Weekend Cocktails - Watermelon Pomegranate Rum Cooler

I have talked before about the benefits of pomegranate juice and specifically the quality of POM Wonderful brand of pomegranate since being introduced to it last year. Back in the fall, I made several recipes using POM, so I was delighted when the POM Wonderful folks offered to send me another case to try some summer recipes. Loaded with powerful antioxidants and frankly pretty great just straight up, if you haven't gotten around to trying POM Wonderful, you should!

Weekend Cocktails - Pineapple Lemonade Spring Sangria Blanca

A blend of white wine, lemon, pineapple, orange, apple and strawberries, it's a perfect party cocktail for spring and summer!

Pineapple Lemonade Sangria

I just love a good sangria for a party don't you? And this one is perfect for any party you're planning. This goes super fast so double it up, at the least!

You may have seen my Cranberry Pomegranate Holiday Sangria that I posted back around Thanksgiving. Made with a combination of cranberry and pomegranate juices and fruit, apple, orange and lemon, it's a perfect fall and winter sangria.  Well, spring is finally upon us, and so I think it's a perfect time to introduce a Spring Sangria for our weekend cocktails series - lemon, pineapple, strawberries, orange, apple - so fresh and delicious. I just love it!

Weekend Cocktails - Vodka Collins

It's cocktail time! Isn't it funny that spring hasn't even officially made an entrance, and yet here I am already thinking of summer cocktails!?  My apologies for the lack of photo styling folks, but eh, we were working in the yard today and I was tired, so maybe next time I'll do a nice, pretty, styled picture.

I don't imbibe in alcohol much these days, heck, I don't even have the proper bar tools except for what is leftover from my younger years, though I keep saying I'm gonna remedy that. But, for now, my shaker is a quart Mason jar, the same thing that we very often drink sweet, iced tea in, or build a bbq sundae in from our leftover picnic fixin's. My strainer? I use a regular ole kitchen strainer.  Simple living.  That's how we roll Down South. 

Weekend Cocktails - Lemon Drop

If I keep doing this weekend cocktail series, I guess I'm going to have to invest in a basic bar set, because frankly these are what I'm using for shaking and straining. Pretty darned sophisticated, huh?! Well, I guess that would be what you call southern ingenuity! Make do with what you have. So, please also forgive my use of the margarita glass for what clearly should be in a martini glass. I'll try to redeem myself on the next martini glass worthy drink.

My Perfect Mojito

 

Making a fresh mojito is so easy! Here's how.

Mary's Perfect Mojito

I have loved mojitos since the first time I ever tasted one, and while Cuba may have been the birthplace of the mojito, they always make me think of Miami and the Florida Keys.

What a beautiful drive that is between the two, and that 7-mile bridge to Key West, a place so laid back that even the dogs saunter around so slowly they appear to be sleepwalking and the few traffic lights seem almost lazy. Where people get around on bicycles and scooters and nobody is in any kind of a hurry.

Weekend Cocktails - Vodka Slush

Vodka Slush, a refreshing adult drink made from a mixture of frozen lemonade, orange juice and limeade and vodka, or rum if you like. After freezing the mixture is combined with 7-up or Sprite to make a slush. 

Vodka Slush

This one's for you Deb, because and it was you and Trish that inspired me to seek out this slushy drink after having a taste of Trish's freezer slush many, many years ago! (Hey, and send me your recipe would ya?)

Weekend Cocktails - Frozen Pina Colada

Whew! It's soooooo hot down here it's insane. The heat index temperature with humidity factored in was 105 degrees today!

It's been awhile since we've seen a good rain - about a month or near about. I know, I know, back then I was complaining about there being too much rain after days and days in a row of the stuff. Well, seems there is never a happy medium with Mother Nature around here - she either withholds completely or she smothers us. Hmmmm..... sounds like a few relationships I've had before hahaha!

I have literally been having to water my larger containers that are in full sun - like the one with the watermelon - every, single day, and sometimes twice a day! Went out one day this week at about 2 o'clock to find it all drooping all over on the ground! I almost cried because I thought I had killed it! I quickly doused it down with several gallons of water and it recovered thankfully, but I don't want to end up with weird misshapen watermelons, so I've been much more careful to make sure that does not happen again!

Well, I don't care who ya are ... a nice, tall, icy drink really helps to cool things down quick on hot, hot days like we've been havin', when not much else will work, not even cold iced tea! This icy drink really fills the bill and if ya close your eyes you might imagine that you're sittin' on the beach down in Key West. Now I have some mighty fine memories that fit that just fine!

Make it non-alcoholic, or make the adult version ... just watch out for those 'ice cream' headaches!

Frozen Pina Colada
From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish: http://deepsouthdish.com/

• 1 can of pineapple chunks or slices, with juice
• 1/2 cup of cream of coconut
• Juice of one lemon
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of rum
• Ice cubes
• Cherry and/or wedge of pineapple for garnish, optional

Put pineapple into blender and process until pureed. Add the remaining ingredients filling the pitcher with ice cubs. Blend and pulse until smooth. Serve immediately.

Substitute water for rum for a non-alcoholic version.

Frozen chunks of watermelon stand in for ice cubes for this delightful frozen watermelon margarita. For a strawberry margarita, swap out the watermelon for frozen strawberries.

Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

Ahhh....it's the weekend and 5 o'clock somewhere. Oh, wait. It's 5 o'clock here!!

Remember those watermelon rind pickles from the other day? Well, if you don't feel like foolin' around with the sticky mess from eating that watermelon, here's a very adult way to use up that pulp. Just lay chunks of watermelon on a baking sheet and freeze them for several hours until firm, or overnight.