Why Should You Make This Recipe

With simple ingredients, minimal preparation, and amazing flavor, this strawberry basil margarita recipe is guaranteed to be a lot of fun. Mixology has never been so easy!

• The combination of strawberry and basil makes the ultimate spring and summer cocktail for party time! Serve it as a festive summer drink on the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and/or any hot day.
• If you have 5 minutes you can make this strawberry basil tequila cocktail— just like my Pineapple Margarita and Blueberry Margarita.
• Easily multiply the recipe to make a strawberry basil margarita pitcher for a crowd or follow it written for a happy hour drink for two.

Ingredients

To make strawberry basil margaritas, gather strawberries, fresh basil leaves, freshly squeezed lime juice, Honey Syrup, silver tequila, orange liqueur, and ice cubes.

For the lime salt, you’ll need kosher salt, lime zest, and a wedge of lime.

How to Make This Recipe

Even beginner bartenders can make this delicious strawberry basil cocktail with ease. Two simple preparation methods make this margarita recipe twice as easy to make. 

On the Rocks

Making strawberry margaritas on the rocks is as easy as it can be. Simply follow the below steps to have the most refreshing drink in no time:

1. Prepare the salt: Combine the kosher salt and lime zest on a small plate.
2. Salt the rim: Run a lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass. Then, press the rim of the glass into the salt mixture so that it adheres to the glass.
3. Muddle the ingredients: Muddle the strawberries, basil, lime juice, and honey simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
4. Shake the cocktail: Add the tequila and orange liqueur to the shaker and shake to combine. Then add ice to the mixture and shake for another 30 seconds.
5. Serve: Strain the liquid into the prepared margarita glasses. If desired, garnish the drink with strawberries, extra basil, and a slice of lime.

Frozen

For a frozen strawberry margarita with basil, place strawberries, basil leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, silver tequila, orange liqueur, and one cup of ice cubes into a blender. Then, blend the ingredients at high speed until they reach your preferred consistency. 

Taste for sweetness and add in if necessary. If you do, give it one more whiz and pour the frozen strawberry basil margaritas into prepared glasses, and garnish them with a couple of strawberries and a sprig of basil.

How to Make a Pitcher of Strawberry Margaritas

One sign of a good margarita is that it’s easy to make for a crowd. If you’re looking to make a strawberry margarita on the rocks in a pitcher, you have two easy options:

• Make a bigger batch: This recipe can be multiplied as many times as necessary to serve your guests. Simply follow the instructions as listed using the required amount of ingredients. 
• Limeade strawberry margarita (The Quick Method!): If you are in need of a super quick way of making a larger batch of strawberry margaritas, you can use storebought frozen limeade concentrate instead of fresh lime juice. For 1 can (12 oz.) of limeade concentrate, I use 2 cups of strawberries, a cup of basil,  2 ¼ cups of tequila, ⅓ cup triple sec, and 2 ½ cups of water.
  Muddle the fruit, mix the rest of the ingredients, and let the mixture sit in the fridge for 4 hours. Then, garnish and serve.

Make-Ahead & Storage Instructions

One good thing about this recipe is that you can make it in advance. Whether you’re making a strawberry margarita pitcher recipe or a boozy treat for two, you can save time with a little bit of advance prep.

You can prepare a portion of this recipe up to one day ahead of time. Simply muddle together all your ingredients except the alcohol and ice. Then, store the mixture in an airtight container in the fridge. 

When ready to drink, put the refrigerated mixture, tequila, triple sec, and ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture for 30 seconds, strain it into a prepared margarita glass, and serve.

Alternatively, you can mix everything in a pitcher.

Other Tequila Cocktail Recipes You Might Like

One of the best ways to cool down a hot summer day is with fruity margarita recipes. If you want a great homemade margarita with a delicious twist, look no further than these tasty tequila cocktails.

• Strawberry Champagne Margarita
• Pineapple Margarita
• Blueberry Margarita
• Spicy Jalapeno Margarita

If you try this Strawberry Basil Margarita recipe or any other one of our cocktail recipes on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.

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Strawberry Basil Margarita Recipe

This Strawberry Basil Margarita recipe is made with an herbal twist using the classic margarita flavors. Fresh basil is first muddled with strawberries and then blended with tequila, honey simple syrup, lime juice, and triple sec. It comes together in about 5 minutes, this is the must-try summer tequila cocktail recipe!

Course Cocktails

Cuisine American

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Calories 282kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the lime salt:

• 4 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons lime zest plus one lime wedge

For The Margarita:

• 12 fresh strawberries hulled and sliced, plus more for garnish
• 10-12 fresh basil leaves plus more for garnish
• 2 ounces lime juice freshly squeezed
• 2 ounces honey simple syrup or simple syrup
• 4 ounces of silver tequila or your favorite tequila blanco
• 1 ounce of orange liqueur
• Ice cubes

Instructions

On The Rocks:

• Place kosher salt and lime zest on a shallow plate. Mix to combine.
• Run the lime wedge around the rim of a margarita or rock glass and press the rim into the salt-lime mixture to adhere.
• In a cocktail shaker, muddle together strawberries, basil, lime juice, and honey simple syrup.
• Add tequila and orange liquor and shake until combined. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Give it a taste and if preferred, add in more simple syrup and shake one last time.
• Strain margarita into the prepared glass. Garnish with fresh strawberries, basil leaves, and a slice of lime.

Frozen:

• Place kosher salt and lime zest on a shallow plate. Mix to combine.
• Run the lime wedge around the rim of a margarita or rock glass and press the rim into the salt-lime mixture to adhere.
• Place strawberries, basil leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, tequila, orange liquor, and a cup of ice cubes into a blender. Blend on high speed until all the ingredients are pulverized.
• Pour into margarita glasses and garnish with fresh strawberries and basil leaves.

Notes

• Adjust sweetness: Be sure to give it a taste before pouring into margarita glasses and add more if necessary.
• Make it a day ahead: You can prepare a portion of this recipe up to one day ahead of time. If you decide to do so, simply muddle together all your ingredients except the alcohol and ice. Then, store the mixture in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to drink, put the refrigerated mixture, tequila, triple sec, and ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture for 30 seconds, strain it into a prepared margarita glass, and serve.
• Make it for a large crowd in a pitcher: This recipe can be multiplied easily, especially if you are serving a crowd. Simply follow the instructions as listed using the required amount of ingredients and serve with lots of ice.
• Limeade strawberry margarita served in a pithcher(The Quick Method!): If you are in need of a super quick way of making a larger batch of strawberry margaritas, you can use storebought frozen limeade concentrate instead of fresh lime juice. For 1 can (12 oz.) of limeade concentrate, I use 2 cups of strawberries, a cup of basil,  2 ¼ cups of tequila, ⅓ cup triple sec, and 2 ½ cups of water. Muddle the fruit, mix the rest of the ingredients, and let the mixture sit in the fridge for 4 hours. Then, garnish and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 129IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Strawberry Basil Margarita appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I think we can all agree that there is nothing more refreshing than a fruity margarita recipe when it is 90 F. degrees outside. I have always been a big fan of Pineapple Margaritas and Strawberry Basil Margaritas, but having just come back from a blueberry picking session, I have so much of them, so we are making Blueberry Margaritas on the regular.

In this post, I will show you my foolproof method for making this blueberry tequila drink in two different ways: On the rocks and frozen. Plus, below, you will find my tips and tricks to serve it to a crowd, along with a few ways to switch it up and take your margarita game to the next level.

Ingredients:

If you are making this for a small crowd, say 3-5 people, following this formula will yield great results. But what if you are making it for a crowd, say 30+ people?

That is where my friends at Powell & Mahoney come to our rescue. Their margarita mixes are truly superior to any other margarita mixes in the market. They are made without the use of artificial flavors or preservatives. Instead, they use non-GMO ingredients like lime juice, cane sugar, and organic agave syrup.

Plus, they offer a variety of options. In this blueberry cocktail recipe, I chose to use their Skinny Margarita Mix, but I always keep a few bottles of their Classic Margarita Mix in my bar cart. 

Using one of these margarita mixes, you can make this blueberry margarita recipe in less than 5 minutes regardless of the number of people you are serving it to.

Ways to incorporate blueberry flavor into the recipe:

As promised, I will show you how to make blueberry margaritas in two ways, but before then, I will show you a few ways to incorporate fresh blueberries into your margaritas.

• Mashed blueberries: Place a handful of fresh blueberries into a cup and muddle until they are softened. I usually prefer leaving chunks of blueberries and using it as it is, but you can strain it if you want.
• Make your own blueberry puree: I prefer this method, especially if I serve blueberry margaritas to a crowd. Simply put two cups of fresh blueberries in a blender with two tablespoons of lime (or lemon juice) and a tablespoon of honey syrup and blend until smooth. If you want to know more about making blueberry puree at home, be sure to check out my blueberry puree recipe.
• Blueberry Juice: Using a store-bought blueberry juice is probably the quickest way, but I am not a big fan as most juices are packed with artificial sweeteners. But if you are in a pinch, it would still work.

How to make it?

As it is with any margarita recipe, you can make this blueberry cocktail recipe in two ways. 

While it is optional, I love coarse salt on the rim of my glass. In my version here, I added a little bit of lime zest to freshen it up. 

If you prefer to follow in my footsteps, mix together salt and lime zest on a small flat plate and wet the sides of a margarita glass with a wedge of lime. Rim the glass in the salt mixture.

To Make Blueberry Margaritas On The Rocks:

1. Fill a jar (or cocktail shaker) with ice cubes. 
2. Add in blueberry puree, tequila, triple sec, and your choice of Powell & Mahoney margarita mix. 
3. Give it a shake for 15 seconds and pour into a salt-rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with a handful of blueberries and a lime wedge. Serve right away.

To Make Frozen Blueberry Margaritas:

1. Place frozen blueberries, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, Powell & Mahoney Classic or Skinny Margarita Mix, and ice in the bowl of a blender. 
2. Blend on medium speed until smooth, 45-50 seconds. 
3. Pour into the salt-rimmed and garnish with fresh blueberries before serving.

Variations:

• Blueberry Basil Margaritas: Adding a handful of fresh basil leaves can easily brighten this blueberry alcohol drink. Alternatively, you can switch it up and add in fresh mint leaves as well.
• Pomegranate Blueberry Margaritas: Instead of using blueberry puree, you can muddle blueberries and add in a splash of pomegranate juice for additional flavor and color.
• Blueberry Lemonade Margarita: Use lemon juice instead of lime juice.

Other Margarita Recipes You Might Like:

• Strawberry Champagne Margaritas
• Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas
• Pineapple Mezcalitas

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Blueberry Margaritas Recipe

Blueberry Margaritas made two ways: On The Rocks & Frozen. Learn to make the best blueberry margaritas made from homemade blueberry puree for the most fresh blueberry taste.

Course Alcoholic Drink / Cocktail

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 482kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For The Rim:

• 2 tablespoons of kosher salt
• Zest of a lime
• A wedge of lime

Blueberry Puree*:

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons lime juice

On The Rocks:

• 1 cup Ice
• 2 ounces of blueberry puree recipe follows
• 2 ounces of tequila blanco
• 1 oz. triple sec or orange liquor
• 4 ounces of Powell & Mahoney Classic Margarita Mix
• A squeeze of lime juice
• A handful of fresh blueberries as garnish

Frozen:

• 1 cup frozen blueberries no need to thaw
• 2 ounces of tequila blanco
• 1 oz. triple sec or orange liquor
• 4 ounces of Powell & Mahoney Classic Margarita Mix
• A squeeze of lime juice
• ½ cup ice
• A squeeze of lime juice
• A handful of fresh blueberries as garnish

Instructions

• For the rim: Mix together salt and lime zest on a small flat plate. Wet the sides of a margarita glass with a wedge of lime. Rim the glass in the salt mixture. Set it aside.
• To make the blueberry puree, place blueberries and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Place it in a jar and set it aside.
• To make Blueberry Margarita on The Rocks: Fill a jar (or cocktail shaker) with 4-5 ice cubes. Add in blueberry puree, tequila, triple sec and Powell & Mahoney Classic or Skinny Margarita Mix. Put the lid on and shake for 15 seconds. Fill the reserved margarita glass with ice and pour the mixture over. Squeeze a small wedge of lime, garnish with blueberries and serve.
• To make Frozen Blueberry Margaritas: Place frozen blueberries, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, Powell & Mahoney Classic or Skinny Margarita Mix, and ice in the bowl of a blender. Blend on medium speed until smooth, 45-50 seconds. Pour into a salt-rimmed margarita glass and garnish with fresh blueberries before serving.

Video

Notes

Don’t have margarita mix? Follow my formula for one serving below:

• 2 parts tequila Blanco
• 1 part triple sec or orange liquor
• 1 part honey simple syrup (or regular simple syrup)
• ½ part fresh lime juice
• 2 parts blueberry puree (or any other fruit puree of your choice)

This recipe makes more blueberry puree than needed to make one serving. You can either use it to make more Blueberry margaritas or use it in other recipes.

If you do not have frozen blueberries, you can blend fresh blueberries with ice. You may have to blend them longer, but it would still work.

Keep your margarita glasses in the freezer until you are ready to serve: I always keep a few beer and margarita glasses in my freezer. I think any (cold) beverage served in a cold glass tastes better.

Want to make this a non-alcoholic beverage? Simply omit tequila and triple sec and add a little bit more blueberry juice or puree.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Blueberry Margaritas appeared first on Foolproof Living.

And when it comes to margaritas, I usually go for either Blueberry Margaritas or Pineapple Margaritas. However, lately I am all about topping it off with a generous dose of champagne. Just like I did in this Strawberry Champagne Margaritas recipe.

If you have never had a champagne margarita before, I am here to tell you that you are in for a treat. These margaritas have just the right amount of sweet and salty with a strawberry twist, making them perfect for the season. Below is a quick how-to photo essay for one serving.

Ingredients:

The ingredient list for this Sparkling Strawberry Margarita recipe is not much different than your usual margarita recipe. Except that it includes bubbles, which you can use sparkling wine, Champagne or Prosecco.

Other than the bubbles, you will need fresh strawberries, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and fresh mint.

How to Make Strawberry Champagne Margaritas?

The process of making this Mexican-inspired Champagne cocktail has 6 folds. Simply:

1. Prep the fruit: Muddle 4 or 5 fresh (hulled) strawberries in a large glass. Add in an ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice.

2. Pour in tequila & triple sec: Add in an ounce of tequila and an ounce of triple sec. Give it a nice stir.

3. Rim the edges of the margarita glass: Mix some salt with zest of a lime in a shallow plate. Using a lime wedge wet the edges of your margarita glass. Rim the edges with salt-lime zest mixture.
   
   Alternatively, you can use sugar and lime zest. However, I personally think that with the addition of champagne it is already sweet enough and therefore salt balances it out in a better way. Still, it is up to you.

4. Add ice: Add in ¾ cup of crushed ice. Strain the strawberry margarita onto the crushed ice.

5. Pour in Champagne: Top it off with an ounce (or more) of champagne. Garnish with mint and a small strawberry
6. Serve: And serve this delicious Sparkling Strawberry Margarita recipe and accept all the compliments.

A Few Other Margarita Recipes You Might Also Like :

If you liked this Mexican Champagne Cocktail, here are a few other margarita recipes you might enjoy:

• Pineapple Margaritas – Whether you like it on the rocks or frozen, this pineapple margarita recipe is guaranteed to impress.
• Spicy Pineapple Mezcalita – Have you ever tried making your margaritas with mezcal instead of tequila? If not, you should. They are SOOO good.
• Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas – Jalapeno lovers! This cilantro infused jalapeno margaritas are OUT OF THIS WORLD.
• Basil Margarita – Sweet basil mixed with tequila makes the best beach drink. Don’t believe me? Check out my beach photos in this post.
• Blueberry Margaritas – Made with homemade blueberry puree, this is the most delicious berry margarita on the internet.

Other Creative Champagne Cocktails You Might Like:

• Blood Orange Mimosas – The second best drink (after this one) when you have the gals over for brunch!
• Pomegranate Gin Cocktail – Made with a sparkling rose!

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Strawberry Champagne Margaritas Recipe

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Strawberry Champagne Margaritas! This margarita recipe is not much different than your usual margarita recipe, but it is topped off with a healthy dose of Champagne.  

Course Cocktails

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Calories 204kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 8-10 medium sized strawberries hulled and sliced – plus more as garnish
• 2 ounces of lime juice freshly squeezed –
• 2 ounces of tequila
• 2 ounces of triple sec
• zest of a lime
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• crushed ice
• 3-4 ounces of Champagne or Prosecco
• 2 leaves of fresh mint as garnish

Instructions

• Muddle strawberries in a large glass. Add in the lime juice.
• Stir in tequila and triple sec.
• Mix salt with the zest in a shallow plate. Using a lime wedge wet the edges of your margarita glass. Rim the edges with salt-lime zest mixture.
• Add in ¾ cup of crushed ice. Strain the strawberry margarita onto the ice.
• Top it off with champagne. Garnish with mint and a whole strawberry.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

• I used Champagne here but you can also use Prosecco or any other sparkling wine you can get your hands on.
• Don’t have strawberries, use any other berries you like. Blackberries or raspberries would also work well here.

Nutrition

Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6983mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

This Strawberries and Champagne Margarita recipe was published in May of 2017. It has been updated and republished with new helpful text in April 2021.

The post Strawberry Champagne Margaritas appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I read it on the paper this morning that we are about to get hit with yet another heatwave. I can totally feel it coming. The humidity mixed in with the warm temperatures makes it hard to breathe here in Vermont. If you feel the same way, join me as I make a refreshing blood orange mimosa to cool myself off.

Now, I know this is a food blog and here I am sharing a blood orange juice mimosa recipe, but to be honest it is hard to call this 2-ingredient cocktail a “recipe”. Plus, I am making your life easier, but replacing freshly squeezed orange juice with Powell & Mahoney’s newest cocktail mixer flavor, Blood Orange Mimosa.

If you have been a regular reader, you have probably seen me share several cocktail recipes using Powell & Mahoney mixers before. I have been a long time fan of their non-GMO certified cocktail mixers made without the use of refined sugars.

I know you like them too as Jalapeno Margarita, Frozen Pineapple Margarita, Frozen Blueberry Margaritas and Lime Martini, all recipes that are made with their mixers, have been long-time reader favorites.

Today’s cocktail is a classic brunch drink that is made with champagne and orange juice. While squeezing your orange juice with fresh oranges is always a good idea, I prefer Powell & Mahoney’s Blood Orange Mimosa especially if I am making it in a pitcher to serve a crowd. It is not only delicious but also super convenient.

What is blood orange?

Originally from Italy, blood oranges are a natural mutation of the sweet oranges that we all know. While from the outside they look like regular oranges, when sliced they are red (resembling the color of human blood) on the inside.

They owe their distinct color to the presence of anthocyanin, a pigment that is generally found in red, blue and purple. They mainly grow during the colder months of the year, usually between December and May.

Ratio for Orange Juice to Champagne for Mimosa Recipe

You might ask, how much champagne and orange juice for mimosas?

The best ratio for orange juice to champagne depends on your preference. I like mine with 4-1 ratio, meaning 4 parts of champagne to 1 part of juice.

However, you can adjust the ratio to your preference. Alternatively, you can swap champagne with sparkling wine for an inexpensive alternative.

How to make mimosas in a pitcher

Simply fill a large pitcher with a bottle of champagne (750 ml bottle) (or sparkling wine) and slowly pour 1 ½ cups of blood orange juice over it.

However, like I mentioned before, there are no rules when it comes to mimosas so feel free to adjust the ratios according to your liking.

If you want to make it even more delicious and pleasing to the eye, add in a few slices of oranges and other colorful fruits such as pomegranate seeds and strawberries.

While you can certainly squeeze your blood oranges, I love the ease of using a bottle of Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange Mimosa (affiliate link). It is not only delicious but also convenient. And if you have ever had to squeeze oranges to make mimosas for a crowd, I am pretty sure you will appreciate the ease of it more than anyone else.

Want to get a bottle? Powell & Mahoney’s Blood Orange Mimosa is now available on Amazon. Click here to get it now!

Other Cocktail Recipes You Might Also Like:

• Lemon Basil Margarita
• Blueberry Margarita Cocktail
• Strawberry Champagne Margarita
• Moscow Mule with Whiskey
• Mezcalita
• Raspberry Martini
• Pomegranate Cocktail
• Mango Vodka Cocktail
• Dark Cherry Calvados Cocktail

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Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe

This Blood Orange Mimosa adds a fun twist to the classic brunch cocktail we all love. Simply pour champagne in a glass and pour in a splash of blood orange juice for a delicious brunch cocktail.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 121kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 4 oz. of your favorite Champagne or Sparkling Wine
• 1 oz. Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange Mimosa

Instructions

• Pour champagne in a champagne flute and top it off with blood orange mimosa.

Video

Notes

Feel free to multiply this recipe as you please.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 100mg | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Blood Orange Mimosa appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Today we are celebrating the beginning of spring with a refreshing Pineapple Margarita recipe. If you are a lover of margaritas like me, you probably find it hard to choose between a frozen margarita or margarita on the rocks. If that is you, no need to worry because I am going to share how to make both versions in your very own kitchen.

Plus, below you will find my tips and tricks to serve it to a crowd along with a few ways to spice up your tequila and pineapple drink game.

Can’t get enough of delicious margarita recipes? Check out my Strawberry Basil Tequila Cocktail and Blueberry Margarita recipe as well.

Ingredients

Before I talk about how to make a margarita, I want to go back to basics and talk about the ingredients to make a delicious margarita.

To make it, you simply blend everything in a shaker with ice and pour over a margarita glass filled with ice.

As you can see, it is so simple to make margaritas, especially if you are serving just a few people. However, things get a little more complicated when you are serving a crowd. Think about serving 30+ people!

It is a lot of work to put all of that together and make it for a large group. Believe me, I have been there many times.

If you can relate, you will love Powell & Mahoney’s margarita mix. I have been a long time fan and have been using their products for 3 years now.

Carefully crafted using premium ingredients and sweetened with cane sugar and agave, they offer a variety of margarita mixes ranging from skinny margarita to jalapeno margarita (like I used in this Spicy Jalapeno Margarita recipe) to mango passion fruit margarita.

With all the spring and summer parties (i.e. Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day just around the corner) and picnics coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to make this pineapple margarita recipe using Powell & Mahoney’s margarita mix. This way, you can see how easy it is to make the most delicious sweet margarita recipe in no time, even if you are serving a lot of people.

How to make a it on the rocks?

The first method, making Pineapple Margarita on the Rocks, has 2 folds.

First, you fill a shaker with ice and add in tequila, pineapple juice, triple sec, and Powell and Mahoney’s margarita mix.

Second, you give it a good shake and pour it in a margarita glass full of ice.

If you are serving this pina rita recipe (you see what I did there? ?) to a crowd, you can mix everything in a large pitcher, fill it with ice, and mix everything with a large spoon. I usually place it on a large tray along with empty glasses and a bucket of ice. This way, your guests can easily serve themselves.

How to rim the edges of the glass for margaritas

Most restaurants serve margaritas with coarse salt. I don’t know about you, but I love salt on the edges of my glass.

However, when I am making margaritas at home I take it up a notch and mix salt (kosher salt or coarse sea salt would both work) with a little bit of chili powder and lime zest. It is optional, but most people love it.

Alternatively, you can rim the edges of the glass with a sugar rim. To do so, I usually mix sugar with the zest of fresh lime for some additional color and flavor.

How to garnish pineapple juice margaritas

I think what makes margaritas so much fun is the garnishes. Here are a few ideas to give a little pizzazz to your margaritas:

• Garnish it with a slice of fresh lime
• Garnish it with a slice of fresh pineapple wedge
• Grill a slice of pineapple and serve it on the side or as a garnish on the edge of the glass
• Get creative with the rim and instead of using salt and chili powder, use roasted shredded coconut
• Garnish with a small jalapeno by placing it on the edge of the glass using a knot bamboo pick or a cocktail pick
• Garnish with fresh herbs like mint and cilantro leaves

How to make it frozen?

The second method, making my version of the Frozen Pineapple Margarita recipe has 2 folds. While it is super easy to make, it requires a little bit of advance preparation.

In my opinion, the secret to out-of-this-world delicious frozen pineapple margaritas is using frozen fresh pineapples.

How to freeze pineapples for frozen pineapple drinks recipes?

Now you might ask, can fresh pineapple be frozen?

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, I usually keep some in the freezer not only to make frozen margaritas but also to add in smoothies in the morning.

To freeze pineapple, I cut the pineapple into small cubes, place them on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or stretch film), and keep in the freezer for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Once they are frozen, I place the now-frozen pineapple chunks in freezer bags to prevent them from freezer burn.

How to blend?

Once you have your frozen pineapple chunks ready, the rest is a piece of cake. All you have to do is to put the rest of the ingredients; margarita mix, triple sec, and tequila in the blender and process until smooth.

I find that using 1 cup of frozen pineapple per person delivers the best fresh pineapple margarita.

Other pineapple based cocktails you might like:

• Virgin Gorda Style Pina Colada
• Spicy Pineapple Jalapeno Mezcalita

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Pineapple Margaritas Recipe

A crowd pleaser recipe for Pineapple Margaritas made in two ways: Pineapple Margaritas on the Rocks and Frozen Pineapple Margaritas. Made with only 5 ingredients and ready in just a few minutes.

Course Cocktail

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 366kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For The Rim:

• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• Zest of a lime

For The Pineapple Margarita on The Rocks

• 2 oz. tequila
• ½ oz. triple sec or orange liquor
• 4 oz. Powell & Mahoney Margarita Mix
• 4 oz. pineapple juice

For The Frozen Pineapple Margaritas

• 1 cup frozen cut pineapple
• 4 oz. Powell & Mahoney Margarita Mix
• 2 oz. tequila
• ½ oz. triple sec or orange liquor

As Garnish

• Wedges of lime
• Wedge of pineapple

Instructions

• To Make Pineapple Margaritas on the Rocks: Mix together salt and chili powder on a small flat plate. Wet the sides of a margarita glass with a wedge of lime. Rim the glass in the salt mixture. Place it in the freezer while you are making the cocktail.
• Fill a mason jar or shaker with ice. Pour in tequila, orange liquor, and Powell & Mahoney Margarita Mix. Give it a shake.
• Pour in the cold glass over ice.
• To Make Frozen Pineapple Margaritas: Place all ingredients in a blend. Blend until smooth. Pour into a cold margarita glass. Garnish with lime and pineapple wedges. 

Video

Notes

Each of these ingredients are for 1 serving. Feel free to multiply it if you are serving multiple people.

If you do not have triple sec on hand, feel free to use more tequila instead.

Don’t have the margarita mix? Here is the recipe for 1 serving of pineapple margarita recipe (on the rocks) that I would recommend making:

• 2 ounces of tequila blanco
• 6 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 ounces lime juice
• 1/2 ounces triple sec

Simply mix everything in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until combined. Pour into a margarita glass filled with ice. Garnish and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6981mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Pineapple Margaritas appeared first on Foolproof Living.

We spent last weekend in Louisville, Kentucky for one of my best friend’s wedding. Both my husband and I were a part of the wedding party and we had the best time we’ve had for a long time. Needless to say, we have done a lot of (much needed) dancing and drinking.

Speaking of drinking, since this was our first time in Kentucky we decided to stay an extra day to do some touristy things like Bourbon tasting. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “Kentucky”, one of the first things that come to my mind is Kentucky bourbon. Having been a lover of whiskey, bourbon, and various cocktails made with them, I was excited to learn more about how it is produced, ways to enjoy bourbon and do some tasting.

In addition to visiting a few distilleries, we made it a point to order bourbon-based drinks in every restaurant we ate. My favorite of them all was Kentucky Mule. Made with mixing bourbon with ginger beer and a squeeze of freshly squeezed lime juice, it was incredibly flavorful and refreshing.

So when my friends at Powell & Mahoney reached out and asked if I could share a recipe for the launch of their ginger beers on Amazon Prime, I knew exactly what recipe I wanted to share.

This is not my first time featuring Powell & Mahoney on Foolproof Living. You might remember them from this Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas and Lime Drop Martini recipes that I shared in the past.

I am a big fan of their ginger beer and cocktail mixers not only because they are a New England-based company, but also because their products (including ginger beer) is made with natural and unrefined sugars.

Onto the recipe..

Kentucky Mule Ingredients

You need 3 ingredients to make Kentucky Mule: Kentucky Bourbon, ginger beer, and freshly squeezed lime juice.

While the ingredients are simple and easy to understand, when you do a little research you see that the terminology (mostly on the naming) differs quite a bit based on the type of whiskey or bourbon used and the region it is produced.

So let’s dig in.

Ingredient 1 – Bourbon or Whiskey

As the name suggests, in order for it to be called Kentucky Mule, it needs to be made with bourbon made in Kentucky. A few well-known bourbon brands based in Kentucky are Jim Bean, Maker’s Mark, and Buillet.

Though I have to say, during our time in Louisville we saw that there were many other alternatives to these big brand names. Even some of the restaurants we went to served cocktails made with their own bourbon. So feel free to play around with various bourbon brands you have on hand when making this drink.

With that being said, you can totally make this drink using whiskey. A popular alternative to this Kentucky Mule recipe is Tennessee Mule. As you can imagine, this version is made with whiskey produced in Tennessee, Jack Daniels being one of the most well known brand.

Ingredient 2: Ginger Beer For Moscow Mule with Whiskey or Bourbon

The second ingredient is ginger beer.

If you are new to making your own Moscow mules you might confuse it with ginger ale. While they might sound similar in name, they are different in that ginger beer has a more robust flavor and is spicier than ginger ale.

Also, ginger ale is mostly treated as a milder alternative to alcohol or soda whereas ginger beer’s flavor makes it easy to serve it on its own or mixed in a cocktail similar to our Kentucky mule.

When it comes to ginger beer, I am a big fan of Powell & Mahoney’s ginger beer as it is made without using refined sugars. Plus, in addition to regular ginger beer, they offer a blood orange flavored ginger beer that is so SO delicious.

You can make this Kentucky Mule recipe using both flavors. If you are using the blood orange version, you can garnish it with a slice of blood orange instead of lime.

Ingredient 3: Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

The last ingredient is the lime juice. I know most people prefer to buy lime juice from the supermarket and I agree that it is convenient. However, I think the extra few minutes you spend squeezing your own lime juice is worth it for the best Kentucky mule drink.

Optional Garnishes for the Best Moscow Mule with Bourbon

As you can see in the pictures, I used some fresh mint leaves and a thinly sliced lime. However, while it is not traditional, you can jazz it up with lemon and orange slices as well.

How To Make a Kentucky Mule

The process is very simple. To make a Kentucky Mule:

• Fill a copper mug or cocktail glass with ice: I prefer cubed ice, but you can serve it with crushed ice as well.
• Pour in the bourbon and lime juice
• Top it off with ginger beer: Give it a quick stir.
• Garnish and serve: Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint. Serve!

It takes less than 5 minutes to put it all together, which makes it a great drink to serve in parties.

Moscow Mule Variations 

I think the best thing about this all American cocktail is that you can easily switch things up and create fun drinks using different brands and types of alcohol, fruits, flavored ginger beers, and garnishes. Below is a quick fun video that I made to celebrate Powell & Mahoney’s ginger beer being available on Amazon Prime.

You can get the written recipe for Blueberry Moscow Mule here.

Here, I am very much aware that I barely scratched the surface with these 3 variations of Moscow Mules. Here are a few more to get you inspired:

• Dark & Stormy: Swap rum with vodka
• Montana Mule: Use bourbon produced in Montana
• American Mule: American and Moscow Mule are the same thing
• Mexican Mule: Swap vodka with tequila
• Oaxacan Mule: Swap vodka with mezcal

How To Serve Moscow Mule for A Crowd

I find that Moscow Mules and its variations are great to serve when you are entertaining a crowd, especially during the holidays. Since they are made with just a few ingredients, they are so easy to mix and serve.

Plus, you can easily set up a small DIY station for people to make their own Moscow mules.

How To Set Up A DIY Moscow Mule Station for Entertaining

To set up your own Moscow Mule station, place everything below on a table next to each other:

• A bucket full of ice: Fill an ice bucket with crushed or cubed ice and place it next to the cocktail glasses or Moscow Mule mugs.
• Moscow Mule Mugs or Cocktail glasses: More on this below.
• A Bottle of each – Vodka, Bourbon, Whiskey, Rum, and/or Tequila: Place a bottle of your favorite bourbon, whiskey, rum, tequila, and/or vodka (you can also use flavored vodka) along with a cocktail jigger so that your guests can easily measure and mix their own cocktail. You don’t have to have every kind of alcohol. Just pick a few.
• Powell & Mahoney Ginger Beer: Fill a large bowl with ice and place bottles (or cans) of ginger beer in it to keep them cold: I like to mix and match with regular and blood orange ginger beer to provide my guests with options.
• Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice: Squeeze some lime juice and place it in a glass bottle or a jug.
• Sliced Limes: Fill a bowl with fresh lime, oranges and lemon and place it next to a small cutting board with a paring knife so that your guests can slice them up. Alternatively, you can place already sliced citrus and place in a shallow bowl next to the lime juice.
• Fill a small vase with water and fresh mint leaves: My garnish of choice for any mule recipe is usually fresh mint leaves so I always include some in a small vase filled with water to keep them fresh.

Do I Have To Serve Kentucky Mule in a Copper Mug?

It is traditional to serve Moscow mule and its variations in a copper mug mostly for taste, temperature, and experience. Plus, copper keeps the drink cold while enhancing the mule’s taste. The copper mugs you see in these photos are my favorite. Unlike most copper mugs, they still look as brand new after several uses (and washes).

However, there is no rule book saying that you can’t serve this bourbon mule drink or any other mule cocktail in a regular cocktail glass, especially if you are serving a crowd. I like to serve mine in rock glasses, but again feel free to use whatever cocktail glass you have on hand.

Other cocktail recipes you might also like for your next party:

• Jalapeno Cilantro Margarita – Spicy margarita lovers, this one is for you!
• Martini with Lime – Your favorite martini recipe with a twist.
• Pineapple Margarita Recipe – Anyway you like – Both frozen and on-the-rocks versions.
• Strawberry Champagne Margarita – Made with fresh strawberries!
• Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe – 2 ingredients and 2 minutes to make.
• Basil Margarita Recipe – Growing lots of basil? Ditch pesto and make this margarita instead.
• Mango Vodka Cocktail – Fresh mango and blackberries turned into a delicious vodka cooler.
• Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini – The classic lemon drop recipe but flavored with fresh raspberries.
• Best Hot Toddy Recipe – Flavored with fresh blueberries.

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Kentucky Mule

A twist on a the classic Moscow Mule: This Kentucky Mule recipe is made with bourbon (or whiskey), ginger beer, and freshly squeezed lime juice. It is a great cocktail recipe that you can serve for any of your parties.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 159kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or whiskey
• 3 ounces Powell & Mahoney Ginger Beer
• 2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
• a few leaves of fresh mint optional
• Crushed ice

Instructions

• Combine the bourbon, ginger beer, and lime juice in a copper mug or rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Stir the mixture, garnish with the lime wedge and mint (if preferred), and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 63mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 9mg

Whether you are treading yourself for a happy hour at home or serving a crowd (for holidays or for a Kentucky Derby party in your home), this all American mule drink and its variations are guaranteed to impress. Cheers!

The post Kentucky Mule Recipe appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Temperatures are rising here in Vermont. It is happening very slowly, but it is getting more noticeable by the day. Our local friends say that summer will come overnight. One day we will wake up and it will be 80 degrees until the end of August. To say “I cannot wait!” would be an understatement. The fact that tomorrow is Mother’s Day and it is still only 50 degrees outside is a new concept that I am getting used to. Still, I am super excited for summer as they say Vermont summers are beautiful.

Speaking of Mother’s Day and summer, today’s recipe, Lime Drop Martini, is perfect for both tomorrows Mother’s Day celebration as well as any party that you are planning to throw this summer.

I know most people are big fans of lemon drop martinis, but I personally love its sister cocktail made with fresh squeezed lime juice just as much. I am also a big fan of espresso martinis but that’s a story for another day.

This Lime Martini recipe is refreshing and just enough sweet to satiate your senses. Plus, it comes together in less than 10 minutes.

About This Lime Drop Martini Recipe:

The recipe has three steps:

First, rim the edges of a martini glass with sugar and lime zest: I know that you might think of this as an additional step, but believe me the freshness and flavors that comes from the oils of the zest combined with cane sugar is totally worth the extra time.

Second, make mint flavored simple syrup: This was my twist on the classic recipe that you can easily find on the internet. By muddling fresh mint leaves, lime juice, and small wedges of lime along with simple syrup, you give a surprisingly refreshing flavor to the overall cocktail.

In terms of the simple syrup, I used Powell & Mahoney’s simple syrup that is made with cane sugar. It is an essential in our home bar as both my husband and I think that it is a huge time saver when we want to make a quick cocktail for ourselves.

Here if you can plan ahead, I recommend mixing together the simple syrup, mint leaves and lime juice in a jar and letting it marinade for a few hours or even overnight. Keep in mind that the more it sits the more mint-y and refreshing it gets.

Final step is making the drink: You make the cocktail by mixing together vodka, mint flavored simple syrup, orange liquor with some ice. From what I understand, most classic recipes for lime (or lemon) drop martinis do not use orange liquor, but I thought it was a nice addition so I included it in the recipe. If you do not like it or don’t have it, feel free to substitute it with more vodka.

Other Drink Recipes You Can Make on Mother’s Day:

• Strawberry Champagne Margaritas
• Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
• Cilantro Infused Jalapeno Margaritas
• Raspberry and Pomegranate Rose Summer Cocktail
• Blood Orange Juice Mimosas
• Kentucky Mule Cocktail
• Mango Infused Vodka
• Pineapple Mezcal Margarita

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Lime Drop Martini

This Lime Drop Martini Recipe is made with mint flavored simple syrup, vodka, and orange liquor. It is a refreshing summer cocktail that you can make in less than 10 minutes.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 284kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the rim of the glass:

• 1 tablespoon cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 wedge of fresh lime to wet the rim of the glass

For the mint flavored simple syrup:

• 5 leaves of fresh mint
• ¼ lime cut into small wedges as seen in the video
• 2 ounces of lime juice preferably freshly squeezed
• 1 ounce of Powell & Mahoney Simple Syrup

For the drink:

• ½ cup of crushed ice
• 2 ounces of vodka
• 1 ounce of orange liquor such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
• lime twist as garnish optional

Instructions

• For the rim of the martini glass: Mix together sugar and lime zest in a small flat plate. Wet the rim of a martini glass using the lime wedge. Dip into the sugar and lime zest mixture. Place the glass into the freezer as you make the drink.
• To make the mint flavored simple syrup: Place fresh mint leaves and lime wedges in a large glass. Pour in the lime juice and simple syrup. Muddle until they are all combined*.
• To make the drink: Place the ice, vodka, and orange liquor in a shaker. Strain the simple syrup mixture. Put the lid on and shake for 40 seconds. Take out the martini glass out of the freezer and pour the drink into the glass. Garnish with a lime twist, if preferred. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

* Ideally, I would recommend doing this in advance, as it will have more of a potent and minty flavor as it sits.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin C: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Lime Drop Martini appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Summer is in full force and we are gearing up for a busy August. Last month was all about family, but this month is going to be all about friends. We already have every weekend booked with friends coming over and we cannot be happier, especially if you consider the fact that we did not know anyone when we first moved to Vermont back in February. People around here have been so friendly and welcoming that my husband and I look forward to having them over and return the favor.

What is your process when it comes to entertaining?

For me, I usually make a plan a week in advance and then prep throughout the week. This way I am not juggling through a million things on the day of the party. In terms of the menu, I almost always pick a theme and then decide on the dishes around that theme. However, regardless of the theme I always serve a signature welcome cocktail.

I love serving a welcome drink as it puts people in the mood for a good time as soon as they come in the door. Think about it, who would not want a fruity cocktail that is refreshing and colorful? Believe it or not, my husband even has a “welcome-drink” playlist in his I-Pod. I am telling you, we take this very seriously.

When it comes to deciding on the type of cocktail to make, I take my cue from what is in season. In summer months, I love using berries and then come winter, cranberries, apples, and citrus fruits are perfect to use in signature cocktails.

Once I decide on the fruit, the next decision is what liquor to use to make this Raspberry Martini recipe. Though there are several options, I usually stick to the basics and go for vodka, gin, or tequila.

Because (1) we always have them in our home bar and (2) I learned over the years that when serving for a crowd it is better to keep things simple. If you go for a complicated welcome drink and people want more of it, you might find yourself making drinks all night long.

If I am going for a vodka-based cocktail, I love using Finlandia. It is funny because growing up this was my mother’s favorite vodka and we would always have a bottle of it in our home bar. To this day, I gladly continue the tradition and keep a bottle in our bar as well. I love that it has a clean and smooth taste that pairs so well with fruits.

Also, even though for this raspberry lemon drop martini I opted for the classic Finlandia, they offer a variety of flavors that you can use in your cocktails.

About this Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini Recipe:

As the name suggests, made from raspberries and lemon juice, this is a sweet and sour cocktail. The raspberries were already sweet, but after I mixed them with lemon juice, it needed a little bit more. So for some additional sweetness, I made a quick honey simple syrup, which beautifully balanced the sourness coming from the lemon juice.

To add another layer of flavor, I muddled the fruit and honey simple syrup with a few leaves of fresh mint.

The end product was truly a refreshing and flavorful summer cocktail that I feel confident to serve friends as a welcome-drink for our upcoming parties. As you can see in the quick video above, it was so quick to make and requires just a few ingredients. Plus, if you want to make it even quicker, you can make the honey simple syrup and squeeze the lemons in advance.

So whether you are entertaining a crowd or just looking for an early evening drink to unwind, give this summery raspberry lemon martini a try. I promise it won’t disappoint.

Other Summer Cocktail Recipes You Might Like

• Pineapple Margaritas
• Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe
• Kentucky Mule
• Mezcalita Recipe

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Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini

This raspberry lemon drop martini is my summer-y twist on the classic cocktail, lemon drop martini. Made with fresh raspberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice and Finlandia Vodka, it is guaranteed to impress.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 220kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the honey simple syrup:

• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ water

For the rim:

• 1 tablespoon cane sugar
• zest of a lemon
• 1 wedge of lemon for wetting the rim

For the cocktail:

• ¼ cup fresh raspberries
• 2 oz. lemon juice freshly squeezed
• 3-4 fresh mint leaves
• 1 oz. honey simple syrup recipe above
• 3-4 cubes of ice
• 0.5 oz. triple sec
• 1.5 oz. Finlandia vodka
• 1 slice of lemon as garnish

Instructions

• To make the honey simple syrup: mix together the honey and water in a small sauce pan. Cook until honey fully dissolves. Let it cool while you prep the rest of the ingredients. *
• For the rim: Mix together the cane sugar and lemon zest in a small flat plate. Using the lemon wedge wet the rim of a coupe glass. Dip the glass in sugar mixture making sure the rim is fully covered. Place the glass in the freezer.
• To make the cocktail: Place raspberries, lemon juice, fresh mint leaves, and honey simple syrup in a large glass. Muddle until the raspberries are fully pureed.
• Fill a shaker with ice. Pour in the triple sec and vodka. Strain the raspberry mixture. Put the lid on and shake for 40 seconds or so.
• Take out the coupe glass out of the freezer and pour the drink into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve.

Video

Notes

• This honey simple syrup recipe makes more than what you need for this cocktail. You can place the rest of it in a jar with a lid and keep it in the fridge up to a week to use in other cocktails.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 127IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini {VIDEO} appeared first on Foolproof Living.

One of my favorite things about writing a food blog is spending time in the kitchen to create new recipes. Give me the ingredients, tell me what you feel like eating and I will make it happen. It gets even more fun when it is a new ingredient that I have never used before.

Therefore, when Mezcal Creyente asked me to create a cocktail based on the “ruling element” of my zodiac sign, I knew this was going to be fun. I had never tasted mezcal before but heard a lot about it from a friend, who visited Oaxaca, Mexico last summer.

Coincidently, that weekend I was planning to meet a friend in New York City. Luckily, she was up for the challenge and agreed to try it with me. So we found a mezcal bar in lower Manhattan and enjoyed our first mezcal cocktails together.

As I was browsing down the cocktail menu (aka doing research for work), I was looking for a drink with a little bit of a spicy tone. Since I am an Aries and my ruling element is fire, I wanted to have something spicy and fire-y at the same time. I ordered a cocktail made with grapefruit and chile de arbol. It was love at first sip. The sweet, spicy and smokey flavors, all at the same time, were just so captivating.

When I came back home the next day, I knew I wanted a similar sweet-spicy-smokey flavor combination in my signature cocktail. I already loved the combination of pineapple, jalapeño, and cilantro and wanted to try it with Mezcal Creyente.

And it didn’t disappoint. With every sip, it made me want to drink more.

I can almost hear you say, “But, what is mezcal?”

What is Mezcal?

Allow me to explain:

Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made from the heart of the agave plant called the piña.  To make it, they roast the piña using an artisanal method with mesquite wood in a stone oven for 3 days. This is how it gets its characteristic smoky aroma and taste.

Mezcal Creyente Joven is a blend of two extraordinary mezcals from Oaxaca’s Tlacolula and Yautepec regions. With sweet hints of fruit and light herbal notes, it has a smokey flavor that offers a unique set of complexity to any cocktail it is added.

About this Spicy Pineapple Jalapeno Mezcalita Recipe:

The fire-y part of this mezcal pineapple cocktail comes from jalapeño. Letting a small chopped and seeded jalapeño sit in Mezcal Creyente Joven for a few minutes infuses its spicy flavors into the liquor and complements its smokey notes in a beautiful way.

Since I am a fan of jalapeño and cilantro flavors together, I muddled a handful of fresh leaves of cilantro just enough to extract its aroma. Then I mixed it with some orange liquor, lime juice and pineapple juice. After I strained the spicy Mezcal Creyente into the pitcher my drink was ready. I poured it over crushed ice and garnished it with wedges of pineapple and a few leaves of fresh cilantro.

In the end, we all agreed that the sweet and spicy flavors coming from all the ingredients in this cocktail complimented Mezcal Creyente very well and left us with a new cocktail recipe that we will be used often throughout the summer.

Other Pineapple Based Drinks You Might Also Like:

• Pineapple Margaritas – Whether you like it on the rocks or frozen, this pineapple margarita recipe is guaranteed to impress.
• Virgin Gorda Style Pina Colada – This was my absolute favorite drink to order back when we were living on Virgin Gorda.
• Kale Pineapple Smoothie – An ultra healthy smoothie recipe made with kale and pineapple. Whips up in less than 5 minutes.
• Pina Colada Smoothie – Like pina coladas, but don’t want the extra calories? Well, this is the healthified version. You are welcome.

Other Creative Cocktail Recipes You Might Like:

• Black Cherry Cocktail – The most gorgeous Calvados cocktail in the world.
• Mango Vodka Cooler – A 10-minute fresh mango and vodka cooler guaranteed to impress.
• Raspberry Cocktail – Flavored with pomegranate arils
• Blueberry Hot Toddy – Honey sweetened hot toddy recipe for cool winter evenings.
• Raspberry Martini – The classic lemon drop martini flavored with fresh raspberries.
• Martini with Lime – For those who prefer limes over lemons.
• Kentucky Mules – If you are a lover of whiskey-based drinks, this classic recipe is guaranteed to be a favorite.
• Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe – 2 ingredients and 2 minutes are all you need to make this delicious mimosa.
• Cilantro Jalapeno Margarita – Spicy margarita as its best.

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Spicy Pineapple Jalapeno Mezcalita

This Spicy Pineapple Jalapeno Mezcalita is a refreshing cocktail made with pineapple, cilantro, jalapeño, and mezcal. A delicious drink with sweet, spicy and smokey flavors all at the same time.

Course Alcoholic Drink

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Calories 263kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 3 ounces Mezcal
• 1 small jalapeño sliced thinly – plus more as a garnish
• 1 ounce orange liquor
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves plus more as garnish 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 2 wedges of pineapple
• Ice

Instructions

• Place Mezcal Creyente in a jar. Add in the jalapeño slices, put the lid on and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. The longer it sits the spicier it will get. If you like it spicier, feel free to let it sit longer.
• Gently muddle cilantro in a large glass just enough to release its essential oils. Add in the orange liquor, lime juice and cilantro and give it a mix. Strain it into a pitcher.
• Strain the jalapeño flavored Mezcal and pineapple juice into the same pitcher and stir well.
• Pour the drink into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh pineapple, a few slices of jalapenos, and fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 301mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Spicy Pineapple Jalapeno Mezcalita appeared first on Foolproof Living.

However, I plan on serving a few great cocktails, as I believe a good New Year’s Eve party should be all about the celebratory drink. And what is a better way than to serve an easy-to-make and seasonal Prosecco cocktail? So I partnered up with Lunetta Prosecco to bring this Clementine Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail recipe to you.

About this Clementine Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail recipe:

My initial plan for this cocktail was to pair up blood oranges with cranberries and cinnamon. However, I could not find bloof oranges in our farmers market. Instead, I found Clementines. Here in North America, they are available from late November through early February. They are easy to peel and super sweet making it a great substitute for my blood orange.

On my first try of making this cocktail, I mixed freshly squeezed clementine juice with a homemade honey-sweetened cranberry simple syrup that was flavored with cinnamon. It was not good. Clementine and cinnamon combination was not a good one. I thought about switching it with some fresh mint, but didn’t have any in the fridge. Instead, I had some rosemary. So on my second try, I added a sprigs of fresh rosemary into the simple syrup. I let it sit in there for a little while. Once it was mixed with the clementine juice and topped off with the crisp and bubbly Lunetta Prosecco it ended up being a phenomenal drink.

How to make Homemade Cranberry Simple Syrup:

Like I mentioned earlier, I did make simple syrup for this recipe. If you have never made simple syrup, this is a great recipe to start. The classic simple syrup recipe is made by heating equal amounts of sugar with water and cooking it until the sugar is fully dissolved. You do this because sugar will not fully dissolve in cold liquid regardless of how much you stir it. Now, you can certainly buy simple syrup from your package store, but I love making my own because it allows me to infuse it with fruits, spices, and fresh herbs. Just like I did in this recipe.

For my version, I switched granulated sugar with honey. I added a half a cup of chopped fresh cranberry for flavor and color. I also added a sprig of fresh rosemary. After the honey was fully dissolved, I let it sit on the counter to cool off. Once it was cool enough to handle, I strained it and ended up with a gorgeous maroon colored cranberry simple syrup. If you want you can certainly do this a few days in advance, place it in an airtight container (or a bottle) and keep it in the fridge.

Even though I plan on serving this drink on the New Years Eve night, this Prosecco cocktail would make a fantastic drink for any occasion even after the holidays. At least until the end of the Clementine season. So why not, try Lunetta’s Prosecco next time you are at the package store and give this recipe a try. I promise, it won’t disappoint.

Other Cocktail Recipes to Serve During the Holidays

Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler
Basil Margarita
Cilantro-Infused Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas
Honey-Sweetened Blueberry Hot Toddy
Cranberry and Mint Rum Punch

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Clementine Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail

An easy-to-make Clementine Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail sweetened with a homemade honey-sweetened cranberry and rosemary simple syrup. A delicious and seasonal cocktail recipe that is perfect for all your upcoming holiday celebrations.

Course Cocktail - Alcoholic Beverage

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 206kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

To make the Honey-Sweetened Cranberry Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup of fresh cranberries chopped – plus more to use as garnish
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary plus more to use as garnish

To make the cocktail:

• 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed Clementine juice from 10-12 Clementines
• 1 bottle Lunetta Prosecco

Instructions

• To make the Honey-Sweetened Cranberry Simple Syrup: Place honey, water, and cranberries into a saucepan. Let it cook in medium heat until the honey is fully dissolved, 4-5 minutes. Off the heat add the rosemary and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Strain the mixture and discard the cranberries and rosemary. Let the mixture cool completely.
• To assemble: When ready to serve, place a tablespoon of the simple syrup in a champagne flute. Fill each flute with clementine juice until it is half full and top it off with Lunetta Prosecco.
• Garnish each flute with a sprig of rosemary and a few fresh cranberries.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

- This recipe serves 6-8 people if you serve it in small champagne flutes like I did. However, if you are serving it for a crowd, feel free to double or even triple the recipe.
- You can make the simple syrup a few days in advance. As long as you keep it in an airtight container (or a bottle) and in the fridge, it will keep fresh up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 53g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Editor’s note: Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by Cavit Collection. The compensation received in exchange for placement on Foolproof Living is used to purchase ingredients and props, write blog posts, take and edit photos and maintain this website in general.

However, though compensation was received in exchange for coverage, the thoughts and opinions mentioned in this post are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Foolproof Living!

The post Clementine Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail appeared first on Foolproof Living.

To make matters worse, Dwight had just left home to go for a run without his phone. In panic, I called my husband’s best friend. Luckily, he answered the phone. He quickly came by, picked me up, and took me to the ER. After 6 hours of blood tests, cat scans, and x-rays later, my doctor said that I had a pinched nerve in my neck and that was the cause of the numbness.

Prior to that day, I was photographing almost every day. My back was hurting a lot, but instead of resting, I was ignoring it. As a result, my body pushed the breaks on my behalf and thought me a very important lesson. Since then I have also gotten a little bit of a cold and feeling like my lungs are congested. I feel like my body is begging me for some rest. Thankfully, instead of putting me on any medication my doctor suggested that I stay in bed and rest as much as I can. So I am taking it easy, resting a lot more, and nourishing my body with heartwarming soups and drinks. This honey-sweetened blueberry hot toddy is one of them.

After we came back from the hospital, my husband decided to take the matters into his own hand and went to the supermarket to get me some healthy food. A few hours later, he came back with bags full of fresh produce. In addition to winter vegetables, he also bought 5 pints of blueberries, as he knows how much I love them. They are my absolute favorite food to snack on and since they are available year-round I always keep some in my fridge. In the next few days, I snacked on some and on Friday night, after it got very cold, I decided to use the rest to make this homemade blueberry hot toddy.

About this Honey-Sweetened Blueberry Hot Toddy

Hot toddy is one of the easiest drinks you can make. Basically, you pour some boiled water in a mug, add some freshly squeezed lemon juice, a shot of bourbon (or brandy) and sweeten with sugar. However, for my recipe, I wanted to take it up a notch.

First, I used the rest of the blueberries to make a honey-sweetened simple syrup as the base of my hot toddy. I used blueberries intentionally as they are full of antioxidants and vitamins and they help reverse damage done by toxins. Exactly what I needed…

Second, I strained the simple syrup and divided it in between 2 mugs. To finish it up, I added some boiling water, a shot of bourbon and a generous squeeze of lemon juice in each cup. It ended up being a healer. I swear I could literally feel that I was getting better with every sip.

So next time you are feeling under the weather or simply want to warm the hearts of your guests, reach out for this blueberry hot toddy recipe. With its gorgeous and festive maroon color, I think it is the perfect drink to serve during the holidays.

OTHER BLUEBERRY RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

• Gluten-Free Healthy Blueberry Muffins
• Blueberry Feta Spinach Salad
• Blueberry Sweetened Spelt Scone Recipe
• Vegan Blueberry Peach Tart
• Blueberry Lemon Tartlets

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Honey Sweetened Blueberry Hot Toddy

With its festive color, this honey-sweetened blueberry hot toddy recipe is the perfect drink to serve during the holidays (or any other time of the year). As the name suggests, it is sweetened with honey and healthy blueberries. It takes less than 15 minutes to make and I think it is the best remedy for those who are feeling under the weather or need a pick-me-up.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 411kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

To make the Blueberry Honey Cinnamon Syrup:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup fresh blueberries rinsed - plus as garnish
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed - plus slices as garnish
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

To make the Hot Toddy:

• 8 oz. whiskey or brandy
• 8 oz. Blueberry-Honey syrup
• 8 oz. boiling hot water

Instructions

• Place honey, blueberries, lemon juice and ground cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
• Using the back of a fork, mash the blueberries. Turn the heat off and let it cool for 10-12 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer.
• Divide the Blueberry-Honey syrup amongst 4 glass tea cups (or large coffee mugs).
• Top each cup off with 2 oz of whiskey and 2 oz. of boiling water.
• Garnish each cup with a slice of lemon and blueberries.
• Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 73g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Honey Sweetened Blueberry Hot Toddy appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Hi friends! I am pretty sure you are in the midst of cooking and prepping for the big day tomorrow. I am too. I just wanted to pop in, wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and sneak in one last quick recipe. Because (1) I think these Cilantro-infused Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas are awesome and (2) I think they are a showstopper if you are entertaining. ‘Tis the season…

One of the fun projects that I worked on back in September was doing some photography work for Powell & Mahoney, a company that produces craft cocktail mixers, for their new website. They sent me several bottles of their carefully crafted and naturally sweetened cocktail mixers along with some recipes to make and photograph in my studio.

With this experience, I had a chance to try some of their best-loved classic cocktail recipes that are made by using pure cane sugar. As you might already know, I am all about sweet recipes made with natural sweeteners so this was totally up my alley. Oh and also, they are all naturally gluten-free.

Now, I’ll be the first one to admit, I am all about creating recipes from scratch. However, let’s face it, if you are entertaining a crowd, a little help from a trusted brand could be a welcome change. And as someone who made, photographed and enjoyed over 10 of cocktails made with Powell & Mahoney mixers, I can tell you that this stuff is really good.

They offer many flavors ranging from classics such as Skinny Margaritas, Cosmopolitan, Mojito to trendy ones like Chipotle Bloody Mary, Yuzu Sour Mix, and Mango-Passion Fruit Margarita. All so delicious and true to what it would be like if you were making them from scratch.

About this Cilantro-Infused Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas Recipe

For this cocktail, I used Powell & Mahoney’s Spicy Jalapeno Margarita mix. This was my favorite one of all the cocktails I made while I was working on this project. If you are like me, a lover of spicy hot food and especially the flavor (and hotness) of jalapeno peppers, you are in for some serious treat.

To make this recipe, I infused some fresh cilantro leaves in the margarita mix to get in more of the traditional Mexican flavors into the drink. Here, the word “infused” is a fancy word for steeping 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro leaves in a cup of margarita mix. I kept the fresh herbs in the mix only a few hours, as I wanted to make sure its flavors do not take over the whole drink. If you are not a fan of cilantro, feel free to make the drink without it. Either way, this is a fantastic cocktail that will impress.

How To Make Homemade Spicy Jalapeno Margarita without Margarita Mix

Alternatively, you can make your own mixer for this Jalapeno Margarita recipe. To do so, mix together 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice along with 1/4 cup honey simple syrup. This would be perfect for 4 servings.

To infuse your homemade mixer with jalapeno and cilantro, place the lime juice and simple syrup mixture into a mason jar. Add one small sliced jalapeno (with the seeds) and cilantro leaves. Let is sit for 2 hours or longer if you like it spicier.

You can continue with the rest of the recipe as it is. If you want you can also top each glass with a splash of sparkling water.

More from Powell & Mahoney:

Though I loved every cocktail I made using their cocktail mixers, my two other favorite cocktails were the Skinny Margaritas (get the recipe) and Sriracha Bloody Marys (get the recipe). Like it is with the Spicy Jalapeno Margarita recipe, both drinks can be made super fast and they are guaranteed to provide an incredible drinking experience for your upcoming entertaining.

To get more information on Powell & Mahoney products, recipes, and where you can find them, please visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Other Margarita Recipes You Might Like

• Pineapple Margaritas – Whether you like it on the rocks or frozen, this pineapple margarita recipe is guaranteed to impress.
• Spicy Pineapple Mezcalita – Have you ever tried making your margaritas with mezcal instead of tequila? If not, you should. They are SOOO good.
• Basil Margarita – Sweet basil mixed with tequila makes the best beach drink. Don’t believe me? Check out my beach photos in this post.
• Virgin Margarita – This is a great recipe if you are in need of an alcohol-free margarita recipe.
• Strawberry Champagne Margaritas – Your usual strawberry margarita taken to the next level with a splash of champagne. This is my go-to summer party drink.

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Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas Recipe

These Cilantro-Infused Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas are the perfect drink for all your entertaining need. They are made with Powell & Mahoney's Spicy Jalapeno Margarita mix.I infused them with fresh cilantro leaves to enhance the Mexican flavors we all love. However, if you are not a fan of cilantro, feel free to omit it. Either way, this drink is guaranteed to impress.

Course Alcoholic Drink / Cocktail

Cuisine Mexican

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Powell & Mahoney Spicy Jalapeno Margarita Mix instructions without the Powell & Mahoney mixer is in the notes below
• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped – plus more for garnishing
• salt for the rim of the glasses
• 6 ounces tequila such as Jose Cuervo
• 1 cup ice
• 1 lime sliced for garnishing
• 1 jalapeno pepper sliced thinly as garnish

Instructions

• Place the margarita mix and cilantro leaves in a large mason jar (or a mixing bowl), cover and let it steep for 2 hours*. Drain and discard the cilantro leaves.
• If you prefer, moisten the rim of your cocktail glasses with some lime and dip them in a plate of salt. Set them aside.
• Place the now “infused” margarita mix in a cocktail shaker along with tequila and ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice.
• Garnish with a lime, slices of jalapeno pepper, and a few fresh cilantro leaves.

Notes

• If you want the cilantro taste to be more intense you can steep them longer. Or if you are not a fan of cilantro, feel free to omit it.
• Alternatively, you can make your own mixer for this Jalapeno Margarita recipe. To do so, mix together 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice along with 1/4 cup honey simple syrup. This would be perfect for 4 servings.
  To infuse your homemade mixer with jalapeno and cilantro, place the lime juice and simple syrup mixture into a mason jar. Add one small sliced jalapeno (with the seeds) and cilantro leaves. Let is sit for 2 hours or longer if you like it more spicy.
• To make simple syrup, heat 1 cup sugar (or honey, agave, or maple syrup) with 1 cup water in a small pan until the sugar completely melts. This will make more simple syrup than you need but you can keep the rest in a jar with a tight lid and keep it in the fridge up to a month.

The post Cilantro-Infused Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Our plan, as usual, was to order a couple glasses of wine and enjoy it while we catch up, but then we met our server Becca, who convinced us to order a cocktail instead. She suggested that we order this blueberry flavored dark cherry and calvados cocktail, as it is her favorite drink on the menu. I am so glad we listened to her, because it is so rare that I order a cocktail at a restaurant and love it so much.

Becca and the creator of the drink, Logan were so sweet and generous to share the recipe. So here I am with an end-of-summer cocktail recipe for you: Blueberry, Dark Cherry and Calvados Cocktail.

As its original name suggests, this cocktail has a little bit of Mexican and a little bit of French in it. It is made with mixing together tequila with some Calvados (aka apple brandy) and cherry liquor. Its beautiful color comes from a homemade blueberry honey simple syrup that is flavored with all spice, cloves, and black peppercorns. The recipe below makes more simple syrup than you will need to make this drink, but feel free to keep it in the fridge and try using it in your other cocktail creations to give them a summery kick.

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Blueberry, Dark Cherry and Calvados Cocktail

Calvados and Dark Cherry Cocktail: A next-level cocktail recipe made with apple brandy, tequila and homemade blueberry simple syrup. Garnished with a mint leaf, it is not only delicious but also visually impressive. If you are new to apple brandy-based drinks and in need of a creative cocktail, give this dark cherry and Calvados cocktail recipe a try.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 1 coupe glass

Calories 1463kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the Blueberry Honey Syrup:

• 1 ½ cups of water
• 1/3 cup (113 gr.) honey
• 1 cup (250 gr.) Demerara sugar
• 2-3 black peppercorns
• 3-4 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 cups blueberries rinsed

For the cocktail:

• 1 drop of orange citrate
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
• 3/4 oz Blueberry Honey Syrup
• 1/4 oz dark cherry liquor – Heering
• 1/4 oz almond-flavored crème liquor – Crème de Noyaux
• 1/2 oz apple brandy – Calvados
• 1/2 oz egg white
• 1 oz Tequila Cabeza
• ½ cup ice
• 1 fresh mint leaf

Instructions

To make the blueberry honey syrup:

• Place all the ingredients into a saucepan, bring it to a boil and let it simmer 10 minutes.
• Place the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine strainer and set aside to cool.

To make the cocktail:

• Place all the ingredients in to a shaker and shake vigorously until frothy.
• Add in the ice and continue to shake for 45 more seconds.
• Strain it through a strainer into a coupe glass.
• Garnish it with one mint leaf. Serve.

Notes

The leftover blueberry honey syrup can be kept in the fridge in an airtight jar up to a week to make more of this cocktail later or to use it in other cocktails.

Nutrition

Serving: 1coupe glass | Calories: 1463kcal | Carbohydrates: 339g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 321g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Blueberry, Dark Cherry and Calvados Cocktail appeared first on Foolproof Living.

In about two weeks I will be traveling to Chicago to visit my best friend, Ceren. Ceren loves throwing parties and every time I go, I find myself in the middle of preparations for a fun gathering. Usually, I am in charge of creating a recipe based on a theme she chooses.

This time we are having a Sunday brunch with a bunch of girlfriends. I was given the assignment to create a mild and girly cocktail recipe that we can serve during the brunch. She made sure to let me know that she does not want mimosa. So I thought, why not come up with something a little over the top. If you think about it, what is girlier than a pink drink filled with whole summer fruits, served in coupe glasses, and topped off with sparkling rosé?

About the Pomegranate Cocktail Recipe:

This summer cocktail recipe is full of refreshing summer flavors.

To make it, I first made simple syrup. Instead of using sugar, I used local honey with blossom orange flavor. As it was cooling on the counter, I stirred in a bunch of fresh mint leaves to enhance its flavor with mint. Once it cooled down, I mixed it up with some gin, (unsweetened) pomegranate and fresh lime juice.

I placed some whole raspberries and pomegranate seeds in coupe glasses and poured the cocktail over halfway through the glasses. Then I topped it off with Casal Garcia’s Sparkling Rosé. I choose this sparkling wine as it has such a mild flavor that compliments the rest of the cocktail without taking over the whole drink. Also, it is so SO delicious even if you drink it just by itself.

In the recipe below, you will see that I started with a half a cup of simple syrup as I thought that 1 cup made it too sweet. Therefore, I recommend starting with a half cup and giving it a taste before you add more. Also, before adding more keep in mind that you will have sweet fresh fruit in the cocktail as well. So adjust it based on your sweetness preference.

Needless to say, I am so excited about this upcoming trip and sharing this cocktail with friends. I’ll make sure to keep you posted on social media when I make this cocktail in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you make it make sure to tag me using my hashtag #flprfeats.

Other Summer Cocktail Recipes You Might Also Like:

• Lime Vodka Martini
• Raspberry Martini
• Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe
• Strawberry Champagne Margarita Recipe
• Spicy Skinny Margarita Recipe
• Prosecco Cocktail with Cranberries

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Raspberry and Pomegranate Rosé Summer Cocktail

This Raspberry and Pomegranate Rosé Summer Cocktail is made with mint infused honey simple syrup, gin, pomegranate juice, and sparkling rosé. It is served with fresh raspberries, pomegranate seeds, and mint. It is such an impressive cocktail for any summer gathering.

Course Cocktail

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 305kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the mint infused honey simple syrup:

• 1 cup honey
• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup fresh mint rinsed and leaves torn – plus more as garnish

For the cocktail:

• 1 cup ice
• ¼ cup gin
• ½ cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
• Juice of a fresh lime
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
• Casal Garcia Sparkling Rosé

Instructions

• To make the mint infused honey simple syrup: Place honey and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a boil; making sure that the honey dissolves completely. Off the heat, stir in the mint leaves and let it cool completely. When cooled, fish out the mint leaves from the simple syrup and set aside.
• To make the cocktail: Place ½ cup of the simple syrup, ice, gin, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Close the shaker and mix well to combine. Taste for sweetness and add the rest of the simple syrup, if you prefer it to be sweeter. If not, reserve it for another use.
• Divide the raspberries and pomegranate seeds in between 4 cocktail glasses. Strain the cocktail mixture over the fruit. Top it off with Casal Garcia Sparkling Rose. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 76g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Raspberry and Pomegranate Rosé Summer Cocktail appeared first on Foolproof Living.

It is hard to believe that this is the 4th year of me celebrating Mother’s Day without my mother. But this time it is a little different, because last year we also lost my mother’s sister, my dear aunt, to a long and hard battle to cancer. It is so sad to see my already small family getting smaller.

Needless to say, I miss those two amazing women terribly. At the same time, I feel happy that they are no longer in pain and try to find comfort in knowing that they are in each other’s company.

If you had met these two women, you would be surprised to see how much life and love they embodied. They were the kind of people, who would light up a room with their fun personalities and laughter. They were the definition of living life to the fullest and like it was a celebration.

So this year, instead of being sad about not having a mother on Mother’s Day (like I did in the past), I will continue their legacy and do my best to celebrate this special day and the fact that I have been fortunate enough to have them as a part of my life. And I will do it with a special homemade cocktail; this Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler.

Do not mistake this vodka cooler with others though. It is not made with just any vodka. It is made with Żubrówka, also known as bison-grass vodka. This Polish liquor derives its unique taste from extracts of bison grass. It is made with infusing grass hand-picked from the Bialowiesa forest located in northeastern Poland, which is a Unesco protected site.

Once this rare and aromatic grass is handpicked, they lay it out in the open for it to air-dry. Then they extract its unique flavor and infuse it into the vodka. What I found amazing is that the creation of a bottle takes 60 days and is an example of impeccable craftsmanship every step of the way. With its smooth flavor and earthy tones, you can easily enjoy it just by itself or add it into your cocktails whenever you want to give them a refreshing twist.

If you do a Google search, you would quickly find out that the most popular way of serving Żubrówka is by pairing it with apple juice and ginger ale. You can easily find a lot of drink recipes made with apple juice and other flavor boosters like lime, lemon, honey, grape, and even star fruit.

At first, I was going to follow the tradition and create a cocktail made with apple juice, but after researching online, I found out that it also pairs well with mangos. This was exciting because I was lucky to get my hands on the sweet Caribbean style mangos the next day in our local farmer’s market.

To make this cocktail, first I made simple syrup and infused it with mango and mint. The word “infuse” may come across as complicated or fancy, but it really isn’t. All you have to do is to cook a cup of sugar with a cup of water until the sugar is completely melted. Then off the heat, add the peeled and sliced mangos and fresh mint leaves and let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if you have time) on the counter.

Once you strain it into a pitcher, most of the job is done. The best part is that you can totally make this simple syrup ahead of time. Simply use the same method with whatever fruit and herbs you have on hand and keep it in a large mason jar in the fridge. This way it is nice and cold when you are ready to serve your cocktails.

When you are ready to make it, simply fill your glass (I used a 10 ounce glass) with crushed ice, 2 shots of the simple syrup, 1 shot of Żubrówka and top it off with a little bit of sparkling water. Once you garnish it with a couple of sweet blackberries and fresh mint leaves, you are in for a treat. The earthy and fresh grass flavor tones of this bison-grass vodka mixed in with the sweet mangoes and mint is a truly refreshing combination.

Wishing all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. Thank you so much for all you do. Cheers to you all!

OTHER CREATIVE COCKTAIL RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

• Pineapple Mezcal Cocktail
• Cocktail Calvados
• Margarita Pineapple
• Champagne Margarita Recipe
• Jalapeno Margarita Recipe
• Blood Orange Mimosa Recipe

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Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler

This Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler is a cocktail made by infusing fresh mangos into simple syrup and mixing it with vodka and sparkling water. For color and more fruity flavor, it is garnished with blackberries. A great cocktail recipe for all your parties year-round.

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 269kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

For the Mango Honey Simple Syrup:

• 3 small ripe mangos peeled and sliced
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1 cup water
• 8-10 leaves of fresh mint plus more to use as garnish

For the Vodka Cooler:

• 4 shots 1 1/2 ounces each of Zubrowka Vodka
• 8-10 fresh blackberries
• 1 can of sparkling water/club soda
• Crushed ice

Instructions

• Place the slices of mango in a large glass (or jar). Muddle them until they are thoroughly crushed. Alternatively, you can puree them in a food processor or blender.
• Bring honey and water to a boil in a medium-size sauce pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the sugar is dissolved. Off the heat, add in the muddled mango and mint leaves and let the mixture cool for 10-15 minutes. Strain the syrup into a pitcher and discard the solids. Let it cool completely before using.
• Fill four 10-ounce glasses with crushed ice. Divide the mango simple syrup in between glasses. Pour 1 shot of Zubrowka in each glass. Top them off with club soda. Garnish them with fresh mint leaves and 2-3 blackberries for each glass.
• Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 68g | Vitamin A: 1680IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler appeared first on Foolproof Living.

After the dinner, towards the end of the evening while we were all waiting for the fire works, I saw a group of people gathering around a drink station on the corner, away from the large crowd. Come to find out, it was a rum tasting station.

Until that night, my experience with rum had never been more than a mojito, a pina colada, or the infamous rum punch, that you would most likely be served as soon as you set foot in the Caribbean. I drank it, but didn’t know much about it. However, later I realized, on that evening we were in for a treat. They were serving the best quality of rum from countries throughout the Caribbean and Central America. With the help of people who were already enjoying a shot, I started my first rum tasting experience with a shot of the Guatemalan Ron Zacapa Centenario XO. It was the smoothest taste that one could imagine. After that, I tried the Flor de Caña (18 year old) from Nicaragua. Before you know it, I had 4 glasses of some of the best rum produced in the world. The best part of it was that since we were enjoying an evening out in the open by the beach, it brought me to a very happy place without actually getting drunk. Since that evening, it became a tradition in our house to treat ourselves every once in a while with a shot of good quality rum after dinner.

I have been thinking about sharing the recipe of the Caribbean rum punch for a while now. However, I did not think that there is anything exciting about the way that they usually serve it in restaurants here on Virgin Gorda. Because, if you think about it, who needs a recipe for mixing boxed fruit juice with inexpensive rum?

About this Cranberry and Mint Rum Punch Recipe:

I wanted a rum punch recipe that truly takes it up a notch. Also, be appropriate for the season. That is when I decided to use the fresh cranberries I had in the fridge. But for my kind of rum punch, I decided to use a good quality rum, such as Flor de Caña. The idea was making a quick cranberry juice and mixing it with freshly squeezed lime juice and rum. Though it looked pretty, it needed some color. That is why, at the last minute, I added fresh mint leaves to both enhance the flavor and give it a nice contrast of color making it a perfect drink for the holidays.

How To Make It:

To make this incredibly delicious drink, I started with bringing water, sugar, and fresh cranberries to a boil, and cooked it until the sugar was dissolved. Then I strained it to a pitcher and set aside. As it was cooling, I squeezed the juice of 5 limes and muddled a half a cup of fresh mint leaves with some sugar until they were bruised and the juices of mint leaves were extracted as much as possible.

I added the lime juice and the now-bruised mint leaves into the pitcher. I stirred in a cup and a half of Flor de Caña (18 years old) and placed it in the fridge for it to cool. After an hour in the fridge, I strained it over a fine mesh strainer into a big pitcher. When I was ready to serve, I filled up a couple of tall glasses with ice and poured the drink over it. To garnish it, I put a couple of cranberries and fresh mint leaves on top.

As you can see in the pictures, it not only looked very festive but also ended up being a perfect Caribbean-style holiday drink that I will be making in the years to come.

And if you can’t get enough of these kinds of holiday drinks, check out this Thanksgiving Punch and Non-alcoholic Halloween Punch recipes.

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Cranberry and Mint Rum Punch

This Cranberry and Mint Rum Punch is a Caribbean-inspired holiday cocktail made with rum and cranberry-infused simple syrup and garnished with mint. Festive, fun, and perfect for all your holiday parties.

Course Cocktail – Alcoholic Beverage

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 186kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries picked over and washed
• 2 1/2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar divided
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves washed and dried – plus more for garnishing
• 1/2 cup lime juice freshly squeezed from 4-5 limes
• 1 1/2 cup rum such as Flor de Cana

Instructions

• Place the cranberries, water, and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Stirring regularly, bring it to a boil, and then, let it simmer for 10 minutes or until the granulated sugar completely dissolves. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
• In the mean time, place fresh mint leaves and 3 tablespoons in a measuring cup. Mash it with a muddler until mint leaves are completely bruised and sugar is dissolved.
• Strain the cranberry syrup into a pitcher. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cranberries for garnishing, for later.
• Add the lime juice, rum, and mint in to the pitcher. Stir it until they are all mixed.
• Strain the mixture through a medium mash strainer pressing gently to make sure you get all the juices out of the mint leaves.
• Pour it over tall glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each glass with fresh mint leaves and reserved cranberries.

Nutrition

Serving: 4– 6 Cups | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 282mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Cranberry and Mint Rum Punch appeared first on Foolproof Living.

It was almost a year and a half after our move that I met my friend Chrissann here on Virgin Gorda. Originally from Northern California, Chrissann moved down to the Caribbean almost 9 years ago. For the first 5 years, she lived on St. Thomas and then moved over to Saba Rock to be with her now-boyfriend.

Chrissann and I clicked almost as soon as we met. It was one of those “love at first sight” kind of friendships, mainly because we had so many things in common. She, too, used to be a hotelier, left her country to experience a different culture, was in a relationship, and most importantly – living here.

However, I think the biggest connection that we have in common is that we both have blogs. Like me, Chrissann started her blog last year and has been enjoying writing it ever since. The best part of it is that she is very well aware of the challenges that come with maintaining and promoting a blog. After spending months to start a blog, it was such a fresh breath of air for me to meet her. I felt like there was finally someone out there who understood what I was going through.

A writer herself, Chrissann created the blog Women Who Live on Rocks, which is a collaboration of many other funny women writers living on tropical islands. Women Who Live on Rocks is a place where you can read humorous articles about what it’s really like to actually live on an island – all the quirks that come with a lifestyle that are very different from simply vacationing on one.

Though it is much different than writing a food blog, a lot of the challenges we face are similar. To bounce ideas off of each other, Chrissann and I get together once a week, mostly over coffee. We enjoy these times that we spend together and feel very positive, happy, and energized after each of our dates.

This week, instead of doing our typical meeting over coffee, we decided that we would take a moment to celebrate being a “Woman Who Lives on a Rock” by creating our own signature cocktail and enjoying it on the beach, in true island-style.

It ended up being a fantastic afternoon of chatting, brainstorming, and laughing about our lives on this rock.

As we were thinking about the kind of cocktail we wanted to create, I was so happy to see my favorite gin, Hendrick’s, in Chrissann’s liquor cabinet. I just love fruity, cold drinks mixed with the unique flavor of Hendrick’s.

Because we wanted to create a drink with bright Caribbean flavors, we decided to use a refreshing combination of honeydew melon, cucumbers, and limes.

We took everything out to the deck and started testing. It didn’t take us long to come up with an easy-to-make, cool, tropical cocktail for happy hour on the beach.

To make this delicious cocktail, Chrissann started by muddling 4 slices of fresh cucumbers, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon lime zest with a couple of honeydew balls that she carved using a melon baller. After they released their juices and mixed thoroughly, she added the mixture into a rock glass. She stirred in a shot of Hendrick’s, 1 teaspoon of simple syrup, 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice. After adding a couple of cubes of ice and freshly cut cucumbers, she topped it off with some club soda.

We decided to call our creation, “Woman on the Rocks”. Whenever you feel like being transported into our island world, just make yourself one of these, grab your e-reader/laptop, and go to Women Who Live on Rocks to read and laugh through our often unbelievable – yet true – island adventures.

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Woman on the Rocks {A Caribbean Cocktail}

This Lady On The Rocks Cocktail is a Caribbean cocktail recipe made by melding the crips flavors of Hendrick’s gin, honeydew melon, cucumbers and lime. It is light and refreshing for the sweltering days of summer.

Course Alcoholic Drink / Cocktail

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Calories 169kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

• 6 4+2 divided slices of cucumber, peeled and sliced into 1/3 inch thick slices
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 5 3+2 divided pieces honeydew balls, carved with using a melon baller
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup
• 1.5 fluid ounces 1 shot of Hendrick’s gin
• club soda
• 2-3 cubes of ice

Instructions

• Muddle 4 slices of cucumber, brown sugar, lime zest, and 3 balls of honeydew in a rock glass.
• Add a shot of Hendrick’s, simple syrup, lime juice. Stir to combine.
• Add 2-3 cubes of ice. Garnish it with slices of cucumber and honeydew balls. Top it off with club soda.
• Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Woman on the Rocks {A Caribbean Cocktail} appeared first on Foolproof Living.