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

FOLLOW MARTIE ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE RECIPES, COCKTAILS, PARTY IDEAS & FUN!

Host a Chili Cook-off for Game Day!

Are you ready for some football? Get the whole gang together and host a chili cook-off!

Bring a “throwdown” to your tailgate or your kitchen as the competition heats up when guests battle for first place with their best chili recipes. You might even make it an annual event with a "traveling" award that goes from winner to winner each year.

THE HOW-TO: Send out invitations or call your guests to issue the “cook-off” challenge. 

Your guests should bring their best chili concoction in a crock pot or slow cooker. Iinclude printed copies of the recipe to share with other guests, if desired.  

When the guests turn in the chili, number or name it for voting and make up a ballot. Ask everyone to taste and vote for their favorite. Award prizes for first, second, and third place.

Make a condiment station with different types of crackers, Fritos, grated chesses, sour cream, chopped scallions and peppers, chopped onion, Tabasco or other hot sauces, etc.

Find a good spot to set up the bar; make sure it is away from the food to avoid congestion. Bloody Marys are a good choice for this party. Ice down some beer or wine and your bar is set.

Get the game plan for a Bloody Mary bar...

Special thanks to Jim Dandy Cooley Dandy RV Superstore in Alabama for allowing us to use their gorgeous motorcoach for this party!! And if you are heading to the game, you can rent one!