Classic Red Sangria Recipe

Nothing quite beats a classic red sangria, especially during the holiday season.  I made this when my cousin came over for some much needed girl time last weekend.  Serve this over ice, just in case you can't wait overnight.  But, the marinated fruit really is quite delicious! 

1 bottle of chianti wine (750 mL)

1 bottle of spumante sparkling wine

2 cups of pomegranate juice

1/3 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of marashinco cherries

2 granny smith apples, cut into chunks

1 orange, sliced

1.  In a large picture add all the above ingredients together.  Place in the refrigerator and allow it to chill overnight.  Optional- add ice!

Cherry Limeade Cupcakes Recipe

My aunt and little cousin's birthday happen to be on the same day.  We were already having a Justin Bieber themed party for the little one and I still wanted to do a little something special for my aunt; enter Cherry Limeade Cupcakes, since this drink is her favorite during the summertime!  I needed some inspiration so I based my recipe off the one I found on Annie's Eats!  The cake portion is moist, tart and limey, which is balanced out by the creamy sweet Whipped Maraschino Cherry Buttercream Frosting!  I brought the extras into work and they were a huge hit!

Limeade Cake 

6 cups of cake flour, sifted

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 sticks of butter, at room temperature

2 cups of sugar

2 limes (zest one and use the juice of both)

1 can of frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

1 teaspoon of vanilla

6 eggs

1 cup of milk

3/4 cup of lemon-lime soda (I happened to have cherry 7 up on hand so I used that)

Lime Syrup

1/4 cup limeade concentrate, thawed

1/4 cup of sugar

Whipped Maraschino Cherry Buttercream Frosting

3 sticks of butter, at room temperature

9 cups of powdered sugar

1/2 cup of Maraschino cherry juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream

Red Food Dye

Garnish

Maraschino cherries

Lime slices, quartered

Straws (Instead of buying special straws, I just cut mine down to size)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl add the cake flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda together.  Mix until combined.  

2.  In a separate bowl cream the butter until it is light and fluffy.  Add in the sugar and blend.  Now add the lime zest juice, limeade concentrate and vanilla.  Using a mixer, start to blend the ingredients and then add the eggs, one by one.  

3.  Add half the flour mixture and half of the milk and continue to mix the ingredients.  Add the remaining flour and milk to the batter and mix until everything is incorporated.  Fold in the lemon-lime soda. 

4.  Using an ice cream scoop, spoon the batter into lined cupcake tins.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  This recipe will make almost 4 dozen cupcakes, it came out to baking 42 cupcakes for me.  Make sure you bake the cupcakes in two batches, so the cupcakes will bake evenly.

5.  Once the cupcakes have cooled, take a fork and poke 3 times on the top of the cupcakes.  Prepare the lime syrup by whisking the two ingredients together.  Take a spoon and drizzle this on top of all the cupcakes.  This is what gives the cupcake the extra tanginess and fresh limeade flavor!

6.   In another bowl beat the butter until it is light and fluffy.  Add the powdered sugar, juice, vanilla and whipping cream together until it is the desired consistency.  Add the red food coloring and blend until smooth.  Frost on the top of cupcakes.  

7.  Garnish with cherries, lime wedges and straws!  

Perfect Peach Margaritas Recipe

This is a super easy recipe to make and is sure to impress your guests.  It's made with fresh peaches, and you can certainly tell the difference compared to those sugar-loaded mixes.  I made a pitcher of this, poured myself a glass and sat out by the pool this weekend!  

2 tablespoons of sugar (I used Splenda)

2 cups of sliced peaches (skins removed)

3/4 cup of silver tequila

3 cups of ice cubes

2 splashes of citrus flavored soda

Fresh Mint (optional)

1.  Combine the first five ingredients in a blender and blend until all ingredients are well combined.  Top with fresh mint and enjoy!

Buckin' Berry Lemonade Recipe

This is a perfectly tart lemonade that is perfect for slow sipping and catching up with one of your best friends.  It's super easy to make and it tastes way better than anything from the can.  Plus, the beautiful berry color is hard to beat! 

1/4 cup of lime juice

3/4 cup of lemon juice

1/2 cup of strawberry lemonade mix

1/2 cup of sugar

2 cups of frozen mixed berries

1.5 quarts of water

1. In a food processor blend the mixed berries together.  

2.  In a pitcher add the juices, strawberry lemonade mix, sugar and the mixed berries.  Add about 1.5 quarts of water and stir ingredients together.  If the drink is too sour, add more water and sugar until your liking.  To remove berry seeds pour the drink through a metal strainer before serving and then enjoy!

Watermelon Sangria Recipe

This is a beautiful drink that is exactly what you need when it is super hot outside this summer.  The chilled watermelon juice is refreshingly simple and is unexpected for a sangria.  Plus, this recipe doesn't use any processed sugar so you can really taste the natural flavors.  So, sit out on your patio and enjoy!

12 cups of seedless watermelon, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

1 bottle of sweet white wine ( since we are not adding processed sugar or using a simple sugar I like to use something sweeter- but it is all your preference, I used Moscato)
1 cup of vodka

1/4 cup of agave nectar
1/2 cup of triple sec
1/2 cup of fresh blueberries

Juice of 1 lime

Lemon-Lime Soda

Fresh mint (optional)

Ice

1.  In a blender puree the watermelon.  Pour mixture through a fine strainer into a pitcher.  

2.  Add the vodka, agave nectar, triple sec and lime juice to the pitcher and stir until everything is well combined.  Add the blueberries.

3.  Cut the juiced lime into slices and add to pitcher.  

4.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours so the fruit flavors can fully develop.  Add ice to glasses and add the watermelon mixture.  Top off with lemon-lime soda and decorate with fresh mint.