Drunken Melon Balls...Aaaahhh Summer Is Here!!!

Give me these drunken melon balls, a good magazine and comfy porch swing
and I'm happy as a lark.

Who knew that letting melons chillax in a pool of triple sec, pineapple juice and raspberry vodka could make for such a refreshing summer treat.

I love making these in the summer time when melons are super sweet. Using the melon baller is a lot quicker than slicing the fruit up in my opinion. I keep the fruit ball cut-out close together to avoid too much wasted fruit.

I'm not really sure what the correct title is for these melon balls... vodka melon balls? Melons infused with vodka? Alcoholic fruit salad?  Drunken melon balls? There are just too many names for this, which makes sense because there are soooo many ways to change this up simply by switching up the alcohol.

Around here we call them boozy balls just because it's so fun to say. Go a'head, say it. Isn't it fun? They also make super fun kabobs! Just thread them on a bamboo skewer sit them out on a platter and watch how fast they disappear. (Just make sure you make an alcohol free batch for the kiddos because I don't know too many kids that can resists round fruit on a stick)

These 21 and older melon balls go GREAT for a girls night in party, wedding brunch, cookouts or just lounging outside on a hot day.

Melon Balls waiting to soak in their vodka pineapple juice triple sec bath!

They have a light alcohol taste that still allows for the natural sweetness of the fruit to come through. You can certainly double the alcohol if you prefer it the other way around and hey, I'm not here to judge.


Ingredients (I had roughly 7 1/2 cups of melon balls)
1 small, seedless watermelon
1 cantaloupe
1 honey dew melon
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup raspberry vodka (or your favorite fruit flavored vodka)
1/2 cup triple sec

Watch me make these drunken melon balls from start to finish

*note* If you are making this recipe when melons are out of season (which I highly do not recommend) or are not as sweet, you may need to add some simple syrup (sugar water) to the mixture. Don't use super ripe fruit that is mushy. Ick! It will be just fall apart on ya.

CUSTOMIZE IT!!! Add in whatever fruity alcohol you enjoy but keep it simple! You really can't screw this recipe up... well unless you just start mixing up all kinda weird and crazy stuff. The raspberry vodka and triple sec is just what I had on had.  I love using midori which is a melon flavored liqueur or tequila, lime and triple sec for a margarita flavor.

Have fun and don't forget to drink (or eat in this case) responsibly! : )

Pomegranate Martini

Pomegranate Martini

Do you LOVE cocktails??  Then chances are you will love this pomegranate martini recipe! And more so the vodka infused pomegranate seeds hiding at the bottom of the glass. (Such a fun little surprise!)

Matter of fact, I'm officially renaming this drink "my happy place" martini. It really does make you wanna sway back and forth while smiling and saying "wooooooo!! wooooo!!!" I SO get you Orpah!!

This ruby-red, festive cocktail is great for Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day or any holiday really! (or if you're the mother of a toddler and find yourself with a moment of me-time! Rare but it does happen trust me!)

The Cast Of Ingredients:
A cold, refreshing pomegranate martini is about to take place.

This pomegranate martini is sweet, tart, crisp and will have the room feeling "jolly with laughter" in no time! Not to mention pomegranate packs a healthy antioxidant punch so hey, it's a win-win in my book!

Talk about a cocktail that will sneak up on you!! Whew!! It's so easy to sip on this pomegranate martini throughout the evening without even noticing that it has a double shot of vodka hiding in there so be careful.

Chilled pomegranate seeds infused with vodka!

I've tried a lot of pomegranate martini recipes  since I've been on a major pomegranate kick lately, and this one is by far my favorite!!! (a combination of two recipes actually)

So if you're looking for a really good pomegranate martini recipe for your ladies night, festive holiday or just for a tasty treat for yourself, give this one a try!

Watch me make this pomegranate martini from start to finish!

INGREDIENTS: Serves 1
1 cup ice
1/2 pomegranate juice
1 oz of simple syrup *
2 oz. Vodka
1 oz- Triple Sec
splash of lemon juice (optional)
Garnish: Infused pomegranate seeds (optional)


NOTES:

To coat the rim of martini glass, wet the rim with lemon juice and dip the rim in a bowl of sugar.


*To make 1 oz of simple syrup, dissolve 1 tablespoon of sugar into 1 tablespoon of super hot water.


To infuse pomegranate seeds soak them for 12-24 hours in vodka. (in the refrigerator). I pop them into the freezer before serving to get them really chilled.


1 oz= 2 Tablespoons


Drink responsibly!

Check out this video to learn how to deseed a pomegranate easily!

NUVO Jello Shots

NUVO Jello Shots

Everything is Prettier in Pink!

*update* ok see I'm so freakin obsessed with getting that hot pink NUVO color so tonight I'm going to see what happens when I combine 1 cup of cold NUVO  + 1 cup of hot NUVO + 2 packets of unflavored gelatin!! I think that might be the money shot yall!  Stay tuned!!

When my divas and I get together one of our favorite drinks is most definitley NUVO!! It's pink, sexy, fruity, carbonated and downright delicious! And there is something about this stuff that gets you all giggly in minutes and in my book, that classifies it as the perfect girly girl drink.

NUVO jello shots were the first thing that came to mind when one of my fabulous readers contacted me and wanted my help with creating pink jello shots for a bachelorette party. This is so right up my alley girl!! She wanted something girly and different besides the everyday strawberry, cherry and watermelon flavors and I think NUVO jello shots fits the bill!

After playing around in my kitchen with a few NUVO jello shot recipes, I came up with one that is FANTASTIC!! It captures that fruity, bubbly NUVO flavor with just the right amount of alcohol taste.

You'll definitely want to double or triple this recipe because it is SOOO easy to pop these things one after the other and not even realize it.  Make up a huge batch and serve them up in a pretty, clear glittery glass bowl!

*NOTE* To achieve a more hot pink color like NUVO substitute the passion fruit juice with white grape juice or any other pink colored juice or soda, but passion fruit taste SOOO good in this recipe.

Watch me make these jello shot from start to finish!!

Ingredients (makes 15 1 oz cups... about 3 servings)
1/2 passion fruit juice
1/2 cup sparkling white grape juice
2 envelopes KNOX unflavored gelatin
1 cup NUVO
2 Tablespoons of sugar
Strawberry Jello (just a few pinches for color)
1 oz. Portion cups with lids

DIRECTIONS
Step 1.) In a microwave-safe measuring cup, heat passion fruit juice until boiling. Set aside.
Step 2.) In a separate large measuring cup, add cold sparkling white grape juice.
Step 3.) Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over sparkling white grape juice and let sit for 1 minute. Do not stir.
Step 4.) Pour hot passion fruit juice into white grape juice mixture and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved.
Step 5.) Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
Step 6.) Let mixture sit until it is warm. (if you pour the alcohol into the mixture now it will kill the alcohol taste)
Step 7.) Pour the NUVO into the mixture and stir.
Step 8.) Sprinkle in just enough strawberry jello to get your desired pink color. Not too much now!
Step 9.) Pour into 1 ounce portion cups, place the lid on the cups and refrigerate for 2 hours or until fully set.

           ENJOY!!!

 How to Eat A Jello Shot

Using Your Mouth Only- Well...the original way (and the way men think is sexier according to Cosmo, yes I read that trash) is to put half the jello shot glass into your mouth, loosen the jello by sliding with your tongue along the inside of the glass and then suck the jello out. (it's not as easy as it sounds)

Toothpicks & Fingers- Most people prefer to use a toothpick or their fingers to loosen the jello from the glass and then just pop it into their mouth.
Hot Water- Often when "gourmet" jello shots are being served at a more reserved affair the host will dip the shot glasses in warm water prior to serving them so that the jello automatically releases from the glass.

Margarita Beer Punch Recipe

Margarita Beer Punch

I've always wished I was a beer drinker. It looks so refreshing on those commercials being poured into a frosty glass. I've tried to make myself like the stuff so many times, but it does nothing for my taste buds. It's just so...blah!

Now Margarita Beer Punch recipe on the other hand!! Yes ma'am! Pass Me My Dress!! because this is my kinda beer! The name may not sound that appealing, epspecially if you are not a beer drinker or even if you are a beer drink, but believe me, this punch is delicious. It's sweet, crisp, with a bold lemon-lime taste and a hint of beer & tequila. The perfect punch to serve with appetizers!

You can easily tweak the amounts of ingredients to make the punch have a strong alcohol taste or one that is barely noticeable! Just be careful because it's easy to down these back to back and it will sneak up on ya!



INGREDIENTS (serves 5-6) All ingredients should be cold)
1 (12 oz) can frozen limeade
1  cup tequila
12 oz of beer (I use Corona)
2-4 cups of cold water or lemonlime soda, depending on how strong you want the alcohol taste to be.  (I use Seirra Mist or Vault)

*note* It will be a lot sweeter if you use soda. I like it sweet though, but you may want to test a little cup of it with water and a small cup of it with soda just to see which you prefer.

Step 1.) In a pitcher add in frozen limeade

Step 2.) Pour in beer & tequila

Step 3.) Pour in soda/water 

Step 4.) Stir until limeade is dissolved. Taste and adjust if needed. I usually put in more beer & tequilla (hey what can I say!) Let chill in the refrigerator or immediately pour over ice and serve.

Enjoy!

Strawberries & Champagne Punch

Strawberries & Champagne Punch

I really like this version of Strawberry Champagne punch. In my family we call it the "giggling punch" because it doesn't matter if I use champagne or sparkling grape juice this stuff still makes people "jolly" for some reason.

It's lightly fizzy, fruity, crisp, refreshing and the champagne taste is pretty mild for those champagne haters. Just be careful cause whew lawd....it can sneak up on you!  I love champagne punch around the holidays because it goes so well with formal meals.  Throw in a few frozen berries in the bottom of the glass before serving and you have yourself one tasty, sexy drink! Great for Valentines Day dinner as well.

To me, champagne punch tastes the best when it's been in the freezer for about an hour and gets those lil ice chips in them. I like it ICE COLD BABY!!


Ingredients (all ingredients should be super chilled)

1 ( 64 oz.) bottle of 100% White Grape juice (I like using white grape peach. There are so many white grape combos out there that taste so great with this. Choose your favorite, just make sure it's relatively light in color!)
1 (2 liter) bottle of 7-up
1 bottle of extra dry Champagne (750 ml)  (or sparkling white grape juice)
16 oz bottle of club soda
1/2 -1 cup sugar
Frozen strawberries

Step 1.) In a large punch bowl, add white grape juice & 7up. Stir gently to combine.

Step 2.) Stir in club soda & champagne.

Step 3.) Taste and add sugar if you like a sweeter champagne punch.

Step 4.) Drop frozen strawberries into glass and pour on the champagne punch!

Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.