Refreshing drink recipes are perfect to make ahead for summer parties

Tag : Frozen Fruit

Whether you're looking for an easy way to entertain this summer orsimply relaxing on the deck, a tall, cool summer sipper is theperfect compliment to the swelter weather.
Mix up a pitcher or a punch bowl and the time-consuming task ofbartending is unnecessary. Summer drinks can be made in adult orfamily-friendly varieties by adding or leaving out the alcohol.

A summer drink can be as simple as adding crushed fruit to apitcher of lemonade or iced tea. A splash of vodka or rum turns acooler into a cocktail.

For gatherings that include children, leave out the liquor or offerit on the side for adults. To make mocktails for children'sgatherings, substitute syrups in flavors like orange or mint forsimilarly flavored liqueurs.

Dante D'Avello, chef and owner of Totally Cooked Catering inCuyahoga Falls, often encourages his clients to consider servingone special cocktail for their events. Not only does it help tocontrol the bar costs, but guests always respond to itenthusiastically.

Even nonalcoholic drinks, such as fruit-infused lemonades orraspberry iced teas, can anchor the beverage selections at anyparty. D'Avello suggested scattering a handful of berries and somelemon leaves around a pitcher of berry lemonade. ''It alwaysinvites people in,'' he said.

Fresh fruit dropped into a cooler glass will dress it up.Strawberries and raspberries soon will be in abundant in Ohio, andlater this summer peaches and melons will be on farm stands.

Traditional sangria, Spanish red wine infused with fruit, juices,fruit-flavored liqueur and brandy, is the classic summer sipper.For a lighter option, sangrias can be made with white wine.

D'Avello said most summer drinks can be made ahead of time, or madewith a base that can be mixed up in advance and then simply toppedoff with a finish of sparkling water or soda.

For those who enjoy experimenting, D'Avello suggested brewingflavored iced teas, or working with herbs like mint, rosemary,lemon balm and pineapple sage, to create a uniquely flavoredcooler.

''Step over the boundary and create your own signature drinks. Yourguests will love you for breaking them out of their mundanerefreshment existence,'' he said.
Here are a variety of recipes for summer coolers, some that includealcohol and some that don't. Most of them can be easily adapted toturn cocktail into mocktail or vice versa.