Relaxing with summertime cocktails

In the middle of a chaotic week, a friend recently called me at work and said, "Hey, why don't you take a break, if only for a few minutes, and stop by the house to see my new patio furniture?"

Literally elbow deep in paperwork, my first reaction was to say no and keep digging my way through it all. However, my sweet friend was so excited about her furniture and, most of all, she was right. I desperately needed a break.

A few minutes later, I was on the way to look at patio furniture while convincing myself that, "I'm only staying a few minutes and then I'm going home and go to bed."

I arrived to discover a cute outdoor setting consisting of two new chairs and a stalk of burning sage and a lit candle laying on top of a plate on a small table sitting on my friend's porch. As I climbed the steps, she handed me a glass filled with ice and then poured me a cocktail.

"Just a little something to relax with."

An hour-and-a-half later, I realized she was right again.

As adults, enjoying a drink with a friend over some irrelevant conversation is a welcome recluse in a frantic world.

While I'm neither a bartender nor a "mixologist," I have been given a few drink recipes over the years and thought you might like to share a drink and a relaxing moment with someone you care about.

Bloody Mary's Spicy Bite

In a frosted glass pitcher, stir well to combine the following ingredients,

* four ounces vodka,

* three cups V8 spicy flavored tomato juice,

* three tablespoons freshly grated horseradish, plus more for garnish,

* two teaspoons Worcestershire sauce,

* two tablespoons soy sauce,

* one dash Tabasco Sauce (optional), and

* the juice of one lemon or, for a different taste, lime.

Place in a refrigerator to chill for at least a half hour to chill.

To keep the strength and flavor of the drinks intact, use the remaining V8 juice or make a second batch to make ice cubes for the glasses.

Make a garnish plate for the cocktail drinkers to add to their drinks that includes grated horseradish, cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, Tabasco Sauce, cracked black pepper, stalks of celery (center portion of stalk) with the leaves left on and wedges of lemons and/or limes.

Summertime Punch

In a frosted glass pitcher, combine the following ingredients,

* one (750ml) bottle of your favorite bourbon whiskey,

* one 3-ounce bottle lemon juice,


* can 6-ounce can of frozen lemonade,


* can 6-ounce can of frozen orange juice,

* 1-cup of granulated sugar,

* 2 liters of lemon-lime soda, and

* 1-liter of grapefruit soda.

Place in a refrigerator to chill for at least a half hour before serving.

To keep the strength and flavor of the drinks intact, make a second batch to make ice cubes for the glasses.

Make a garnish plate for the cocktail drinkers to add wedges of lemons, oranges, limes and/or grapefruit to their drink.

Sangria Summer Punch

In a frosted glass pitcher, combine the following ingredients,

* one 46-ounce can of pineapple juice,

* one quart orange juice,

* package of unsweetened mandarin-orange soft drink mix,

* 1-cup each of cane sugar and brown sugar,

* 4-cups of grapefruit flavored soda, and

* one-liter of Sangria red wine.

Place in a refrigerator to chill for at least an hour to chill, stirring at least once an hour, however the longer it is allowed to chill, the better the drink.

Make a garnish plate for the cocktail drinkers to add wedges of lemons, oranges, limes and/or grapefruit and maraschino cherries to their drink.

Remember to drink responsibly and always make sure snack foods are available to enjoy while your guests sip their cocktails.

If you have a "cool and relaxing summer cocktail" you would like to share with this blog's readers, please leave them here for others to enjoy.