberries, lime wedges and jalapeno slices for garnish
  • Sugar for the rim

Instructions

  1. Rim 4 glasses with a lime wedge and then dip them into a dish filled with sugar. Upright the glasses and fill them with ice.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and 1 cup of the Blackberry Jalapeno syrup, plus a handful of ice. Shake vigorously and strain the margaritas into the prepared glasses.
  3. Garnish with fresh blackberries and lime wedges and serve.

Inspired by Heather Cristo’s Blackberry Jalapeno Margaritas.

dit-elle-Esther

Blackberry Jalapeno Refresher

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Last week I posted a Blackberry Jalapeno Syrup. It’s a great recipe to make in advance, store in fridge and use when ready. Try this non-alcoholic bubbly beverage for a sweet and spicy, but refreshing drink! Too spicy for kids, but you could certainly make the syrup without the jalapeno for a non spicy version! 🙂

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Blackberry Jalapeno Syrup
  • Carbonated water (plain or lime flavored)
  • Fresh blackberries and a lime wedge or wheel for garnish
  • Ice

Directions

  • Pour syrup into tall glass filled with ice
  • Fill rest of glass with bubbly water and garnish with fresh blackberries and lime

Inspired by Heather Cristo’s Blackberry Jalapeno Margaritas.

dit-elle-Esther

Blackberry Jalapeno Syrup

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As Blackberries start to ripen, this is a GREAT base recipe that you can make up to a week in advance and store in your fridge. I’ll post a couple of drinks next week! Jalapeno adds a lot of heat, but you could certainly leave that out if you want a non spicy syrup!

blackberry jalapeno syrup blog

Ingredients (makes 1 ½ cups)

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced

Directions

  • Combine the sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a brief boil over medium heat.
  • Transfer the syrup to a blender and add the blackberries and the jalapenos. Blend until smooth. To extract the seeds, pour through a fine mesh strainer into an airtight container or mason jar. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Inspired by Heather Cristo’s Blackberry Jalapeno Margaritas.

dit-elle-Esther

White Sangria with Summer Fruit

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This is a perfect summer drink! Pick fruits that are in season.. I used peaches, cherries, raspberries and blackberries.. but you could add some citrus fruit, other stone fruit or other berries! Serve chilled.. lovely on a hot summer day!

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Ingredients

  • 1 bottle white wine
  • 1/2 cup triple sec (or brandy, or rum)
  • 1-2 cups chopped summer fruit or berries
  • 1/2 cup peach juice

Directions

  • Mix all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve
  • Serve with ice

dit-elle-Esther

PIMM’s Summer Drink

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PIMM’s is a light and tasty British liqueur, popularly served in summer in a tall glass with ice, some lemon/lime soda, maybe some strawberries and cucumber and a slice of lemon. You can read more about Mr. Pimm’s and the history of the drink on Wikipedia, or just stir up a pitcher and enjoy! 🙂

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Ingredients

  • PIMM’s liqueur
  • Ice
  • Strawberries
  • Cucumber
  • Ginger ale, lemon/lime soda or unsweetened carbonated waters
  • Lemon slices

Directions

  • Fill a tall glass halfway with ice
  • Add 1.5oz of PIMM’s
  • top with soda
  • Garnish with a lemon slice
  • Optionally stir in some slices of cucumber and strawberries

Enjoy! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Orange and Star Anise Festive Cocktail

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Did you watch the Oscars this weekend? Dream of walking down the red carpet? Or simply prefer a sparkling cocktail and viewing party from the comfort of your own house? 🙂

If you love citrus but are not into those sweet syrupy cocktails, then this refreshing cocktail is just for you! Garnish with some pieces of star anise for a festive touch!

Oscars, garden party, holiday party or whatever.. cheers!

orange bourbon anise cocktail blog

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed blood orange juice
  • 1/2 lime, squeezed
  • 2 oz. Cointreau or Absolut Mandarin Vodka (OR bourbon if that is your thing! Takes this cocktail in a different direction, but is definitely palatable.. again.. you kind of have to like the flavor of bourbon)
  • 1/4 cup sparkling water
  • Orange slices, for garnish
  • 4 pieces star anise (optional)

Directions

  • Combine juice, vodka, water and divide between two ice filled glasses
  • Garnish with orange and star anise
  • Cheers!

dit-elle-Esther