Wedding Signature Cocktail: Blackberry Mojito

We had a request on our Facebook page from our friend Sue for a signature cocktail for a wedding. Specifically, a blackberry mojito to compliment the couple's wedding colors of plum and pale green. This recipe from our friends at Driscoll's Berries is just perfect for 1 or 100... or more!

A mojito is typically made one or two at a time. If you are serving in a dispenser, you will have to strain the mixture so the berries do not clog the spigot. You can float whole berries and mint on the top after you put it in the dispenser as garnish. You don't have to strain the cocktail if you are serving in a pitcher.

Blackberry Mojito using Driscoll's fresh blackberries is the perfect wedding cocktail!BLACKBERRY MOJITO

For 2

12 large blackberries

12 mint leaves

4 teaspoons sugar

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

3 ounces light rum (you can substitute vodka if you like)

Ice

Club soda

Lime wedge, mint, and blackberries for garnish

Chill two glasses. Put the mint and the berries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker with the sugar. Use a wooden spoon to muddle (bruise) the mint and crush the berries. Add rum, lemon and lime juice. Fill with ice. Shake until well chilled. Put mint leaves in the bottom of the glass. Add ice. Strain the cocktail over the ice. Top with club soda for a little sparkle.

BLACKBERRY MOJITOS FOR A CROWD

Serves 50 (approx 4 ounce servings)

5-6 pints blackberries plus some for garnish

4 bunches mint leaves plus some for garnish

6 cups sugar

4 cups cold water

1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice

6-7 cups light rum (depending on how strong you want the drinks. This is based on 1 ounce per drink which is light. Add more if you like. You can also substitute vodka if you prefer)

Ice

2 bottles of chilled club soda (to taste)

Put the berries in the bottom of a container with the sugar. Use a wooden spoon to crush the fruit. Add the mint and gently muddle to release the essence of the mint. Add 4 cups of water and stir well to make sure the sugar is dissolved completely. Refrigerate and let sit for at least an hour. If you are using a dispenser with a spigot, you will need to strain off the mixture so the skin from the berries and the mint leaves do not clog the dispenser. Add the strained mixture to your dispenser. Add rum, lemon and lime juice. Fill with ice. Stir well. Top off with a bottle of club soda- to taste. Float mint leaves, lime wheels, or blackberries in the dispenser as garnish. Or thread berries onto a cocktail skewer and have those ready in glasses filled with ice. Then guests can help themselves to the beverage.

Martie's Tips: To make this easier, I usually just put the berries, sugar, and water in a large container. Then whir them together with my immersion blender. I strain off the seeds and any flesh remaining and am left with the juice.  

Often, I will chill or even freeze my drinks for a party so I need less ice and the beverages are not as diluted. For this one, you can freeze lime juice or lemon juice into ice cubes and use that in lieu of adding the juice to the recipe.

You can also substitute mint simple syrup to make this process easier. Get the recipe....

Prefer the classic mint mojito recipe? Try mine! Make Classic Mint Mojitos for 12

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Weekend Mock-tail: The Pink Monkey "Margarita"

I've had lots of requests for more non-alcoholic beverage recipes lately... including one from my sweet friend Lynn who asked for a pretty pink drink to serve at her little G-baby's one year old birthday party. The theme for the party is pink monkeys... which I thought sounded precious. Here's a brand new party drink you can serve as a mock-tail or a cocktail for that occasion where you have some non-drinkers in the crowd. Here's the recipe:

Makes 2

THE PINK MONKEY

1 1/2 cups pink grapefruit juice

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine

lime wheels

sugar (use pink if you wish)

Ice

Optional:

2 ounces Blanco tequila

1 ounce Grand Marnier (or any orange liqueur)

pinch of Kosher salt

Use a lime to rim the glass. Rim the glass with sugar. Add ice and all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into chilled glasses. Garnish with a lime wheel. 

To make a bunch, just mix up in a big plastic jug or pitcher and shake them up. Pour over ice. For a party, I love to put the container in the freezer and get the drink slushy before serving. You need less ice and it becomes less diluted. Cheers!

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Easy Entertaining: Martie's Mini Party Frittatas

I love to make frittatas. Basically, a frittata is like a big baked egg stuffed with deliciousness... and almost anything can go in a frittata. I like to make them on a Sunday night to use up whatever I have leftover in the fridge. This mini version is perfect for any get-together: Breakfast for the kids after a sleep-over, brunch with the neighbors, a bridal brunch paired with a delicious salad, and even for dinner. Here's a basic mini frittata recipe that you can add your favorites to: Asparagus, corn, tomatoes, onion... just about any combo tastes good baked in eggs!

MARTIE'S MINI PARTY FRITTATAS

Makes 2 dozen

8 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1 cup fully cooked ham or Canadian bacon, chopped

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced (optional)

pinch salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

dash Cayenne pepper (or dash of Tabasco)

1 tablespoon Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped

Preheat oven to 400. Spray 2 mini muffin tins with cooking spray. In a large bowl, add the eggs. Whisk with a fork just slightly to break them up. Add the milk, salt, and peppers and whisk for a minute more to combine. Then stir in the remaining ingredients. Fill the cups 3/4 full. Bake 8 minutes or until they puff up and become set in the middle. Serve warm.

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Host a Summer Lawn Party

All of the Wimbledon buzz has inspired me to plan a Lawn Party.... British style!

Some of the traditions of Wimbledon have been in place for 100+ years! Wimbledon is played on grass, so even if you don't have access to a tennis court, if you have a patch of grass, you can host this great summer get-together complete with badminton, croquet, lawn darts, or make up your own lawn games.

The Invitation

Since a strict all-white dress code is in place for players at Wimbledon, it's always fun to stick to an all-white theme for the party. Ask guests to wear white attire and mention that lawn games will be involved so the ladies don't turn up in high heels. I always like to start this party late in the afternoon or early evening, after the temperatures have dropped slightly. A 6pm start time will give you several hours of daylight for games during the summer. White linen paper or card stock is just right for your party invite. A casual, handwritten note (very old school) is perfectly acceptable for this casual gathering.

THE PARTY MENU

A Wimbledon Tradition: Strawberries and Cream

Strawberries and Cream are a tradition at Wimbledon.There are a couple of traditions at Wimbledon that you are a must for your party menu. Strawberries and Cream are a Wimbledon staple so dessert is going to be easy! In England, cream is always single or double cream and it is difficult to find the English version in the US. If you want to make it easy on yourself, just get some really good vanilla ice cream, let it melt until it pours. Pour some cream in the bottom of each dish and fill the bowl with strawberries. Serve with a pitcher of the cream for those who want extra. Make sure to get extra fresh and really delicious berries.... Try Driscoll's Berries. Always fresh, always reliable!

Another option is to whip up some fresh cream and add some orange flavor to it. This is simple and delicious- the perfect compliment to the berries.

ORANGE WHIPPED CREAM

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup Confectioners sugar

1/4 cup Grand Marnier (or orange flavored liqueur)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 teaspoon very finely grated orange zest

Add the whipping cream to a large bowl and whip with electric mixer for a moment at high speed. Turn it off and add the sugar. Whip at low to incorporate the sugar, otherwise it will dust you with white powder! Once you have it incorporated, add the other ingredients and whip on high until stiff peaks form. Chill until serving time.

CHECK OUT 7 WAYS WITH STRAWBERRIES FROM MY FRIENDS AT MYRECIPES.COM FOR MORE GREAT STRAWBERRY RECIPES!

BEVERAGE OPTIONS

Another staple at Wimbledon or at any other British event is a Pimm's Cup. Pimm's is to Wimbledon what the Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby. I love a good Pimm's Cup! Pimm's is a gin based liquor and it's so refreshing on a summer day. 

PIMM'S CUP

1 ½ ounce Pimm's #1

4 ounces lemon-lime soda-- 7-Up or Sprite

1 ounce club soda

Wedge of lemon

Cucumber spears

Optional: shot of premium vodka

I like to mix these in a pitcher and serve over ice in a tall glass. They're really unique and refreshing but watch out! They really sneak up on you.

Another great British beverage is the Shandy. A Shandy is half lager (shown below) and half lemon-lime soda. Believe me, I was a skeptic but it's delicious and refreshing on a summer day!

BRITISH SHANDY

For 2

One pint cold lager beer

One can chilled lemon-lime soda

Chilled tall glasses

Slowly pour half of the beer into the chilled glasses. Top with soda. Serve.

BRITISH PUB FOOD

Serve traditional British pub food for this party; fish and chips are a pub staple and always a favorite. Sandwiches and crisps (what we call potato chips) or maybe Cornish pasties... delicate meat and potato pies are delicious. Make what is easy and will keep well for your outdoor party.

The ENTERTAINMENT

This party starts with the lawn games so if you don't have access to a tennis court, set up a badminton net instead. Since croquet is also played at Wimbledon, you can also set up a croquet course in the backyard or at the park. Other fun lawn games include horseshoes, bocce ball. or lawn bowling. The game I came to know in Chicago as "baggo" is also fun for a lawn party. I always find lots of great lawn games at Target during the summer. Set up your game course in whatever green space you have. If the party is in the late afternoon, I like to string little while lights all around my game course.

This is a great summer evening party theme... try it for a rehearsal dinner or engagement party, a girls night out or guys night out party, a neighborhood party, family get-together, or anyone's birthday party! You can make it kid friendly or invite the adults only, but no matter who attends, my Summer Lawn Party is perfect for any occasion!

How to Host an Outdoor Movie Night Party Video from Talk of the Town in Nashville

I was so excited to be in Nashville again today for Talk of the Town, Nashville's top rated talk show! We talked about lots of fun ideas for summer entertaining and fun around the house including how to host an outdoor movie night party, complete with snack bar and your own big screen. This is the easiest party to host; make lots of serve-yourself snacks, add popcorn and movie candy and you've got a drive-in in the back yard. Thanks to all of the great people at NewsChannel 5 in Nashville... we hope you had as much fun as we did!

THROW AN OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT PARTY VIDEO FROM NASHVILLE'S TALK OF THE TOWN

SOURCES:

Gemmy Airblown Inflatable Movie Screen about $200 from Wal-Mart.com

Red Carpet novelties, movie clapboards, and popcorn boxes from Oriental Trading Company