A few weeks ago, I asked on twitter what flavors should I use to concoct a new summer drink recipe. Thankfully my friend Suzie, aka @AceConcierge, came to the rescue with the recommendation of grapefruit juice. To be fair . . . when you say grapefruit juice to some, they wince as if you had asked them to suck on a bucket full of lemons – but not me, I LOVED the recommendation. (Thanks Suzie!)
The real challenge on this recipe for me was to be create a garnish that would not compete with the grapefruit flavor and compliment the drink visually. Overall my goal for this post was to come up with a simple summer drink that could be made with or without alcohol and with little or no fuss on the mixology bit.
To be fair, when I say simple . . . not everyone will think that juicing grapefruits for 20+ people to enjoy this recipe will be so simple, so I offer a side step solution where you buy the grapefruit juice (but I will warn you it won’t taste or look the same). All of the elbow grease in this recipe is well spent on the garnish and fresh juice.
Enjoy these recipes to cool down and relax this summer!
Single Serving Grapefruitini**
Ingredients :
Freshly juiced Grapefruit
Chilled Vodka
Tools :
Cocktail Shaker (mine is a vintage Loft)
Directions :
Cut grapefruit in half and juice both halves
Pour grapefruit uice into cocktail shaker. (should be about 4 oz.)
Add a few ice cubes and 3 oz. of Vodka to shaker.
Shake vigorously until it is nearly painfully too cold to hold shaker.
Strain mixture into chilled martini glass and add honeydew melon and strawberry “Olives”
Sit back and enjoy! (you’ll have a little left over in the shaker)
** If you want to make this recipe for more than just yourself – you can purchase Ocean Spray White Grapefruit Juice and V-8 Pomegranate Blueberry Juice and use in a 3 to 1 ratio for the juice portion respectively. This is a great solution for larger batches for those summer backyard get togethers.
Grapefruit Fizz (alcohol free and kid friendly)
Ingredients :
1 freshly juiced Grapefruit
Club soda to taste (I love to use Shasta)
Tools :
Directions :
Cut grapefruit in half and juice both halves*
Pour juice over ice into old fashion glass or a highball glass depending on your mood.
Add a splash (or a couple) of club soda and add honeydew melon and strawberry “Olives”
Honey Dew & Strawberry “Olives”
Ingredients :
Tools :
Knife
Cutting board
1 inch melon baller
Stainless steel cocktail stirrer
Directions :
Cut honeydew melon in half and de-seed
Along the sides carefully scoop out the honeydew melon “olives”
Using the top end of a stainless steel cocktail stirrer poke a hole through the center of the honey dew melon (be careful on this part as you can easily split it)
Cut a medium strawberry in half, then slice a 1/4″ slice and lay flat
From center of sliced strawberry cut into 5ths setting aside the middle of the side slices
Take honeydew melon “olive” firmly in hand and push strawberry “red pimento” carefully through being careful not to split the melon.
Skewer and add you your favorite cocktail!
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- Fresh is best when making anything!
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- These honeydew melon and strawberry “olives” are a great summer garnish for nearly any libation.
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- To get the most “olives” out of your melon, keep your scoops close!
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- A 1″ melon baller is the perfect size!
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- A stainless steel cocktail stirrer is the perfect size to core the honeydew melon ball in preparation for the strawberry.
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- Coring the honeydew melon to make it ready for the strawberry.
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- Strawberry sliced into 5ths, using the side center pieces for the “red pimento” center.
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- Honeydew Melon and Strawberry “olives” are a refreshing summer garnish for any libation.
This recipe would go great with this Quick & Easy Summer Watermelon & Honeydew Melon Salad by Devaki Das
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What are some of your favorite summer drink recipes?
What garnishes are you keen on?
