Ruby Red Grapefruit Shandy Cocktail (recipe)

My husband likes beer. I like a cocktail. A shandy is the perfect marriage! My husband is actually the one who introduced me to a Shandy. A traditional Shandy is made by mixing beer with juice, usually beer and lemonade. Well, a month or so ago I attended SoFabU On the Road at The Gaylord Texan and the bartenders there treated us to a Ruby Red Grapefruit Shandy. Now...I LOVED it, but they did not supply a recipe...so I set out to replicate the beverage myself. (psst, remember they Basil Simple Syrup I shared the other day...this is one of the beverages you need it for!)

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Sweet Basil Simple Syrup

I am not a super adventurous foodie-type person, but I do like to try some (slightly) unusual concoctions. Often they are related to beverages and baking. I use my recipe for Vanilla Simple Syrup all the time. Recently I was at an event and the bartender had created a beverage using a Basil Simple Syrup. I was hooked! I will share my cocktail recipe in the next day or two...but I do realize you might be wondering "what else can I use Basil Simple Syrup for?" Well, let me tell ya...use it to flavor lemonade, iced tea, and other fruity delights. (I have more ideas coming!)

 
Ingredients
(easily doubled for more sweet basil goodness!)

• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cups Granulated Sugar
•  About 8-10 good sized leaves of basil. I bought a package of organic basil at the grocery store, and for boiling, added the leaves still on the larger stem.
• You will also need a strainer

 Make it...

• Place the water, sugar, vanilla, and basil in a medium sauce pan and slowly bring the mixture to a boil until the sugar is dissolved.
• All in all, I simmered my syrup for about 40+ minutes on low. I really wanted to get that amazing basil flavor. If you are unsure of the taste, sample a bit as you cook, until the syrup is to your liking.
• Let cool. Strainer the mixture to remove any pieces of basil that might be in there. You want the syrup to be "smooth."
• Transfer the mixture and the bean to am airtight container (I use a mason jar for storage).
• Store in the refrigerator. I cannot quite give you a time frame for how long it will keep because we use it up quickly...a month or two is my guess! 

Want to try your hand at other syrups, check out my Vanilla Simple Syrup 

Have you made your own syrups? Whats you favorite flavor? 

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

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Sparkling Apple Cardamon Cocktail

During the holiday season, I do a lot of entertaining

(OK, I confess I entertain all year long - I love a party, big or small!).

It's not always formal or fancy...

but I do like to offer my guests amazing food and a specialty beverage...

other than coffee, the beverage of choice

for most of my friends is a sparkling wine (or prosecco or champagne).

While anything sparkling is great on its own...

every once in awhile I like to change things up a bit.

Add a new flavor...

add a new twist...

and surprise my guests!

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Sweet and Simple Cocktail: Faux Mojitos

I have been out of town driving all over the place in the HOT sun...I am home now,and I need an afternoon on the deck in my foggy town with one of these!(by the way, this is sort of a repost)

Image credit: duskbabe / 123RF Stock Photo

I found a FABULOUS beverage recipe many, many years ago in a magazine advertisement...it was either for Crystal Light or Weight Watchers...not sure which. Any which way...I love a mojito...I do not love calories {evil meaningless calories!}. So, I tried it...and then I made it mine with a few twists and additions. I have been making what I refer to as "Faux and Fab Mojitos" ever since...

This little sip of minty sweetness does not mimic the taste of a traditional mojito 100%, but it comes pretty close for a lot less calories...
so that works for me
(most of the time)!

You could also easily make this drink without the alcohol!

Faux and Fab Mojitos

{adapted from Weight Watchers of Crystal Light recipe - this is not quite there recipe, but their recipe was the inspiration}

1 pitcher size serving of Crystal Light lemonade

1 cups {flat} water*

1 cup rum**

2-3 big handfuls of mint sprigs - the mintier the better for me - you can adjust to your liking.

4 cups club soda/seltzer water/carbonated water

6 lime slices

NOTES:

1 - I like fizz...if you do not, you can play with your ratio of flat to fizzy water. 

2 - You can also reduce the rum to 1/2 cup...or I suppose increase it too!

3 - Skip the rum for a non-alcoholic beverage!

MAKE IT!

• Empty tub drink mix contents into a pitcher.
• Combine with 1 cup {flat} water and 1 cup rum, stir until dissolved.
• Add mint and muddle or crush the mint leaves to release the flavor.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Add club soda just prior to serving.
• Sugar the rim of the glass.
• Add some ice
• POUR!
• Garnish with mint.
• If you love mint like I do...muddle some mint in each persons glass before pouring.

Happy Sipping!

What is your favorite summer beverage?

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Pomegranate Champagne Cocktails

My Girls Night In party was a week ago already!

I just had so much fun and we thoroughly enjoyed

watching Bridesmaids and sipping on a cocktail.

For this evening we had to have a pink cocktail!

I adore champagne cocktails...oooh my fave for sure,

and perfect for a Parisian inspired event!

This is a super simple recipe and can also be made non alcoholic
by using gingerale, sprite or sparkling water in place of champagne.

Ingredients

• Sparkling Wine (or champagne). When I mix a drink like this I like a good base but I did not go for the super-expensive champagne. I picked a good quality sparkling wine. You can do whatever the heck you want though!
• Bitters (found in the liquor section)
• Sugar cubes
• Pomegranate juice (Pink)
• Rimming sugar, optional

MIX IT!

Optional: Ms. Rook No. 17 brought some pink rimming sugar! To use, dampen the rim of the glass, and then dip it in the sugar. Easy-peasy!

*Place 2 sugar cubes in a flute.

*Sprinkle (I prefer to douse, but I like the bitters) the biters on the sugar cubes - start with a few sprinkles and work your way up from there - be sue you find the taste you prefer. Let absorb.

*Pour champagne about 2/3

*Add pomegranate juice to top off. Enjoy!

I used these CUTE Canvas Corp Chalk Stock Cards to write the recipe for the cocktail. I wanted to make sure there were instruction available to guests so they could make their own cocktail, or at least know what is in the cocktail.

Have you had a champagne cocktail?
Do you have a favorite champagne beverage?

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