Summer Party Ideas for Adults
Getting tired of having the same old summer parties. Try some of these ideas to spice up your summer party. Cocktail parties are decidedly grown up event. The word “cocktail” suggests an adult only evening and the drinks and menu will reflect that. That’s not to say that cocktail parties have to be formal or that there have to be alcoholic beverages served. There are some great drink ideas that have no alcohol at all. Having a combination of both is a good way to make sure everyone has a great time at your party. The one good thing about this party is that all you have to worry about is the food and drinks. Below are some great recipes for some simple and delicious drinks and appetizers for your cocktail party.
BLUE CURAPOLITAN
2 ounces of tequila
1 ounce of blue curacoa
a splash of grand marnier
1 ounce of lime juice
1 ounce of cranberry juice
Mix all ingredients with crushed ice and shake well. Strain and
serve in a martini glass with a lime twist.
APPLE MARTINI
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce of apple schnapps
a splash of sweet and sour mix
Add vodka and apple schnapps with ice and shake well. Add the
splash of sweet and sour mix, strain and serve in a martini glass
with an apple twist.
ENGLISH ROSE
2 ounces of gin
1 ounce of dry vermouth
1 ounce of apricot brandy
�½ ounce of lemon juice
1 tsp of grenadine
Maraschino cherries for garnish
Mix all of the ingredients with ice, shake, strain into a martini
glass and garnish with a cherry.
If your interested in non alcoholic drinks here are a few recipes for some really good ones.
BANANA STRAWBERRY MOCKTAIL
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 banana sliced
6 strawberries cut in half
�½ cup crushed ice
Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a martini glass with a banana skewer.
WALKING ZOMBIE
2 ounces of fresh lime juice
2 ounces of fresh orange juice
2 ounces of pineapple juice
1 ounce of passion fruit nectar
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. Pour into a glass and top with a cherry.
BLUSHING HEATHER
1 ounce of raspberry flavored syrup
3 ounces of sparking white grape juice
Splash of lemon juice
Put raspberry flavored syrup and lemon juice in a champagne glass and stir. Add sparkling white grape juice and garnish with a raspberry.
Now that you have decided what drinks to serve you need some appetizers. Here are a few sure fire hits that are easy to make and elegant enough that they will you’re a gourmet chef. Keeps the appetizers simple. You want to spend the time with your guests not your oven. The old favorites of imported cheeses and crackers, fruit trays and vegetable trays are a great start but you might want to include a few more exotic choices.
BACON AND OLIVE STUFFED MUSHROOMS
16 large mushrooms
�½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated finely
1/4 cup of finely chopped olives
1 tsp of worstershire sauce
8 slices of crisp crumbly bacon
Preheat oven to 350. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel and
remove the stems. Combine remaining ingredients and stuff the
mixture into the mushroom caps. Bake for 10-15 minutes and your
done.
TOMATOES PROVENCAL
2 tsp fresh rosemary
1 clove garlic
�½ tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
24 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs
2 tbsp olive oil
Preheat oven to 350. In a small combine rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. Cut the tops off the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes in a large baking dish, cut side up. Sprinkle tomatoes with the rosemary mixture. Sprinkle bread crumbs over tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil. Bake tomatoes until soft about 18 minutes. Then turn the oven to broil and broil the tomatoes for about 4 minutes or until they are nice and golden brown. With these simple recipes and a few really good drinks you can have a cocktail party that will keep your guests happy and you out of the kitchen. If your looking for something a little more family oriented than the cocktail party. Try a Hawaiian luau. Its fun and your guests will enjoy the sweet and exotic treats. Decorations can include grass skirts and leis for all the guests.
HAWAIIAN SPARERIBS
1/4 cup vinegar
�½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 8oz can crushed pineapple
3 tablespoons of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
�½ teaspoon salt
�½ tablespoon of fresh ginger
3 pounds of pork spareribs
Preheat oven to 325. In a saucepan over medium heat mix together vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and pineapple. Stir in brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and ginger. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Arrange a layer of spareribs in baking pan and pour half the sauce over the top. Arrange another layer of spareribs ans pour the rest of the sauce over the top. Cover with tin foil and bake until done, anywhere from 1 �½ hours to two hours.
HAWAIIAN COLESLAW
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained and liquid reserved
�½ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1/3 cup mayonnaise
In a large bowl toss the cabbage, 1 tablespoon of the orange juice, ginger ,nutmeg, salt and pepper. Then toss the oranges and the pineapple. Stir in the mayonnaise so its evenly coated. Chill before serving.
HAWAIIAN MILLIONAIRE PIE
9 inch pie crust, baked
1 15 oz can of crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 12 oz container of whipped topping
�½ cup of maraschino cherries
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 cup of chopped walnuts
In a large bowl fold crushed pineapple, lemon juice, whipped topping, cherries, condensed milk and walnuts all together. Pour into a pie shell and chill for at least an hour before serving. You can also use fruit and cheese kabobs as appetizers. This will be the easiest and best Hawaiian party you have ever thrown. With all of these easy recipes you can spend more time with your guests and less time in the kitchen.
