Cocktails Served in the Garden

This past Sunday I participated in the Lilly for Target frenzy.  It was a total last minute decision.  I woke up at 6:30am on Sunday and turned on my television to hear one of my favorite local News anchors talking about the Lilly Pulitzer for Target hype.  I grew up in South Florida (aka the land Lilly Pulitzer), so naturally I was curious to see what this collection was all about.  It took about five seconds of reviewing the adorable collection online to realize that I needed to get dressed and get to Target ASAP!  

I arrived at Target at 8:04am (the store opened at 8am) and ran to the back where they had set up the Lilly Pulitzer Home section…it was already wiped CLEAN!  I was totally bummed that I had missed the opportunity to purchase fabulous cocktail stirrers and wine charms, however I will say that the people watching ended up being a decent consolation prize.  Customers were running through the store wearing the merchandise (including very pregnant women) to free up their hands to grab additional items.   I also think that they were wearing the merchandise to secure their acquisitions (but that's just me).  It was crazy!  

So how did this Palm Beach-inspired post come to be?  At around 8:30am when the people watching started to die down at Target, I was about to head over to the cleaning products section when I saw my friend Jane talking to a couple of Lilly Pulitzer enthusiasts.  She had fared much better than me because she arrived at the store at 7:30am to stand in line (if only I had been so wise).  Fortunately for me, Jane had grabbed more items than she had wanted/needed, so she graciously offered up her overflow to me.  I was ECSTATIC!  It really didn't matter to me what item I ended up with as long as I got my hands on something to serve as a momento from this crazy morning.  

I ended up selecting the Lilly Pulitzer beach blanket.  I live in DC, what was I going to do with a beach blanket?  Well as it turns out, I have this wonderful picnic area right next to my condo and this beach blanket was the perfect picnic blanket.  Totally inspired by my new beach blanket I started perusing the rest of Target for additional picnic accessories.  It was a very fruitful trip to Target this past Sunday that resulted in the creation of a beautiful Strawberry Thyme Lemonade set up al fresco.  Here are the details of my Garden Cocktail Party Setup:

• Beach Blanket - Lilly Pulitzer for Target
• Tray- Decorative Tray with Cane Detail, Mint
• High Ball Glasses- Reed & Barton SoHo Highball Glasses, Set of 4
• Cocktail Napkins- Caspari Entertaining "Garden Follies"
• Vase- Threshold Conch Shell Statuary
• Small Glass Cups- CB2 Low Rider Tasting Glass
• Pitcher- CB2 Double Edge Pitcher
• Stirrer- Williams-Sonoma Cocktail Spoon
• Drink Recipe- Real Simple's Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade

*This drink recipe can be served with or without the addition of alcohol.  I would recommend using a Citron Vodka if you choose to add alcohol. 

Overall, this day was a lot of fun.  Not only did I end up creating a beautiful and delicious impromptu cocktail party al fresco, but I also learned a very valuable lesson.  The next time Lilly Pulitzer (or equivalent) releases a special collection at Target…GET THERE EARLY!

2 Cocktails for Spring

Typically I like to release a cocktail recipe post on a Friday as a way to kick off the start of the weekend.   In light of the fact that today is Tax Day, I am mixing things up and sharing my two favorite cocktail recipes for Spring.  Lets face it, on Tax Day a cocktail post seems very appropriate.  

These are two very easy cocktail recipes that I have been loving this season.  I am in no way reinventing the wheel, but have certainly added my own creative touches with both presentation and a few ingredient modifications.

Classic Champagne Cocktail

This is an easy recipe and a great way to enhance your standard glass of champagne.  The sugar cube does not make the cocktail sweet, but rather balances out the bitters.  In addition to loving this cocktail, I have also become a huge fan of the champagne coupe this spring.  Coupes are elegant, unique and do not have to be expensive (mine were on sale for less than $6/glass at the time of purchase).  Here is a link to a set of 4 coupes for under $20!

• 1 Sugar Cube
• Angostura Bitters
• Champagne or Sparkling Wine
• Twist of Lemon Peel and/or Edible Flower to Garnish

Instructions:  

1. Place one sugar cube in a champagne glass.
2. Saturate the sugar cube with Bitters
3. Fill Glass with Champagne or Sparkling Wine
4. Garnish with an edible flower and/or a twist of lemon peel

Springtime Greyhound

This is a refreshing cocktail that I have loved for a while.  The classic Greyhound recipe is extremely simple (see here).  Over the years, I have found ways to enhance this cocktail so that it still kept its original flavors, but now has a bit more punch.  To make this a "springtime cocktail," it's important to use a pink grapefruit juice and ruby red fresh grapefruit slices (along with an edible flower) to garnish.  Beyond the cocktail ingredients, I would recommend serving this cocktail with a pretty cocktail napkin (currently I am loving these Monkey Business Cocktail Napkins by Caspari).  

• 1 part Citroen Vodka
• 2 parts Grapefruit Juice (High Quality)
• 1 part Perrier or sparkling water equivalent
• 1 Fresh Squeezed Lemon Wedge
• 1 Slice of Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit and/or Edible Flower to Garnish

Instructions:

1. In a double old fashioned glass, combine ingredients over ice
2. Garnish with a slice of fresh ruby red grapefruit and/or edible flower

Cheers to Springtime! (and Tax Day!)

Blood Orange & Cranberry Cocktail

Lately I have been getting a little tired of my go-to Kettle Greyhound (Vodka & Grapefruit Juice on ice).  It is a great cocktail- very refreshing, most restaurants/bars can make it for you and most importantly (for me) its not too sweet.  I am not a fan of super sweet cocktails primarily because the combination of alcohol and sugar tends to bring on a nasty headache in the morning.

Clearly I have digressed a little, but my point being that I have come up with a new cocktail recipe that is delicious, perfect for winter when  citrus is in abundance and most importantly, not too sweet!  Who doesn't love a good cocktail recipe?  Here is the recipe for making this delicious libation:

Ingredients:                                                                            (Serves 4) 

• 12 oz. Blood Orange Juice **Blood Orange Juice is definitely less expensive in grocery stores, but if you can't find it locally, here is a link for buying it online.  
• 4oz Premium Cranberry Juice (I like R.W. Knudsen Just Cranberry)
• 12 oz. Club Soda or Seltzer Water (Perrier is a great option)
• 1 Lemon (I suggest Meyer Lemons- they tend to be juicier)
• 8-12 oz. Citron/Citroen Vodka (Absolut or Ketel One would be my preference for this recipe)
• 2 oz. Cointreau (Orange Liqueur)
• Ice (*Tip-Blood Orange Flavored Ice Cubes are a great addition to this cocktail)
• Blood Orange Slices (Frozen) or Fresh Cranberries (Skewered and Frozen) or Simple & Crisp - Dried Blood Orange Crisps

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher combine- Blood Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Vodka, Cointreau, Club Soda and the Juice of 1 Meyer Lemon
2. Stir Contents and pour over ice
3. Garnish with either frozen blood orange slices, frozen cranberry skewers or Simple & Crisp Dried Blood Orange Crisps

(*Note- I also like to add extra frozen blood orange slices to my pitcher to keep the beverages extra cold without diluting the flavor)

Pitchers to Consider:  Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Glass Pitcher, CB2 Double Edge Pitcher, Anthropologie Hobnail Pitcher, Crate & Barrel Cha-Cha Pitcher, Towle Serveware Hammersmith Pitcher

Double Old Fashioned Glasses to Consider: Williams-Sonoma Dorset Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Sur La Table Gold Rim DOF Glasses (Set of 4), CB2 Single Edge Double Old Fashioned, Scalamandre by Lenox Zebra Double Old Fashioned Glass (Set of 2), Villeroy & Boch Octavie Double Old Fashioned Glass