punch

When it comes to Summer entertaining, my go to beverage is sangria. It's easy to make a large batch and must be put together in advance. It's a wine-based punch, making it lower in alcohol than its spirit counterparts and it has a fruity profile, meaning that most people will enjoy a glass or two.

I believe a hostess can never have too many sangria recipes and this is my current fav. It's a mixture of berries, Rosé, and black currant liqueur. The recipe, which comes from Mariena Mercer of The Cosmopolitan in Vegas, calls for soda water to add effervescence. However, I used sparkling Rosé instead. This sangria is better the longer it steeps, so get started now!

When it comes to specialty cocktails for an Oscars viewing, I say make a pitcher drink and make it fizzy! You could take entertaining expert Katie Lee's advice and make a pineapple strawberry concoction or go with the recipe shown here. It's a refreshing blend of citrus and vodka spiked with the sweet-tart flavor of limoncello. The effervescence comes from the addition of seltzer water. One batch serves eight, but it's easy to double or triple the recipe. The key to a delicious libation is to use fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice, so break out your juicers! Check out the method now.

It's starting to get chilly out there! Over the holidays, warm drinks and cocktails like eggnog, Tom and Jerrys, and hot buttered rum are in abundance. The problem is that these drinks are stacked with sugar and saturated fat.

Spiked mulled cider is a great alternative to these holiday favorites. Hot cider is satisfying on a cold Winter's night, and its spices are reminiscent of the season. I love that the sweetness of the drink comes from using all-natural apple cider and just a hint of brown sugar. And unlike most warm holiday cocktails, there's not a single gram of fat in the recipe.

To see the recipe after the break!

One way to get people talking at a holiday party is to serve punch. Not just any punch, but an interesting punch that uses less common spirits. People wondering what's in it will get the conversations started.

This punch recipe has Bols Genver (a Dutch alcohol with a flavor profile similar to gin), St. Germain, and Aperol. Fresh grapefruit juice gives it a festive color and delicious tartness. No simple syrup is necessary because the St. Germain is floral, sweet, and syrup-like. To look at the recipe, keep reading.

Hosting a holiday party? Serve punch! Making a punch saves time and is more affordable than stocking an entire bar. It's also a great way to get the party started: people can mix and mingle while they fill their glasses. A celebratory punch made with sparkling wine is especially festive. Garnish with cranberries or circles of citrus. Don't be afraid to get creative with the recipe; the one suggested here is basic. Substitute a floral liqueur like St. Germain for brandy, and use what ever kind of sparkling wine — Rosé, Cava, Prosecco, etc. — you want. For the easy technique to this simple party punch, keep reading.