It's spring, it's the weekend, time to kick back and relax with this yummy concoction.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that, add some white wine, a pretty pitcher and glasses and you've got yourself a party.  

1 (large) bottle white wine, I prefer Pinot Grigio, just use your favorite
1 ( 12 ounce) can  frozen lemonade
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup simple syrup
1 large can pineapple tidbits with juice1 orange, halved and sliced thin
1 lemon, halved and thinly sliced
6, 8, 10 strawberries, sliced, you decide how many
1 can lemon-lime soda  (7-up, Sprite, Sierra Mist or Ginger Ale works, too)
Whole strawberries, or lemon or orange slices, for garnish
Maraschino cherries, for garnish, drain and path them dry so they don't turn the sangria pink

Steps

If you've never experienced Limoncello before, you're in for a treat.  Limoncello is an Italian Liqueur with seriously delicious, intense lemon flavor.

So make a pitcher of this fun drink, pucker up and whew,  your lemon loving friends will love this.  It takes old school Tom Collins to a whole new leve1 😋

½ cups good vodka, such as Grey Goose
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (6 lemons) Minute Maid Frozen Lemon Juice works well for this, not frozen lemonade, lemon juice
6 tablespoons sugar syrup 
¼ cup Italian Limoncello liqueur
1½ cups cold club soda
Ice cubes
Sliced lemon, for serving 

Combine the vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Limoncello in a large pitcher. Just before serving, pour in the club soda and stir. Fill highball glasses with ice and pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish each drink with a slice of lemon and serve cold.

You can make your own Limoncello, The Kitchn has an excellent recipe, I'll link it below

      Limoncello Recipe

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These are seriously the most delicious martinis you will ever drink.  This has been one of Oprah's Favorite Drinks for years and if you have never had them, you're in for a treat.   Even people who don't normally drink alcohol love them.  They're the perfect girl's night out drink, the perfect party drink, the perfect just because... drink, they are a spring/summery concoction of puckery goodness that packs a whallop of a punch  😜

Servings: Serves 2

Ingredients

Juice of 6 lemons
4 tablespoons sugar
6 fresh mint leaves
4 shots vodka
Ice in shaker

1 sugar-rimmed martini glass, coat rim first with lemon juice, then dip in sugar.  

You can also pulverize lemon drop candy and dip the rim in the crushed candy instead of sugar.

Directions

Mix lemon juice, sugar and vodka in a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with mint.

Notes:

Margaritas

This is our friend Charlie’s recipe and it’s excellent, these are the best margarita you will ever make!  The ladies in the famiily love this!

1 can limeade concentrate - 12 oz.

3/4 can triple sec

3/4 can tequila

2 caps roses lime juice

ice

Blend all to a slushy consistency - Enjoy!

 

Marti got this recipe from Hacienda’s bartender. It’s worth a mention but Charlie’s has to be better

1 can limeaide

2 cans lemonade

4 parts tequila

1 part triple sec

 

 

1½ cups good vodka, such as Grey Goose 
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (6 lemons) 
6 tablespoons sugar syrup (see note) 
¼ cup Italian Limoncello liqueur 
1½ cups cold club soda, such as Pelligrino 
Ice cubes 
Sliced lemon, for serving 

Combine the vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Limoncello in a large pitcher. Just before serving, pour in the club soda and stir. Fill highball glasses with ice and pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish each drink with a slice of lemon and serve cold.

Makes 4-6 drinks

Oh my, I saw this Kahula shot in a roasted marshmallow on Facebook and had to share.  They also suggested dipping the marshmallow in graham cracker crumbs and then pouring in chocolate liqueur.

I don’t normally imbibe, but I could seriously like this chocolate version...

 

This just might be the best hot chocolate ever.  No more nasty chemical laden Swiss Miss at my house, this is so easy to put together, it tastes sinfully delicious and this is under 40 calories a cup.   I adapted this recipe from Hershey’s Cocoa, it’s SO good, just the perfect finish to a cool winter evening. ~ jan

1 cup Unsweeted Almond Milk (I use Silk, 30 calories, <1 carb per cup)
2 Tablespoons Splenda
2-3 teaspoons Hershey’s Cocoa
dash salt
1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Microwave your milk in a mug until hot, mine takes about 1.5 minutes.

Meanwhile stir the rest of the ingredients together, except for vanilla.  Add to mug of hot milk, and whisk to blend, then stir in the vanilla.  Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Note:  The first time I made this, I added a splash of half and half, the next time I didn’t.  Of course it was a bit richer with the half and half, but still amazing without.  You can also add just a dash of cinnamon to make Mexican Hot Chocolate.

This is a keeper, Almond Milk rocks, I will never look for another hot chocolate, this one, as Hershey says, is perfectly perfect...

Carb count - 5-6 carbs 

Photo courtesy of Hershey’s Chocolate

Adding a tablespoon of butter to your morning coffee keeps you full until lunch.  I know, it's strange, but it really does work.  It's a low carb trick that would work for anyone.

Just melt your butter, pour in your coffee and whisk to combine and make it a bit foamy.  It's absolutely yummy, a little cream makes it even better!

 

I love Fruit Flavored Tea.   Mother always put orange slices in her tea, and I've been a huge fan of doing that my whole life.  People are always surprised, they expect lemon.  But don't forget peach slices and raspberries when they are in season.  It's a good thing...

 

 

And if you don't mind the calories, Nashville Fruit Tea is just amazing.  I had it for the first time at HRH Dumplings,  a great little restaurant in downtown Franklin.  I posted the recipe a few years ago, five to be exact.   Here's the quick link...

 

What a great idea, make these large cubes in muffin tins and put them in your pitcher this summer...

 

Mississippi Mudslides, Pink Cadillac Margaritas, Shoo-Fly Punch, just to name a few.  This collection would turn even a non-drinker into a believer!  Hop on over to Souterh Living and check the all out.

Here's the link!

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

We made this for July 4th, and it was absolutely yummy.  Let it sit overnight, the flavors mellow, it’s totally light, refreshing and really simple to make.

3 bottles of Pinot Grigio
6 ounces of frozen lemonade concentrate, undiluted
6 ounces of frozen orange juice, undiluted
Orange Slices
Strawberries, Sliced
Peaches Sliced

That’s it, how easy is this?  Just stir together in a large container, refrigerate overnight and enjoy.

And since everybody likes a different sweetness to their drinks, this was tart, so we just added a packet of two of Splenda to our glasses instead of adding sugar to the entire batch.

It was just perfect….

~ jan

Apple Crisp Cocktail
Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

Prep Time:3 minInactive Prep Time:--Cook Time:--
Level:
Easy
Serves:
1 serving
Ingredients
1 part brandy
2 parts apple cider, chilled
2 parts Champagne
1 apple, sliced into thin slices, for garnish
Directions
In a champagne flute, combine the brandy and cider and stir. Top with Champagne. Garnish with a couple of slices of apple.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Martini
Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

Prep Time:10 minInactive Prep Time:1 hr 0 minCook Time:5 min
Level:
Easy
Serves:
8 servings
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3 cups vanilla vodka (recommended: Smirnoff's)
Cranberry-flavored seltzer, chilled
8 maple leaf hard candies for garnish, optional
Directions
In a small pot over medium heat, mix together the sugar and pumpkin pie spice with 1 cup water. Bring it to a boil, remove from the heat, and allow to cool for 1 hour. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To a pitcher, add the vodka and half the simple syrup. Stir until blended. Add the cranberry seltzer and pour into chilled martini glasses. Add more sugar syrup, to taste, if necessary. Garnish with maple candies, if desired.

Ingredients
   
1/2 gallon(s) apple cider
1/3 cup(s) dark brown sugar
2 stick(s) cinnamon
5  whole allspice berries
1  (1/2 inch by 1/2 inch) chunk fresh ginger, peeled
3  whole cloves
8 slice(s) orange

Directions
In a 3-quart saucepan, combine cider, sugar, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, ginger, and cloves. Heat to a simmer and allow to cook 20 minutes. Strain into a punch bowl and garnish with orange slices. Serve warm.

Source:  Country Living

This is my friend Carlene’s version of a night time drink designed to put one to sleep...an adult baby bottle, so to speak.  This is what she had to say about this recipe.  ~ jan

It's very good...works great..and it is open to interpretations and variations..  Lots of alcohol is not good...just a tasting of it..a hint...no egg in it.  The old timey recipe , I think, called for whipping the egg into a froth..spices and wine...heated  milk...   I added the pat of butter, just because it is so tasty...sometimes, I leave it out, but I prefer it in.   Don't drink it if you are not ready to go to sleep or at least lie down and relax...you'll be out in no time...

1 C milk...or Soy or Almond or Rice
1 t sugar to taste...or a substitute like Splenda, or none at all if it's your thing
some spice...can be a dash of Allspice or pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice or Mace or Cardamom
a grind or two of nutmeg...... a bit of citrus flavoring or a small amt. of zest of lemon/orange/lime/Clementine
a splash of good vanilla extract
a pat of butter....or ...not
A T of California Sherry or any sherry or a rum or bourbon, etc....but, not much...it's not an alcoholic drink...it's just for flavor...mine taste like a light eggnog, without the egg.  It's a 'comfort' flavor...a bit like egg custard flavor...but more adult...

Heat the milk with the items that YOU would like....eliminate or add, to your taste.   I usually pour the hot mixture thru a tea strainer to get rid of the grit of the nutmeg and zest particles, etc.

NOW...go to bed... and drink this down , not HOT/HOT necessarily, but at a good warm temp....it's just fine as it is, but IF you are especially achy..or after shoveling you 'expect' to be...take 2 Advil or other anti-inflammatory with it...you will sleep like a baby......

Many fans of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte eagerly wait for it to show up on menus again in the Fall. It made its annual re-appearance last week. However, for those of us on a budget, those little cups of goodness can add up. Making your own at home will not only save you money, but you can also enjoy them year-round. In addition, you have more control over the ingredients, so you can tweak the recipe to your liking.

You can change the sugar and fat content of this recipe quite easily.

Pumpkin Spice Latte
makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin OR 1 teaspoon of Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup (your choice)
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute - you can halve this amount
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.)

Directions:
In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don't have a blender, don't worry about it - just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the espresso on top.

Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

Source: DIY Network

I think this sounds wonderful for a chilly fall evening…

Pour very hot apple cider over two fingers of ginger brandy in a coffee cup. Add a cinnamon stick and a thin wedge of orange; too fat a hunk of orange ruins it. Don sheepskin slippers, find comforter and soft seat and, if possible, a working fireplace. Caveat: If you’re like me and occasionally find yourself “ingredient-challenged,” keep in mind that substituting something else for the brandy will radically change the drink; there is some je ne sais quois about the symbiosis of apples and ginger that should not be monkeyed with.

Original recipe source: Killington Ski Resort

Hot Buttered Rum

1-2 tsp. brown sugar
1 Tbs.  good vanilla ice cream
1-2 jiggers of rum
1 tsp. butter
1 cinnamon stick

Mix brown sugar and ice cream in the glass mug, add the rum, fill with hot water...add the cinnamon stick and the pat of butter.

I swear, this works just as well as Mentholatum or Vicks Salve....it's a great inhaler, even if you don't care to drink it..