It’s been ages since I’ve shared a cocktail so here’s a lovely one we had recently. Such a light and refreshing drink to sip in the garden on a sunny evening.
Lots of ice, a slice of orange, raspberry and a sprig of mint compulsory. Love loading up my drinks with half the fruit counter in them.
Ingredients
1 measure raspberry gin
1 measure Cointreau
Top up glass to 3/4 full with lemonade
Slice of orange, raspberry and sprig of mint to decorate.
Serve over lots of ice, stir and add in your fruit and mint.
A delightful twist on a gin and tonic for this time of year. If you don’t have any blackberry and raspberry gin simply substitute for ordinary as you will still get a lot of flavour from the fresh blackberries. Obviously it’s better with it though for more of a fruity kick. They go down rather easily. Enjoy!
Makes 1
Ingredients
10 blackberries and 1 to garnish
1 measure of bramble gin – I used Bombay Sapphire 30ml
Squeeze of fresh lemon
Slice of lemon to decorate
60ml lemonade
4 ice cubes
Instructions
Simply whizz all your ingredients together and garnish with a slice of lemon and a blackberry.
Breakfast in bed? This refreshing smoothie can be whizzed up in just a few minutes for the one you love on Valentine’s Day morning. Just remember to freeze your strawberries the night before to give it that icy, slushy texture.
Just add all your ingredients to the blender and blitz.
Who wouldn’t want a kiss or a wish under the mistletoe?
This cocktail is so light and delicate and the rhubarb and prosecco are a perfect match. Just the thing to get you into the Christmas spirit. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas. Hope it’s magical.
Anyone for a mully? I’ve been mulling it over whether to share this recipe and the answer is a resounding yes. Anyway, enough of the Dad jokes. The ultimate drink that epitomises Christmas for me.
Fruity, bold and full of all the Christmas flavours. I always make this first thing Christmas Eve, our favourite day of the year. It simmers away while all the greatest festive crooners are singing. It fills the house with the smell of Christmas that lasts the whole day and night and it fills my heart with joy.
Makes about 12 glasses
Ingredients
2 bottles red wine of choice. I like a fruity red.
2 large orange – sliced
2 apple – sliced
4 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
8 cloves
1 lemon cut into slices
4 tablespoons caster sugar
Glug of Cointreau – optional
Method
Pour your wine into a large saucepan over a low heat.
Add all the ingredients and simmer gently for 10 minutes or so then turn the heat right down and allow to cool a little. You don’t want it too hot or it will smash the glasses!
Ladle into your glasses. I do mine through a sieve as no one wants a clove in their pipe! Not really feeling a trip to A&E Christmas Eve to be honest.
If you still like it hot and you’re impatient like me, add a metal tea spoon into each glass to stop them shattering.
Enjoy whilst listening to all your Sinatra Christmas favourites with people you love.
Hanging onto the last glimpse of heat and sunshine. This light and sparkly rosé sangria tastes like Summer in a glass.
I find red wine can sometimes blast your head off during the day so I’ve put together a lighter more refreshing version. It’s full of juicy raspberries and blackberries, orange, lemon and fresh mint.
Be warned it goes down rather easily. I can’t promise you won’t drink the whole jug! Quick run out in the garden while the sun’s still there!
I made this for the girls to sip while they were sunning themselves on a hot day in the garden and it went down a treat. Made a little secret one for myself in the freezer too and thought I was going mad when Mia admitted she’d liked it so much she had mine too ha ha!
The only problem is you need to drink it really fast before it melts or before Mia has it! To be honest there are worse problems to have in life. I hope it brings you as much joy as it did the girls.
Ingredients
1 watermelon
Half a bottle of rosé prosecco
2 cups of ice blended
Straws
Method
Simply cut the top off your melon. I did mine about 2 inches from the top.
Hollow out most of the watermelon and get rid of the pips.
Put your melon flesh in a large mixing bowl, add your prosecco and a couple of cups of ice.
Blend until you have a slushy consistency with a hand blender.
Tip the mix back into the melon, add straws and indulge.
Bringing all the tropical flavour with this pineapple rum punch and manifesting the sunshine to come back. It’s not too strong so you can treat yourself to a few! These are great served at a bbq when the sun in shining and everyone’s in a good mood. They go down a bit too easily.
Method
1 measure Bacardi or other white Rum
120ml pineapple juice
60ml orange juice
Dash of grenadine
Method
Simply half fill your glass with crushed ice.
Now add your measure of pineapple juice and orange juice and mix around a little.
Finally top with a splash of grenadine ( I used 10ml). This will sink to the bottom and give it the look we want.
Love To Cook With Suzi 