Summer Drinks - Good All Year Long

I spent my Thursday night freezing my bootie off watching Virginia Tech play football. Throughout the day I enjoyed an amazing tailgate event for my company.  In the midst of the cold while huddling around a fire pit I reminisced about the warm weather and a few delicious summer time cocktails. I was asked to share a few of them and here they are.

The first is Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea. If you spend any time with me you will learn quickly that one of my go-to drinks is an Ice Pick, which is simply iced tea and vodka. I like this a lot better than Firefly because I can control the amount of sugar. Firefly, to me, is too sweet. I came across a recipe this past summer for this blueberry spin on iced tea and it was a huge hit. Chef it up and add in your favorite vodka.

Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients:

1 16-ounce package of frozen blueberries

½ cup fresh lemon juice

4 cups waters

3 family-size tea bags

¾ cup sugar

Bring package of blueberries and ½ cup lemon juice to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally for five minutes. Remove from heat and pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Using a back of a spoon to squeeze out juice. Discard solids and wipe saucepan clean.

Bring four cups of water to a boil in the same saucepan, add three family-size tea bags and let stand five minutes. Remove and discard bags. Stir in ¾ cup of sugar and blueberry juice mixture. Pour into pitcher, cover and chill.

I also referenced a punch we used to make in college. I still make it for “special occasions.” The rule has always been that you don’t get to know the ingredients until you are at least three in. Lucky for you - you only have to read this post. Don’t bother buying good beer or vodka once you get it all together it isn’t going to affect the taste. It is called Skip and Go Naked. Have at it.

Skip-N-Go Naked

Ingredients:

Case of beer

Half gallon of vodka

4 frozen concentrates of pink lemonade

2 2-liters of Sprite

Poor them all into a large cooler, stir, add ice and enjoy.