WATERMELON STRAWBERRY SUMMERTINI

Ingredients: 2 cups diced strawberries and watermelon 4 ounces vodka 2 ounces St. Germain liqueur Juice of 1 orange 2 cups crushed ice Place all ingredients in blender or Vitamix.  Pulse on and off until the ice is just slushy.  Pour into 2 large martini glasses.  Garnish with a skewer of 1 watermelon cube and a small strawberry.  Makes 2 generous drinks.

MINTY MANGO MARGARITA

Ingredients: 5 large mint leaves Pulp of 1 large mango, about 1 cup, chopped Juice of 1 lemon or lime 4 ounces silver tequila 3 ounces Margarita mix 2 ounces triple sec 2 cups crushed ice Garnish:  mint sprigs, orange, lemon or mint slices Place all ingredients in blender or Vitamix.  Pulse on and off until the mint is pureed and ice is just slushy.  Pour into two large margarita glasses, garnish with a sprig of mint and orange, lemon or lime slice.  Makes 2 generous drinks.

PEAR VODKA MARTINI

PEAR VODKA MARTINI

Ingredients: 

• 3 ounces vodka (lemon or cucumber infused vodka would be fabulous!)
• 1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur (a French liqueur created in 2007 flavored with elderflowers)
• 1 squirt of lemon bitters
• 4 ounces pear juice
• 1 cup crushed ice cubes
• Garnish: thinly cut pear slices, thinly sliced cucumbers

In a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon bitters, pear juice and crushed ice.  Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.  Pour into two cocktail or Martini glasses (I love my Nick and Nora glasses) and garnish the rim with pear slices and float three thin slices of cucumber on top.  Makes 2 drinks.

BLOOD ORANGE ROSEMARY MARGARITA

Ingredients:

• 1 blood orange, peeled, cut in half
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
• ½ cup Margarita mix
• ½ cup silver tequila
• ¼ cup orange liqueur (Triple Sec)
• 2 cups crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender or Vitamix, blend until the ice is smooth and rosemary is no longer visible.  Pour into two Margarita glasses.  Serves 2.