Summer Cocktail Menu Series: May

SummerDrinks

Summer’s unofficial kickoff weekend is finally here! Whether you’re taking a staycation to veg out at home this Memorial Day weekend or you’re hopping on the beach bum bandwagon, celebrating summer always tastes better with a cocktail. Not just fru-fru drinks for the ladies, this summer’s cocktail menu includes some flavors for the fellas. Shaken or stirred, these drinks are worth your sip.

For the girls:

Riesling Strawberry Slushies
Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups hulled strawberries
  • 1 bottle (750ml) dry Riesling
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 ½ tbsp sugar

Directions
Reserve one cup of Riesling, cover and place in fridge to chill. In a food processor, puree strawberries with the remaining wine, lime juice and sugar. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. When you’re ready to serve, puree the ice cubes with the remaining wine in your blender! Sip and savor!

Spike Blueberry Lemonade
Yields: 8 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 6 cups water
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1-2 cups citron flavored vodka

Directions
Pour all ingredients in a pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves. Muddle the blueberries using the back of a wooden spoon to release their juices and color. Taste and adjust sugar if needed, then serve chilled and enjoy!

For the boys:

Summer Cherry Sours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces Cherry Citrus-Ade (recipe below)
  • 2 ounces brandy
  • 2 ounces whiskey
  • 4 8-ounce mason jar glasses
  • Cocktail shaker

Directions
Pour the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously for a few seconds and pour over ice into four eight ounce mason jar glasses.

Cherry Citrus-Ade

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces cherries, pitted
  • 2 ounces simple syrup
  • 2 ounces lemon juice
  • 2 ounces lime juice
  • ½ cup grapefruit juice
  • 1 quart pitcher
  • Muddler
  • Citrus reamer
  • Paring knife

Directions
Add the cherries and the simple syrup to the pitcher. Muddle the cherries until they are broken apart. Add the lemon juice, lime juice and grapefruit juice. Mix well. Serve over ice (with above cocktail mix) or on its own.

Snakebite
Serves: 1

Ingredients
8 oz. hard cider
8 oz. stout beer

Directions
Pour cider into pint glass. Very slowly pour the stout over the back of a wide bar spoon, so that the beer sits on top of the cider.

Cheers!

3 Ways To Enjoy Your Fresh Strawberries

StrawberryPizza

Nothing goes better with summer like the sweet taste of strawberries. Why stop at the unoriginal standard of strawberries and creme? We’ve got three go-to recipes to put all your fresh berries to good use. From a classic pie to savory pizza–there’s a dish for any strawberry-lover.

Strawberry, Pistachio, and Goat Cheese Pizza

1 prebaked pizza crust
⅓ cup crumbled goat cheese
1 cup of sliced strawberries
1 cup trimmed watercress
½ tsp extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp fresh lemon juice
Dash of salt
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup parmesan cheese
3 tbsp shelled dry-roasted pistachios, chopped

Who knew strawberries could taste so delicious on a pizza? Begin by preheating your oven to 425. Cook the crust for eight minutes, then remove it from the oven and arrange the goat cheese evenly over the crust. Mix the watercress, strawberries, olive oil, salt, juice and black pepper and spread the mixture onto the crust. Sprinkle the mouthwatering Parmesan and pistachios over the top, and you’ve got one seriously good pizza on your hands, champ.

Strawberry Beer Margaritas

1 lb of fresh strawberries
12 oz of white tequila
12 can of Sprite
1 can of light beer
1 can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
Ice as needed
1 tsp kosher salt of rims

This refreshing treat is just what the doctor ordered for those sweltering summer days. Start by putting strawberry chunks in a bowl. Then pour your tequila over the strawberries and marinate them for two hours. Blend the strawberries until silky, smooth and strain to remove all seeds. Stir the sweet strawberry mixture with Sprite, beer and limeade concentrate in a large pitcher and add ice cubes to make it one cold treat. Top it off with salted rim glasses, sit back and enjoy!

Rhubarb Strawberry Lattice Pie

For crust:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 ½ tsp sugar
¾ tsp salt
⅔ cup chilled solid vegetable shortening
½ cup, plus 2 tbs chilled unsalted butter
10 tbsp ice water

For filling:
3 ½ cups of ½-inch-thick slices of trimmed rhubarb
1 16-oz container of strawberries, halved
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 large egg yolk beaten to blend with 1 tsp water (for glaze)

Not for the faint of heart, this classic pie is sure to “wow” your summer evening guests. To make the crust, start out by combining flour, sugar and salt in a processor. Cut in the shortening and butter until it’s a coarse consistency. Blend in the ice water 2 tbs at a time to create moist clumps.

Then gather the dough into a ball, cut it in half and flatten each half into a disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap, pop in the fridge until firm (about an hour.)

Now it’s time for the filling. Preheat the oven to 400. Then combine the first seven ingredients in a bowl, making sure to toss gently. Roll out the first dough disk on a floured surface to a 13-inch round. Then put the disk into a 9-inch-diameter pie dish.

Roll out the second dough to the same diameter, then cut ½-inch-wide strips. Start putting your filling into the crust. Then arrange seven dough strips atop filling, spacing evenly. Form a lattice by placing remaining dough strips in the opposite direction.

Finish by brushing your glaze on top and baking for 20 minutes. Your pie should be golden brown and usually takes about an hour and 25 minutes. Let cool and then dig in–but not too fast, this isn’t a pie eating contest!

Aubrie is SweetJack’s easygoing editorial assistant. A GCSU alum and Harry Potter aficionado, she enjoys graphic design, photography and stalking the pages of Gawker on a daily basis.

National Chocolate Chip Day

In honor of one of the most delicious days in the year, we dedicated an entire video to the wonder that is National Chocolate Chip Day. To become the office’s new favorite coworker or the best parents in the world, pick up a bag and make a recipe with these little bites of heaven. Think bagels, chocolate chip brownies, chocolate chip pancakes, muffins…the list is endless!

Fun facts

In your lifetime, you’ll eat around 35,000 cookies.
Nationwide, chocolate chip cookies are the best selling cookie today.
The chocolate chip was invented in 1993 in the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts.
Chocolate helps with depression, high blood pressure and even tumors.
Across the globe, people eat more than $7 billion worth of chocolate each year (wowza!).

Happy eating!

Family Dinner Night Out: No Kitchen Duty

Family-Night-OutMost adages ring true. What goes up must come down. Better safe than sorry. And, my favorite, variety is the spice of life.

Isn’t it amazing how getting out of the house for a meal can strike a new harmony with your family? A simple break in routine and new conversations spark, personalities shine, laughter rings.

The FamilyDinnerProject.org states, “Over the past 15 years researchers have confirmed what parents have known for a long time: sharing a family meal is good for the spirit, the brain and the health of all family members. Recent studies link family dinners with many behaviors that parents pray for: lower rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and depression, as well as higher grade-point averages and self-esteem. Studies also indicate that dinner conversation is a more potent vocabulary-booster than reading, and the stories told around the kitchen table help our children build resilience.” Holy moley! Let’s eat!

Unfortunately, once you pop kids into the equation, finding the perfect venue can pose a challenge. Will patrons look the other way if Jimmy throws a tantrum? Can Suzie get her Italian fix and Dad land a perfectly grilled steak? Can everyone be happy so Mom can have a little quiet time?

We’ve surveyed the country for restos that fit the bill. Our favorite? Ryan’s Steakhouse. Not only does their buffet please every palette, the happy-to-know-ya vibe is ever-present. You can pop in for b-fast, lunch, dinner or anywhere in between for a hearty, healthy meal that’ll fill you up without filling you out.

Bring the family back to the table again (minus dish duty)!

Michelle is SweetJack’s savvy Momma in residence but don’t let the bumpers and bibs fool you. This Staff Writer loves a witty Rap reference and a heavy pour of pinot.

Party Like It’s Cinco De Mayo

It may be five o’clock somewhere, but the real fiesta doesn’t start til the calendar strikes the fifth of May. Get your Cinco de Mayo fiesta best on and celebrate the right way, with great food and even better cocktails!

Keep it traditional with Jack’s Chunky Guacamole or try something new and mix up a Cinco de Swizzle (our take on the Gringo Swizzle).

Whatever you do, make this Cinco de Mayo one to remember!

CincoDeMayo

Cinco de Swizzle

Ingredients

  • 2 oz silver tequila
  • .5 oz creme de cassis
  • .5 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 2 oz fresh orange juice
  • Ginger ale

Directions

  • Pour all ingredients except ginger ale into a cocktail shaker
  • Add ice
  • Shake well
  • Pour into glass and top off with cold ginger ale
  • Drink responsibly and enjoy!

Jack’s Chunky Guacamole

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • 1 tomato
  • 1/4 onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 lime
  • Cilantro, to taste
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper, optional

Directions

  • Dice avocados, tomato, onion and garlic
  • Mix together
  • Add cilantro, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
  • Serve with tortilla chips