Cocktails & Mocktails: The Recipe For Fun

Pink Champagne. Oh, the reason I love it so is because it is always the drink a sophisticated woman orders in any movie from the 1950's. She is on a cruise, alone, and finds her way to the bar where she orders "just a bit" of pink champagne. She dabs her finger in it and then puts a little spot behind each ear. How much more classy can you get?! Of course the mysterious, and overly handsome, gentleman who is also traveling alone approaches thereafter and so  their love affair begins. You can sigh and drift off into the open seas along with them with just a bit of that pink champagne. Or a lovely mojito on a hot summer night. Now, whether you choose to have a cocktail or leave the alcohol out of your Friday evening dinner is fine by me, but it is always fun to mix things up (pun intended) and try out new recipes that go beyond your mother-in-law's lasagna. Besides, you like your mother's recipe better anyways...am I right? ;)

I've gathered some recipes that are just as great with the extra dash or without, which we're calling Mocktails (Mock Cocktails, free of alcohol, but with all the great flavor and fun!) There are some sweet, some tart and some fresh ideas to share with friends and family at your next picnic or with your special someone on date night!

hai Blossom

ngredients: 1/2 Cup Sugar 1/2 Cup Fresh Lime Juice 8-12 oz. Club Soda 4 Whole Star Anise Pods 2 Chai Tea Bags **Spiked: Dark Spiced Rum or Sweet Tea Vodka.** **Alcohol Serving: 3oz. for every 12oz serving. Or to taste preference.** HOW TO: Combine tea bags and 1 cup boiling water in a small bowl; cover and let sit 8–10 minutes. Add sugar; stir to dissolve. Discard tea bags and let cool. Stir chai syrup and lime juice in a pitcher to combine. Divide among 4 rocks glasses filled with ice and add 2–3 oz. club soda to each. Garnish with anise pods and lemon twists.

PG-13 Singapore Sling

Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Mango Juice 1/2 Cup Fresh Pineapple Juice 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lime Juice 8-12 oz. Club Soda 2 Mint Sprigs 3/4 Cup Pomegranate Juice **Spiked: Coconut Rum** **Alcohol Serving: 3oz. for every 12oz serving. Or to taste preference.** HOW TO: Combine juices in a pitcher filled with ice and stir until cold. Divide among 4 Collins glasses filled with crushed ice and add 2–3 oz. tonic water to each. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Celery Collins

Ingredients: 1/3 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice 1/3 Cup Simple Syrup 1/4 tsp. Fee Brothers' Celery Bitters (Use Caution: Most Bitters contain alcohol. This one is 100% alcohol free! If you don't mind the alcohol, use Angostura or Bittermens Hellfire Habanero to spide things up!) 8-12 oz. Club Soda 4 Celery Stalks, chopped **Spiked: Gin** **Alcohol Serving: 3oz. for every 12oz serving. Or to taste preference.** HOW TO: Purée celery and 1/4 cup water in a blender. Strain into a pitcher filled with ice, pressing on solids; discard solids. Add lemon juice, Simple Syrup, and shrub; stir until cold. Divide among 4 Collins glasses filled with ice and add 2–3 oz. club soda to each. Garnish with celery stalks.

Rosemary Limeade Cooler

Ingredients: 1 Cup Lime Juice (about 6 Limes - OR buy Limeade at the store!) 3/4 Cup Sugar Peel of 2 Limes Two 4-inch Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary, plus more to serve 4-6 Chilled Spar **Spiked: Tequila** **Alcohol Serving: 3oz. for every 12oz serving. Or to taste preference.** HOW TO: Stir the lime juice with the sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Lower the heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the lime peel and the rosemary sprigs. Simmer for another minute, then turn off the heat. Cover and refrigerate overnight Strain out the lime peel and rosemary and mix with the chilled sparkling water in a sealed jar or bottle. Taste and add more water if you want a lighter flavor. Serve over ice with a small sprig of rosemary muddled into the drink.