Friday Fun: How to Quick-Chill Wine

photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Leave it to Martha to come up with an easy way to quick-chill wine.  (And leave it to Martha to do it using adorable dish towels.)

"Wet and wring out a linen dish towel, wrap it around a bottle, and place it in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Can't wait that long?  Try the freezer for 15 minutes."

We tested this out for you last night with a bottle of room-temp champagne, but it took our bottle a little longer in the fridge.  I'm guessing the glass bottle was thicker than a standard white wine bottle?  Also - why on earth were we drinking champagne on a Thursday night?!  Because our offer was accepted on what we've been calling The Dream House :)  We're super excited!  Let the paperwork mayhem begin!!

Happy Weekend, Lovelies!



{ photo and how-to source }


       

Sparkling Strawberry-Mint Limeade

A few things about this recipe:

1.  YUM!  I mean, I kinda knew I would love this recipe because, hello?  Champagne + strawberries + lime + mint!  That combo is just so yummy and perfect for sipping on a patio.

Guinness Molasses Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter

I'm so excited for this St. Patrick's Day recipe!  Last year's Irish Soda Bread was yummy, but this recipe for Guinness Molasses Bread knocks its socks off with simplicity and speed.  I mean, look down there - only six ingredients!  No eggs, no fat, and all you do is stir, pour, and bake.

Pink Porchcrawlers

Ohmy, these babies are easy to make!  The longest step is slicing the limes.  Seriously.  All you do is stir everything in a serving pitcher and pour over ice.  I'm assuming Pink Porchcrawlers got their name from the fact that the vodka is very well-hidden because you could increase the amount below and still be a-ok.  They're fun to make and fun to drink and perfect for a hot-weather get-together.

Enjoy!



Pink Porchcrawlers
adapted from Southern Living

1/2 c. fresh or frozen raspberries
2, 12 oz. bottles of beer, chilled
6 oz. frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate*
1/2 c. vodka
lemon and lime slices for garnish

Stir together the raspberries, beer, lemonade concentrate, and vodka.  Serve over ice and garnish with lemon and lime slices.  Makes 4 servings.

* Note: If you can't find raspberry lemonade concentrate, any flavor will do.  The most common form of this recipe used pink lemonade concentrate, but I opted for more raspberry flavor.

      

Watermelon Sangria

Is it still hot where you live?  All this back to school talk has me feeling as if Fall should be right around the corner, but the weather outside certainly isn't giving any hints of Fall just yet.  So, I decided to finally try out a couple of hot-weather party drink recipes, just in time for Labor Day weekend.

These Watermelon Sangrias are a fantastic way to use up that very ripe watermelon you've got sitting in your fridge.  Just blend it up, strain out the pulp, and stir in some booze.  It definitely tastes smoother and more watermelon-y if you let it sit in your fridge for a few hours (just like in traditional Sangria), so it give a little time to rest before serving.

Enjoy!



Watermelon Sangria
adapted from Serious Eats

4 c. cubed ripe seedless watermelon
2 c. white wine
1 oz. light rum
2 oz. Cointreau
2 oz. simple syrup
3 limes
ice
lime seltzer water, optional
optional garnish: additional watermelon and mint sprigs

In a blender, purée watermelon cubes. Strain into a large pitcher. Add wine, rum, Cointreau, and simple syrup and stir. Juice 2 limes and add juice to pitcher. Slice the other lime lengthwise and then slice into thin slices. Add lime slices to pitcher, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Pour into ice-filled serving glasses, garnish with additional watermelon and mint sprigs and top off with optional lime seltzer water.  Makes about 6 servings.

Ingredient Lineup:

Strain the pureed watermelon to remove excess pulp.

Salud!

      

Strawberry Mojitos

We have a small patch of mint plants in our window planter box, and one blazing hot evening, Bo got tired of my whining and whipped up these drinks for me us.  I love mojitos, and it seems like I've had some pretty terrible ones at restaurants and bars.  How hard could it be?  Not very, when you have Bo making them for you :)

Enjoy!

Strawberry Mojitos
adapted from A Cup of Mai

2 oz. simple syrup
3 fresh strawberries
5 mint leaves
1 lime
2 oz. light rum
soda water

In a chilled glass, muddle the simple syrup, strawberries, and mint leaves with the back of a spoon, crushing the strawberries and mint leaves well.

Squeeze the juice from the lime into the glass, add the rum, and stir well.  Fill glass with ice and top off with soda water.  Makes 1 drink.



Simple Syrup
adapted from Allrecipes

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water

Whisk together sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil, whisking constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture is clear, approximately 3 minutes.

Cool syrup to room temperature and store sealed in the refrigerator.   Makes 1 cup (8oz.).

 

Bo's Famous Sangria

I decided to pretend that I was spending Spring Break on a warm and beautiful island, with nothing to do but read fluff books while balancing a delicious and fruity drink in my hand.  I also pretended to be ultra thin and tan and wearing the most flattering bikini ever.  Alas, I was only able to make the drink part a reality.  Sigh.

Ok, back to earth and this recipe - What's important to know is that while I do not like red wine, I love this Sangria.  You also need to know that it makes a lot - about 2 gallons' worth.  We like to make it in a cooler with a spout, so that it's portable, stays chilled, and doesn't make a mess when poured.  You can also mess with the amounts and kinds of fruit, and you'll pretty much never go wrong.

Enjoy!



Bo's Famous Sangria
1 1/3 c. Apricot Brandy
2 L. cheap Merlot (yes, cheap)
1 1/3 c.Triple Sec
12 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 c. lemon juice
3/4 c. orange juice
2/3 c. sugar
2 lemons, sliced
2 oranges, sliced
2 limes, sliced
2 nectarines or apricots, sliced
1/2 pint strawberries, sliced
5 c. 7-Up or Sprite

Combine all ingredients except 7-Up and stir to dissolve sugar. Refrigerate overnight.  Stir in 7-Up just before serving.  Makes ~2 gallons.

It doesn't look as pretty in a plastic cooler, but it's so
much more convenient to haul around.

Cheers!