Monaco, my Monaco!

So I was playing around with the different varieties of the Shandy, or Panache (as in this post, down below) and substituted the 7-up for the gingerale and added a splash of grenadine. The drink without the grenadine (Shandy) is wonderful in itself, but I admit to loving the bright pink color that the grenadine adds.

What resulted was remarkably delicious, light and refreshing and a touch sweeter than the Shandy. In fact, it tasted very much like a Pimm's Cup.

Liquor stores are not open in Connecticut on Sundays, but I'll purchase a bottle of Pimms next. Talk about a wonderfully refreshing cocktail... but I will leave that for another post!

Isn't my Monaco pretty?

It'll put a smile on your face too!

This Shandy is Dandy!

I spent many years in Europe in my youth. My grandparents had homes in the South of France, Oxfordshire and Umbria. (Not all at the same time!)

I spent two of my teen years in the UK at a strict boarding school. I hobnobbed with Celebrity, Royalty and British Blue Bloods. Truth be told, save for a handful of lovely girls I hated my time over there. I was miserable and terribly homesick. In retrospect, I should have gone when I was a bit older, in college. But I didn't. Despite hating my school, I was able to have some great experiences over there. Many of which involved alcohol. The drinking age there was 16, I think. Otherwise it was 18, but a 16 year old could still get a drink without batting an eyelash. Many of my school days were spent drinking wine and sneaking Silk Cut Cigarettes. I think I secretly wanted to get caught and tossed out of the school. But that never happened. I never even got reprimanded. Instead, I think they felt sorry for the "Little American Girl."

A drink that is served in Europe (all over) is the Shandy. It is often sold in a bottle or a can labelled Shandy. In essence a Shandy is a mixture (or equal parts) beer and either sparkling lemonade (7-up or Sprite would be a good substitute here in the states) or gingerale. It's a wonderfully crisp, light and refreshing drink.

I have never been much of a beer drinker. Every once in a while I like a nice Stella Artois or even Bud Light. These are perfect beers to use to make a Shandy as they, on their own, are crisp light and refreshing.

In France, the Shandy is called Panache. (Pronounced pah-na-shay) Isn't the French name so much more elegant. Does it not reflect a beverage you would proudly serve in a wine glass? Add a splash to the Panache and you have a beverage called the Monaco. Even more elegant! (I'm off to get some grenadine today!) Excuzer moi, voudrais vous une Panache ou un Monaco avec votre petite dejeuner?

To make your Shandy you'll need:

1 bottle of good, crisp, clean beer such as Stella Artois or Bud Light
1 bottle of gingerale, or
1 bottle of 7-up
*a slice of lemon or lime (and a squeeze as well!)

* My personal touch
In a large wine or pilsner glass pour equal parts gingerale or 7-up and beer. I suggest pouring beer first to cut down on foamy overflow. I urge you to try this beverage that is both sweet and sassy!

This drink was inspired by this post over at The Entertaining House!

Raspberry Mojito

One of my favorite blogs is Hostess with Mostest. I love everything about her blog... and I love this twist on the mojito!

The Parker

I've named this after my friend Lisa's daughter who turns 8 today, the day before my Birthday... so I decided that I would start my celebration a little early... I cracked open the bubbly and made myself a big girl Shirley Temple!

What a fabulous drink!
If you'd like to drink along, you'll need (per glass):

Some champagne or proseco
2 tbs grenadine
a few cherries, cut in half and pitted

Macerate cherries in the grenadine for a few minutes, then pour 2 tbs of the grenadine into a champagne flute, add a few cherries and fill to the top with champagne or proseco.

Cheers!

The Official Preppy Cocktail?

It's as good as it is pretty!

Light and refreshing... a perfect drink to be enjoyed out on your porch, deck or balcony on a warm summery day. Prepare a large batch ahead of time and bring some with you to Polo, the beach or to a neighborhood block party!

1 shot of vodka, I used Absolut
1 shot of limoncello (I used the medicine cup and filled it to the brim, so roughly 3 tbs)
1 strawberry cut into pieces and placed in glass
2 basil leaves, chiffonaded and placed in glass with strawberry

A couple of basil leaves for garnish
1/2 cup of pink lemonade
1/2 cup of seltzer

If you have the time you can marinate the strawberries and chiffonaded basil leaves in the pink lemonade for a few minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and garnish with the basil leaves.

This drink needed some green and I do not like the flavor combination of strawberry and mint. Basil actually has a sweet, herby flavor and it lends itself beautifully to this drink.

Cheers!

My Fabulous Cocktail, "The Poolside"

(Thanks for the great name Mamma Bickie!)

Ingredients:

Vodka, one shot
1/2 cup of seltzer water
1/2 cup of limeade
2 or 3 thin slices of lime
2 or 3 thin slices of cucumber, skin on.

The first time I ever had cucumber in a drink was when I was in Wimbledon. (My grandparents were members and I went often in my youth.) You cannot go to Wimbledon without having a Pimms... Pimm's Cup is a wonderfully tasteful and refreshing British cocktail that is garnished with a slice of orange, lemon and cucumber. The cucumber adds such a great flavor and refreshing quality.Pour all into a tall glass, add some ice, and garnish with an umbrella!

Below, picture of my shot glass!

Sparkling Lemonade Sangria

I love sangria. I love it more when it is made with bubbly! It's festive, fresh and not at all overly fancy.

I was at my friend Cathy's this weekend for a mini college reunion. My friend Karlan really wanted to go but was unable to attend and asked if I would make a toast on her behalf. She suggested Prosecco. (Prosecco, for those of you who are not familiar, is an Italian sparkling wine much like champagne. Unlike a good quality Champagne a good Prosecco will not break the bank. And sure beats a bottle of Korbel! Prosecco is also wonderful on its own!)

Karlan suggested we make Mimosas if we didn't want straight bubbly. I took it one step further!

I added some lemonade, Limoncello and fresh strawberries and what resulted was a treat that delighted all the senses...

Ingredients:

1/2 container of high quality lemonade
1 container of strawberries, washed and quartered
1/4 cup of Limoncello (an Italian liqueur)

1 bottle of good quality Prosecco

Directions:

In a large pitcher add the strawberries to the Limoncello and lemonade. Let sit and hour, up to three hours, but we do not want to get the strawberries too mushy. Just prior to serving add the bottle of Prosecco. Because I winged this recipe you may want to alter the flavors slightly. You may want a bit more Limoncello or a bit more lemonade.

Karlan, this one's for you... Cheers!

Simple Springtime Sparkling Sangria

Spring is in the air! The birds are singing the buds are budding and everyone is happy and chipper! When I had a couple of friends over the other night for appetizers and coctails I wanted something to reflect the weather. So, a Simple Springtime Sparkling Sangria it was! And, what a hit it was too!

You'll need to marinate your fruit (as pictured above) for a good hour before adding the champagne just prior to serving.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of orange juice
1/2 - 3/4 Cup of Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
1 apple (red variety) cut into pieces
1 green apple cut into pieces
1/2 orange cut into pieces
1 bottle of Champagne or Proseco*

In a large pitcher add juice, liqueur and fruit. Place in fridge for at least an hour. Just prior to serving add Champagne or Proseco.

Pour into champagne glass, add a few pieces of fruit and Cheers!

*I just love Proseco and discovered it about a year or so ago. Averaging about $12 a bottle, a good bottle of Proseco (Italian effervescent wine) rivals a good and much pricier Champagne. It's a great alternative to it's French cousin mixed in drinks or enjoyed all by itself.

Grown Up Lemonade (or Sparkling Lemon Sangria!)

I bought a sangria book a few years ago. I love sangria and was naive to think that all sangrias were alike, made with red wine and citrus fruit. To my delight I saw a flavor for all seasons and all moods! I decided that a lemon sangria made with sparkling wine would fit the mood yesterday.

I used one bottle of good Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)

1/3 Cup of Lemoncello (Italian lemon liqueur)

1 Cup of pink lemonade (I used Newman's Own)

1 large handful of frozen raspberries

I poured all the ingredients into a large pitcher, gave it a good stir and poured away! The longer the liquid sat in the pitcher the more pink it became (from the raspberries)

My grown up lemonade was a huge hit!