Weekend Cocktail: Raspberry Vanilla Lemonade

I poured a few things together after our photo shoot at the Sonnet House and came  up with this fantastic raspberry vanilla lemonade. You have to try it- it is so delicious and perfect for summer entertaining. I made a hi-test version and one without alcohol for the kids; however when serving both at the same party, make sure you keep them separated or labeled.

First, make up the vanilla bean simple syrup... it keeps in the fridge for a good 3 weeks or so. That way, you have it when you need it. You can do the same thing with mint, thyme. basil, or other herbs.

RASPBERRY VANILLA LEMONADE

Makes about two quarts but it depends on how strong you want the lemonade to be- you can stretch it to a gallon by adding more water. I like it strong because it is always diluted when you add ice. 

INGREDIENTS

2 pints fresh raspberries

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1 vanilla bean

2 quarts cold water*

* add the water to your taste. More if you like it weak, less water if you like it strong. I used about 1 quart water and then added a splash of chilled club soda at serving time to make it a bit fizzy.

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

Raspberry vodka

Chambord

Chilled club Soda

Lemon wheels

First, make the simply syrup. Put the sugar and water (equal parts) in a pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat. Split the vanilla bean down the middle, do not cut it all the way through. Use the tip of your knife to remove the tiny brown seeds inside the vanilla bean. Scrape those into the pan and put the entire pod into the pot and allow to cool completely. I usually put this into a canning jar and store it in the fridge. I leave the vanilla bean in the jar but remove it before using.

For the lemonade: Put one pint of raspberries and the Chambord (if using) into the bottom of the pitcher. Let the berries soak up the Chambord for a while. Use a wooden spoon and mash them to get as much juice as you can out of them. I actually whirred them up with my immersion blender to puree them but you can do it either way. Add the lemon juice and stir together. Add half of the vanilla simple syrup. Stir. Taste. Add the water to your taste. I used about 1 quart cold water and added more of the simple syrup to my taste. But I happen to like it a bit sweet and really strong. Add the remaining raspberries.

If you are adding alcohol, reduce the amount of water to 2 cup. Add 2 cups raspberry vodka. At this point, I sometimes like to put it into the freezer for a few hours and get it slushy. I add one or two bottles of chilled club soda at serving time. If it is a hot day and the temperature requres lots of ice, I always make the lemonade strong without a lot of extra water because as the ice melts, it waters down the lemonade. Just something to think about!

Want to make a lemonade stand? Here's the how-to for more lemonade recipes and the how-to for decorating a lemonade stand.

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Easy Entertaining: Make The Perfect Playoff Drinks

So.... You're hosting the gang at your place for the playoffs this week and you're bored with the same old beer-in-the-cooler routine. Here's a great drink recipe for your game day get-together that can work for any menu. Best of all, this cocktail is easy to make and serve... especially if you mix up a batch in a large plastic dispenser before guests arrive. I'm also giving you the 411 on pre-party prep and simple plastic serving solutions so you can have fun at your own party!

SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

Serve a signature cocktail for your party. Choose one or two pre-mixed drinks which pair well with the menu you are serving. My favorite drink recipe starts with lemonade as a base which works for any occasion.

GAME DAY LEMONADE

Makes 1

4 ounces fresh lemonade (use frozen or powder mix if you must)

1 1/2 ounces of your favorite liquor: Plain vodka, citrus vodka, raspberry flavored vodka, bourbon, Irish Whiskey, or rum all work well with this recipe. Make your choice based on your crowd and menu.

1/2 ounce Limoncello

Mix and serve in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lemon wheel.

For a crowd:

Serves 15+ guests depending on serving size

1 gallon fresh lemonade

1 bottle (750ml) of your liquor of choice. (I prefer raspberry vodka with an additional shot of raspberry liqueur)

2 cups Limoncello or other lemon liqueur

Add more or less alcohol to your taste. Mix ingredients in a large plastic or acrylic dispenser like the one shown below. You can add ice to the dispenser but I always freeze the lemonade base and use that in place of ice so you don't water down or dilute the drink. Add mint or lemon wheels to the dispenser to add some color and style to the presentation. You can also make these variations:

Margarita: Substitute limeade for the lemonade, use tequila for your alcohol and exchange orange liqueur for the limoncello.

Mojito: Substitute limeade for the lemonade; use light rum for your alcohol and exchange seltzer or club soda for the limoncello. Add a handful of fresh chopped mint.

Large plastic dispensers make serving easy for a partyPARTY PREP: MIX DRINKS IN ADVANCE AND FREEZE

When I'm entertaining, I want to make everything as simple as possible so I can enjoy time with friends and have some fun. I don't like to set up a bar and ask guests to mix their own drinks but I don't want to play bartender, either. The solution is to mix up drinks a few days in advance and freeze them in plastic jugs. You can find large restaurant-style plastic jug containers at a restaurant supply store or you can reuse plastic juice or milk containers.

Remember that alcohol does not freeze solid so if your drinks have a high alcohol content, they will not freeze completely. If the drinks do not have alcohol, they will freeze solid and take longer to thaw.

Remove the containers from the freezer an hour or so before you need them and let them sit at room temperature. This will give them a chance to thaw slightly. Pour the mixture into large, easy to pour plastic pitchers or acrylic beverage dispensers so that guests can serve themselves.

DRINK SERVING SOLUTIONS

For some occasions, plastic glasses and serving pieces just make sense and a game day party is one of those times. I stack up plastic cups in my team colors so that guests can serve themselves easily. One smart hostess trick I employ on game day is to start with a large cup and then switch to smaller size cups as the party goes on. This tip will help you control consumption; smart from both a budget and a safety perspective.

Smart plastic Tervis Tumblers are perfect for parties!I really love Tervis Tumblers for game day parties- both at home and when tailgating. These "smart" plastic glasses are virtually unbreakable. Their double wall technology keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. I love the cups for serving soup or chili on game day. Best of all, when you are entertaining at home, you can forget your coaster anxiety: these plastic cups and glasses do not sweat so they won't leave a water mark on your coffee table! You can get them monogrammed or in team logos for both NCAA and NFL teams. www.tervis.com

More cocktails for a crowd from Martie Knows Parties:

STRAWBERRY PEAR SANGRIA

THE PERFECT BLOODY MARY

SWEET TEA VODKA & LEMONADE

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Talk of the Town Nashville Summer Special: Recipes & How-To Tips

Happy 4th of July!

For those of you watching our TV special on Nashville's Talk of the Town, here are links for some of the recipes and ideas we showcased today! Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the how-to video from the show.

Infuse your summer with flavor!INFUSED LEMONADE

Take your lemonade from ordinary to extraordinary when you infuse the simple syrup with flavor. Get the recipes:

VANILLA BEAN PLANTATION LEMONADE

INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUP

For even more lemony fun, make a lemonade station for your party with lots of mix-ins and libations! Get the how-to...

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Popsicles and ProseccoPOPSICLE-PALOOZA!

Hi-tech, low tech, and low tech ways to make your own frozen treats for kids and adults this summer.

POPSICLE HOW-TO

POPSICLES AND PROSECCO

Once considered just a kiddie treat, the popsicle has gone exotic! Whether you make your own popsicles or buy them, this elegant presentation takes popsicles to a whole different level. The perfect way to end a summer dinner party or wedding reception.

Some other great homemade popsicles to make include:

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE POPS

S'MORES POPS

16 HOMEMADE POPSICLE RECIPES

Watch our how-to video from Talk of the Town!

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BACKYARD CAMPING PARTY

This one is so much fun for just about any occasion... birthday party, neighborhood party, team get-togethers, and more. It is even a fun date night. Watch the video...

This is a super inexpensive "stay-cation" for those staying home this summer. You'll feel like you went away... and best of all, your bed and the air-conditioner are just steps away!

Here's the simple recipe for the hobo packs that you can throw right on the fire or grill:

LOW COUNTRY HOBO PACKS

This is a similar taste to a one pot boil but even easier. Since shrimp cooks faster than the potatoes and the corn, it is best to pre-cook those so that you don't overcook the shrimp.

For 6

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on

1 large onion

3 ears of corn

12 medium red potatoes

Old Bay Seasoning

2 lemons- one cut into wedges for serving

1 Beer (you can substitute water if you like)

butter

salt and pepper to taste

Parboil the potatoes and corn for a few minutes on the stove in boiling water. Do not cook completely. You just want to give them a bit of a head start so that all of the food in the pack has an equal cooking time. I usually cook the potatoes for 8 minutes and add the corn. Cook 4 more minutes and remove from the heat.

Tear large squares of aluminium foil to make the packs. Layer the potatoes, onion, corn, and shrimp. Add a dot of butter, salt, pepper, and a dash of Old Bay seasoning. Turn up the edges and add about 1/4 cup of beer to each package. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top and seal the packs well on all sides. Cook over medium coals for about 10 minutes until the shrimp are cooked. You can put these directly on the edge of a campfire, too.

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Scrapbook Paper LanternEASY TABLE DECORATIONS: SCRAPBOOK PAPER LANTERNS

Scrapbook paper sheets

Double sided tape or glue stick

Mason jars or other jar, vase, etc

Candles: floating candles, tealights, or other light source

These lanterns are so easy to make and can really dress up a table or customize any party for very little money! Since scrapbook paper comes in all colors and patterns, you really have endless options. Here's the how to:

Get a sheet of scrapbook paper. If it is thick, you'll want to cut in some designs so light will shine through. If the paper is thin or you use vellum, you don't need to cut in a design. You can use a hole punch or a paper cutter- or a utility knife.

Use a glue stick or double faced tape along the edge of the back side of the paper to form the paper into a cylinder.

Put the light source into the jar. For tealights or candles, I like to put sand in the bottom to keep the candle off the bottom of the jar. This is a great use for floating candles or even glo-sticks.

Place the paper cylinder over the jar.... and you have a customized lantern!

 Custom banner made of flags and ribbonCUSTOMIZED BANNERS

This is one of the easiest ways to dress up any area in your party colors.  Using flags, ribbon, or scrapbook paper, simply make a pretty line of color to decorate a fence, a tent, or patio.

For the paper banners, fold over to make a triangle. Fold over a piece of clothesline, twine, rope, or string. Secure with a piece of Velcro or double stick tape. I like using a Velcro dot so I can use these over and over again; sometimes in different color combinations! You can make these directional banners or signs, too by lettering them... lots of fun and very affordable.

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Martie's Vanilla Bean Plantation Lemonade

What tastes better than icy cold lemonade on a hot day? My sweet Southern variation... Vanilla Bean Plantation Lemonade, which is fresh lemonade infused with vanilla. It's simple, delicious and the perfect foundation for many adult mix-ins: sweet tea vodka, raspberry vodka, spiced rum, and even bourbon.

MARTIE'S VANILLA BEAN PLANTATION LEMONADE

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sugar  (to taste, add more if you like a sweeter lemonade)

7-8 cups water (based on how strong you like your lemonade)

1-2 vanilla beans (I like a very vanilla flavor so I use 2 beans)

Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. Make a simple syrup: Add 1 cup of the water, the sugar, and the vanilla bean and seeds to a pan. Bring to a boil and turn off heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let cool completely. Remove the bean once the simple syrup is cooled. In a large pitcher add the vanilla simple syrup, lemon juice, and water.

Lemonade Serving Tips: On a hot day, I will use 1 cup less water because I know the lemonade will become diluted with the melting ice. Often, I will freeze lemonade into ice cubes or freeze large plastic containers of lemonade. I put the lemonade into a large plastic milk jug or other repurposed plastic bottle. Freeze solid. A few hours before the party, I remove them from the freezer and allow them to become slushy. Soooo good on a hot day!

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Weekend Cocktail: Belfast Lemonade (Irish Whiskey Lemonade)

There are a lot of green drinks and beer drinks out there for St. Patrick's Day... But this year, I wanted a signature cocktail for our St. Paddy's Party that was definately Irish, but a little "girly" since we were also celebrating our lovely friend Jessica's birthday! The cocktail I came up with got a big thumbs up from the guys and the girls alike; it will be perfect for your spring and summer BBQ's, lake parties, and yes, even wedding celebrations! Since Bushmills, my favorite Irish whiskey, is made close to the Irish city of Belfast, I named it Belfast Lemonade. I used just a little Limoncello to smooth out the cocktail, but it is very good without it if you want to keep your cost down.

Give it a try! Oh, and happy birthday, sweet Jessica!

Irish whiskey, freshly squeezed lemonade and a little lemon liqueur makes this cocktail perfect for spring and summer entertainingBELFAST LEMONADE

Makes 1

4 ounces fresh lemonade

1 1/2 ounces Bushmills Irish Whiskey

1/2 ounce Limoncello

Mix and serve in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lemon wheel.

For a crowd:

Serves 15+ guests depending on serving size

1 gallon fresh lemonade

1 bottle (750ml) Bushmills Irish Whiskey

2 cups Limoncello or other lemon liqueur

Add more or less whiskey to your taste. Mix ingredients in a large dispenser. Add lots of ice to the dispenser but also provide clean ice along side the dispenser because the drink tastes best served over ice. If it is a hot day, make sure to freeze lemonade and use that in place of the ice so you don't water down or dilute the drink. Add mint or lemon wheels to the dispenser to add some color and style to the presentation.

Cheers! And as always, drink responsibly!!