Mighty Lemon Drop

6 ounces lemon-flavored vodka (a.k.a. Citron)
2 ounces Cointreau, or triple sec
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons simple syrup, or to taste (equal amounts of sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves)
2 cups ice
1 lemon or 4 candy lemon drops or jelly lemon slices

Fill a martini shaker or a large glass with ice. Add vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake or stir. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a candy lemon drop or a lemon twist.

Old Cuban

1 handful fresh mint leaves (about 1 large sprig) plus more for garnish
1 1/2 ounces aged rum
1/2 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice (1 lime)
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons superfine sugar or 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup, recipe follows
2 dashes bitters, (recommended: Angostura)
Ice cubes
1 1/2 to 2 ounces dry Champagne, Prosecco or other sparkling wine

Muddle the mint leaves with the rum, lime juice, Simple Syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, cover, and shake vigorously, or stir, until combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready when the shaker mists up.) Pour the muddled liquid into a chilled champagne flute, holding back the ice, but letting some of the mint leaves fall into the glass. Add enough Champagne to almost fill the glass to the top. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Drink.

Simple Syrup:

1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

Tequila Refresca

Ice cubes
1 ounce tequila, white or gold
Dash Campari
6 ounces grapefruit soda,(recommended: Fresca)
Small wedge fresh pineapple, grapefruit, and lime

Fill a goblet or rocks glass with ice cubes. Add the tequila and a dash of Campari to give the drink a slight blush and balance the sweetness of the soda. Top off with the grapefruit soda. Skewer the fruit and stir into the cocktail. Drink.

Serve with a plate of wedged pineapple, a small bowl of your favorite chili powder, and coarse salt, for dipping.

Peach Cobbler

Crushed ice
2 to 2 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
2 1/2 ounces peach nectar
Dash bitters
About 5 wedges frozen peaches, halved
3 to 4 fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 lemon wedge

Fill a large wine goblet with crushed ice. Gently muddle the rye, peach nectar, dash of bitters, peaches, mint, and a squeeze of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Pour over ice and serve cold.

Note: At first, the rye can pack a real punch; as the ice and fruit melt, they mellow it into a wonderful summer drink.

blueberry sangria lemonade

Another favorite of mine is the sangria. I have not tried this one yet, but I will soon so I am adding it anyway. Let me know if you like it!

In a large pitcher
1 1/2c frozen blueberries
1 can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle (750ml) chardonnay
3c lemon lime soda
1/2c cognac
stir and refrigerate for an hour

Pour over ice

They are beautiful that is for sure! If they do not taste good... sorry :)

cocojito

I am a huge fan of the mojito. In the last year I have found many different variations of it, making it even better! Here is a new one perfect for those extra hot days.

In a cocktail shaker add
2 shots coconut rum
5 fresh mint leaves
1/2 shot cream of coconut
1 splash of lime juice
ice cubes
shake

Pour over a chilled tall glass topping with club soda

Go drink up. I can not drink too many of these but for something different and simple, I have to suggest them.

cowboy cocktail

I have not tried this one yet. But it sounds good, and I will very soon. I started some apple mint in the backyard. It is growing like crazy. So I need to get to making this drink and some variations of one of my mojito too!!!

Place 3 fresh mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass
fill with crushed ice
add 1/2 the juice from a lime and stir
add 1 corona

and enjoy, preferably with friends!

red whiskey

This is actually called a scarlet o'brandy... but I am not a fan of the name. So i am changing it! it still tastes great so who cares :)

1c crushed ice
1/3c whiskey (I prefer southern comfort) (With the extra you can add Dr Pepper to it over ice. One of my favorites)
1/3c cranberry juice
2tbsp fresh lime juice

Combine all ingredients into a shaker
cover and shake
strain into glass and enjoy immediately

go now!

sassy sangria

This is pretty powerful juice. So light weights beware! Recipe from semi-homemade cooking. Go share with some friends over brunch.

3c chianti
1c brandy
1/4c triple sec
1 orange, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 apple, cored and sliced
8 fresh raspberries
2c club soda

In a large pitcher combine all ingredients
except club soda
cover tightly and refrigerate 3 hours

Pour 3/4c sangria and 1/4c club soda into glasses
dividing fruit equally and serve

Only share with those who will really appreciate the work for this one!

raspberry sake

mm mmm mmmmm ok you get it, right? Recipe from semi-homemade cooking. This is a short cut to infused sake. I wish I could bring this in with me to my favorite sushi restaurant. Maybe someday.

1 bottle sake (750ml), chilled
1 pint (16oz) canned wild berry juice cocktail concentrate
1c crushed ice
1/2c frozen raspberries, thawed
1/4c fresh lemon juice

In a blender combine
sake, wild berry juice, ice, raspberries and lemon juice
pulse several times until raspberries are completely crushed

Strain into 6 martini glasses
serve immediately

beer margaritas

OK these sound different but they are my favorite drink to make and enjoy. You may be thinking "I don't care for tequila" or "I don't like beer" please just try it and I will not say "I told you so" not one person has tried these and not asked for the recipe and another! You might as well make double so you don't have to turn around and make more.

Groc list: (this is what I buy when I am making these for an occasion)
a couple limes
fifth of tequila (your choice of brand you can not tell when it is mixed in if you got a high end tequila or not)
12 pack of Corona
2 frozen limeade concentrate

In a large pitcher
1c tequila
2 coronas
1 can frozen limeade
whisk lightly careful not to froth the beer too much

In cups add ice and some lime wedges
Pour in drink and enjoy

be ready to make more!!!