Summer Cocktails Made Easy

   Absolutely nothing makes your summer party, picnic or vacation more delicious than a blender drink or fruity cocktail. I don't often crave a frozen cocktail in the colder months so it is time to take advantage of these hot temps and blend myself (and friends) a treat.

   Sure you can only use individual ingredients or you could make it easy on yourself. I am a huge fan of the Master of Mixes brand of mixers. 

These are alcohol free so you have versatility in the alcohol or virgin drink you blend (and yes, it is cheaper than the premixed with alcohol brands). You can usually get a large 33-oz. bottle for about $3.50. Okay, they are loaded with sugar calories but for the handful you have over these few months, it's so worth it because they are delicious. (And yes, there are Lite lower calorie choices too). I am a big fan of all the flavors really: pina colada, margarita, mango, strawberry, sweet 'n sour and the newest flavor peach. The line also includes the extras like grenadine, simple syrup & triple sec that you may use in many cocktail recipes. (There are also LARGE buckets you add alcohol, stir & freeze ahead of time.) Each bottle has recipes printed right on them or you can use your imagination. You can just mix with your liquor of choice and add a slash of seltzer at the end for some fizz and fewer calories. One of my favorites is mixing the sweet 'n sour with a bourbon whiskey and then adding a splash of grenadine at the end. The red grenadine will sink to the bottom of the glass (until stirred) and makes a very easy, delicious, pretty cocktail. Add garnish of choice like lemon, orange, mint, maraschino cherries. Follow the recipe suggestions on the label for blender drinks made with lots of ice. I like to mix the pina colada with the mango for a change up. Throw banana, strawberries, watermelon, peaches into the blender too for a healthy (ier) recipe. With so many flavors, the sky's the limit!

   No one wants to spend oodles of time this summer mixing up cocktails for your crowd, so make it easy and delicious with mixers. Happy Fourth of July & Cheers!