Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the longer hours of daylight, the green grass and foliage, my beautiful flowers out on my deck, going to the beach, wearing flip flops, sundresses, and everything enjoyable that comes with this season. We all work hard all week, we deserve to enjoy ourselves in our downtime, and the summer season offers many ways to do so.
Reasons to Celebrate
Summer brings different reasons to celebrate! There’s always something to look forward to doing every weekend. Graduation parties are big throughout June. Then Father’s Day comes around quickly, and 4th of July is always a popular day to celebrate with a barbecue or Beach Day down the Shore. Throw in some weddings and a couple of pool parties, and my calendar is booked solid. Sometimes, just hanging out with a few intimate friends at home, can be a wonderful celebration, too.
Let’s Get Into The “Spirit”
In the “spirit” of summer celebrations, let’s focus on some summer “Spirits.” Enjoying cocktails during these celebrations is always fun when done responsibly. My favorite adult beverage will always be a nice glass of wine, but I also enjoy trying new things. Beer and wine are typical staples at most parties. I’ve chosen some cocktails that look delicious and refreshing to add to the menu for your summer celebrations.
Support Our Local Agritourism
We have so many wonderful local farms and wineries right here in, and around, Harrison Township. Supporting our local Agritourism is a simple way to help our local farmers stay in business. It seems crazy to go to a Supermarket and buy California Strawberries or North Carolina Blueberries when this is the time of year that you can literally hand pick your own produce fresh from one of our local farmers’ markets and create something amazing.
With these fun Summer Celebration Cocktails that you can incorporate some fresh LOCAL produce. Rosie’s Farm Market is one of my favorites for fresh produce, right here in Mullica Hill. You cannot get any fresher than a strawberry you handpicked off the bush yourself! Mood’s Farm Market offers pick your own blueberries and strawberries.
Mullica Hill has wonderful local Wineries in our area for sangria and prosecco. William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill just recently started producing a sparkling wine, like prosecco. We also have several new microbreweries nearby that you can get a nice summer brew for Dad on Father’s Day.
New to South Jersey is Mamma Bella Cello. Made in Hammonton New Jersey, Mama Bella Cello is a line of delicious small batch, handmade cellos and seasonal liqueurs that uses locally grown blueberries for their blueberry cello. Also grown and made in Hammonton, are the award-winning wines from Plagido’s Winery.
Here are a couple of drinks to try your hand at making:
Blueberry and Strawberry Cocktails:
Blueberry Thyme Crush Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 handful fresh blueberries
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 ounces vodka or gin
Soda water
Ice
Directions:
- In a glass, combine blueberries, thyme, lemon juice and sugar. Use a wooden spoon to smash all ingredients. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
- Add the desired amount of vodka or gin. Stir well.
- Fill glass with ice, then top with soda water until full. Enjoy!
Berry Pink Lemonade Prosecco Punch:
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 tbsp Basil, fresh
1 lemon
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh strawberries
2 cups lemonade
1 bottle chilled prosecco
¼ cup Grenadine
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Combine Prosecco, lemonade, grenadine and vanilla. Pour over ice.
- Stir in raspberries, strawberries, lemon slices and basil. Serve immediately.
Peach and Watermelon Cocktails
Frozen Peach Bellini Slush
Ingredients:
3 cups fresh or frozen peaches, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup ice cubes
3 cups Prosecco, Champagne or other sparkling wine
Directions:
- Add the peaches, sugar, and the ice cubes in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Add wine and pulse until fully incorporated.
- Divide into glasses and top with a peach slice. Enjoy!
Watermelon Sangria
Ingredients:
4 cups cubed watermelon
1 750-lm bottle Moscato
1 cup rum
Juice of 4 limes
Zest of 2 limes
1 tbsp sugar
Lime slices and blueberries, for garnish
Directions:
In a blender, combine watermelon, Moscato, rum, lime juice and zest, and sugar. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate until chilled.
Garnish with limes slices and blueberries. Serve.
Delicious Lemon Cello Cocktail
Lemoncello Prosecco with Blueberries and Thyme
Ingredients:
750 ml Prosecco
1cup Mamma Bella limoncello, chilled
ice
Garnish:
Blueberries
Thyme
Lemon slices
Directions:
- Add the prosecco and limoncello liquor to a pitcher and stir.
- Place a handful of blueberries in a glass, top with ice and fill with the limoncello prosecco. Garnish with thyme and lemon slices.
For more information on locally handmade Mamma Bella Cellos go to www.mammabellacello.com or click here:
Click here for Mamma Bella Cello
Stay tuned on Facebook- We’ll be sharing our favorite libations each week!
I bet you’re thirsty now! I hope you enjoy these recipes and are able support our local farmers in doing so! Follow my Facebook page, I will be sharing new drink recipes each week for you to vote on your favorites. Then I will do a live reveal of each week’s winning recipe.
Have a wonderful Summer! ~ Nancy
