help! need frozen drink ideas
This weekend we’re planning a Sunday rooftop soiree in honor of a wee one’s birthday. While Beth J. sorts out all the kiddie fun, I’ve taken it upon myself to be mix master: I’m looking for a tasty frozen drink to serve. My first choice is to go a blackberry-mint julep recipe I saw in July’s Martha Stewart Living. I couldn’t find the recipe online, but it involves first making a puree of the fruit with sugar and mint, straining that, and then blending with ice and bourbon. Just thinking about it is making me thirsty! But is it too much of production? I’m thinking I could make the fruit puree the night before. I don’t want to be a slave to the blender through the whole party. The other idea would be to create a type of frozen mojito, like the one in this photo from the Blue Parrot Grille in New Orleans. Perhaps it would easier to just toss everything — rum, ice, sugar, mint, lime — in a blender at once? What do you think? Any other frozen drink ideas you can suggest? It’d be great to have one that we could do in batches — both alcoholic and non for the kiddies. Any suggestions? — Angela M.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:32 am
I like a blueberry margarita - I make a blueberry syrup (with fresh blueberries, heated with sugar until syrupy) - make your favorite recipe, fresh lime juice, tequilla, and use the syrup instead of triple sec or grand marnier or whatever you usually use as a sweetener. Yum!
July 6th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Bee’s Knees
Bees Knees
For Honey Syrup:
Mix 1/4 cup hot water and 1 tsp dried lavender blossoms in a bowl. Let steep for 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup honey. Strain into another bowl.
For Cocktail:
3 tablespoons honey syrup
6 tablespoons gin
2 tablespoons lemon juice
strain into cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into chilled Martini glasses.
yummy.
July 6th, 2006 at 9:30 am
This works with no extra work and is consistently well received.
Rum slushies
Use a can of Welchs frozen juice concentrate, our standard is apple grape cherry. Into the blender with the frozen juice, fill with ice about to the top but not quite, add at least half of the juice can filled with rum (light or dark) and then blend until slushy. If it is too thick add a bit of water.
Another is Pineapple orange apple with a banana added in. You can make the same concoctions for the kids with more water instead of rum.
THey make several flavors to try.
Big appeal is they taste good and no prep.
July 6th, 2006 at 10:27 am
I’ve got one similar to Ron’s above - this version of the margarita is nothing fancy, but it is super simple and consistently well received…
Minute Maid Limeade Concentrate
tequila (I prefer the light kind)
ice
Same procedure as above - dump the concentrate into the blender, add the ice and then using the can as a measure, add 1/2 can to full can of tequila. (It’s all up to you, baby!)
If you’ve got some Triple Sec, a splash is definitely nice, but not a deal-breaker.
July 6th, 2006 at 10:32 am
My father in law makes frozen mojitos all of the time and although being Cuban I do my best to resist the nontraditional version I have to secretly admit it is REALLY good.
July 6th, 2006 at 10:44 am
I make margarita punch like lla does. Delicious and easy!
July 6th, 2006 at 11:31 am
I saw something recently in Southern Living that might work for the kiddies and be a nice addition to the Martha recipe. Wish it were online, but I can’t find it. They gave instructions on skewering blackberries, then freezing them, and using them to flavor water or chill other flavored drinks. They used a sprig of mint on top to hide the skewer. Maybe you can find the article or innovate.
July 6th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Root Beer Floats! Kids have them with just root beer and ice cream, adults get a shot (or two) of Makers Mark in the float. YUMMY.
July 6th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Check http://www.topsecretrecipes.com I seem to remember seeing several frozen drink recipes there, or check out the cookbook, there is one devoted just to drinks.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
FRESH MINT AND GINGER LEMONADE
http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/print_friendly/200546
I made this the other day (I used limes in lieu of lemons).
Kept it non-alcoholic but it was quite tasty spiked with…whatever!
July 7th, 2006 at 9:01 am
I say definitely go for the blackberry mojitos. I saw that as well in the msl mag and have a blackberry bush in the backyard so I made a ton of those recently. very easy to make, and you can make the syrup ahead of time. In fact, I still have a tupperware full of the stuff still in the fridge! They are sooo delicious
July 18th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
I buy the frozen peach daiquiri mix (found with the frozen juices). I made my own mixing recipe…. Instead of rum I like to use Peach Absolute almost a whole can (use the empty daiquiri mix can). Once it’s in the cup, garnish it with a spoon or two of Midori Melon Liquar (don’t mix it let it stay on top)… It’s great, I have RAVE reviews of it.. And at my parties I would make up several batches of it and keep it in the freezer. Target use to sell really cool buckets that would hold the mixture at the party.. Serve with a slice of fresh peach too..