Summertime spirits and BBQ drinks

Watermelon Sangria

12 cups cubed watermelon
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry white wine
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup triple sec
1/2 cup simple syrup
3 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1 medium lime, quartered
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 cup fresh blueberries

Place 9 cups of watermelon cubes in a blender; blend on high until very smooth. Strain juice through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher.
Pour the wine, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup into the pitcher.
Stir to combine.
Mix the remaining 3 cups of watermelon cubes, the lime quarters, orange sections, and blueberries into the sangria.
Chill for 4 hours before serving.  Makes 16 servings


Make mine low cal

One of the first things health and nutrition experts will tell you is "Don't drink your calories." They usually are referring to the coffee drinks which can have as much as 800 calories. The whipped topping adds about a 100 calories all by itself. A friend gave me a recipe that I adapted to make the frappé below, and I also have a few other beverage recipes to try this summer. It's MUCH cheaper to make these drinks at home than buy them at a coffee or fast food place, give them a try.

Quick Frappé For One

1/2 cup of milk
2 Tablespoons Hershey's chocolate syrup
1 Tablespoon of granulated sugar
1/2 cup coffee, cooled (I used leftover)
1 cup ice (4-5 cubes)

Add all the ingredients to the blender and process until all is mixed and frothy. The ice cubes can be a little chunky if you wish.

Notes: I use low fat chocolate milk sometimes, and skip the sugar, which is really good too. This makes one bigger glass, and is SO good on a hot day.

Berry Tea Cooler

2 cups boiling water
2 strawberry or blueberry tea bags
4 cups Diet Cherry 7-Up
Lime or lemon slices for garnish

Pour the water over the tea bags and brew for 10 minutes or so. Cool. Combine the tea and 7-Up in large pitcher. Serve tea over ice.

Notes: I used strawberry flavored black tea, but you can use any variety you wish.

Lemonade Iced Tea for a Crowd

2 cans (12 ounces each) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup boiling water
4 tea bags, black, green or fruit flavored
3 quarts cold water

Make lemonade as directed on cans in a punch bowl or large beverage jar. Pour the cup of boiling water over the tea bags and brew for 5-10 minutes, then cool. Stir in the cold water and the brewed tea with the lemonade. Serve over ice.

Frosty Mochas

1 1/2 cups 2% or skim milk
1/3 cup chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons instant coffee
3 1/2 cups ice cubes

In a blender, place all ingredients except and blend on medium speed until well mixed. Add ice cubes a few at a time, blending after each addition until smooth. Pour into 4 glasses. Serve immediately.

Notes: I included this recipe for those that might not have brewed coffee on hand.

Caramel Iced Latte

1 1/2 cups strong coffee
2 cups almond milk or vanilla soy milk
2 tablespoons caramel fat-free topping
Ice cubes, as desired

Stir together coffee and milk. Drizzle topping into 2 large glasses. Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour milk mixture over ice. Sweeten to taste with sugar if needed.

Notes: I included this recipe for those that drink soy or almond milk. You can substitute regular milk, and add a little sugar or other sweetener. I personally like putting it all in a blender and whipping it up, but either method is fine