It’s basically spring (though the official start date is March 20), which means that it is time to bring out the flip-flops, bathing suits and flowery dresses. Spring also means that it’s almost my birthday and for my birthday I wanted some spring-type cocktails. Cocktails that are light pink and taste like watermelon. Or a raspberry lemonade beer cocktail that sounds a little strange, but tastes like heaven on earth (come on, raspberries are the best). March is all about new beginnings, feeling the warmth after the bitter cold winter and celebrating me (kidding, but not really, it’s all about the birthday month). I challenge you to try out whichever cocktail is calling your name and not feel better after drinking it. These cocktails just make you feel good. It’s like when you hear the first five seconds of your favorite song come on the radio, you just know it’s going to be a good day. Same with these drinks, after the first sip you just know it’s going to be a good night (or day if you’re starting early).
Using the back of a spoon, mash raspberries in a bowl. Transfer raspberries to a pitcher. Add remaining 3 ingredients to pitcher and stir together. Serve over ice & enjoy! (I added a few whole raspberries to garnish my drink, lime or lemon slices would also be great as garnish!)
To make the strawberry syrup, combine the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, water and salt in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds, pressing down to extract as much liquid as possible. To make the lemonade, combine the hot water and sugar in a pitcher. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Mix in the lemon juice and water. Stir in the strawberry puree. To serve, rub a wedge of lemon or one of the spent lemon halves around the rim of a glass and then dip in sugar. Fill with ice if desired and then lemonade. Garnish with sliced lemon or strawberries. Serve immediately.
In a blender, puree watermelon, fresh lime juice and mint in batches until smooth. Strain into a pitcher. Mix in rum and syrup. Serve in glasses filled with ice. Garnish with watermelon & mint leaves.
It’s so easy to make this drink I’m not even dividing it into ingredients and directions. Grab a wine glass, put a scoop of your favorite orange sorbet in it and then pour the champagne. Voila!
You can use any of these combinations for your margarita!
Muddle each combination of fruit and then add the base recipe of tequila, agave and limejuice. Shake with ice in a glass of your choosing.
