NPR recently listed the risk involved in typical summer activities during COVID-19 and ranked going out to a bar or nightclub as extremely high risk. “Nothing makes this a good idea right now,” the authors conclude.

But summer happy hours can still be enjoyed at home. So, I’ve compiled a few summer cocktail recipes to help in that quest.

WATERMELON MARGARITA. I’ll start off with my wife’s Watermelon Margarita recipe. Mind you, this comes from a woman who had her first margarita just three years ago in Mexico. It was a Mango marg which she duplicated once we got home, until she improvised with watermelons. There has been no turning back and she is seriously considering bottling this stuff as the requests for her recipe keep pouring in.

RECIPE:

16 oz. frozen watermelon chunks

1 shot each of lime juice, Triple Sec and tequila

Blend and serve

FROSÉ. This comes with a story too. While the restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, one café owner on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina is managing to thrive. I know this because my daughter has frequented the place, The Co-op, and follows his Instagram Account. Because this guy has the sarcastic wit of George Carlin mixed with Charlie Hooper from Two and a Half Men, now our entire family subscribes to his feed. And we’re not alone. His Instagram account has grown by over 10,000 followers since COVID-19 began. But besides his hilarious rants, he is also killing it with his frosé lineup with flavors like Prickly Pear, Blueberry Mojito, Mango Habanero and Violet Lemonade. With HOT summer weather bearing down on those Carolinians, they are clamoring for the stuff, keeping his 8 machines holding 96 bottles of frosé humming all day long. He has extended his hours, added to his staff…the guy is showing us all how to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. I can’t share his recipes (wish I could!) but I can share one from Montage Hotels.

RECIPE:

6 oz. Rosé wine (frozen in large ice cube trays)

5 oz. St. Germain

Put the large cubes of frozen rosé in a blender, add the St. Germain, lightly blend, pour into a glass and garnish with lavender.

LAVENDER LEMONADE SLUSHY. This one comes courtesy of my gym, The Bay Club. Don’t worry…you haven’t lived here all these years and never realized we lived on a bay. We don’t. But my club, the former ClubSport of Oregon was bought out by The Bay Club based in the city by the bay, San Francisco. During COVID-19, they’ve been keeping members supplied with virtual classes, healthy recipes, kids’ activities, and yes, slushy recipes that can be adult or kid-friendly, depending on how you make them.

RECIPE:

3 TB. Fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1-1.5 lemons)

3 TB. Lavender Honey Syrup (made with ½ cup water, ½ cup honey, 1 tsp. dried lavender flowers)

2 TB gin or vodka (optional)

1 ¼ cups ice

Pinch of lemon zest

First made the Lavender Honey Syrup. Combine lavender flowers, water, and honey in a small saucepan. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and strain out the lavender. Let it cool to room temperature before using.

For the slushy, first zest one lemon. Set the zest aside then juice the lemon(s).

Combine lemon juice, lavender honey syrup, ice, lemon zest in a high-speed blender. If you’re making an adult slushy, add gin or vodka at this time. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Add a couple more ice cubes if you wish to have a thicker slushy (recommended if adding liquor).

Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a lemon wheel and lavender sprig.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, while this year’s summer may look different than in the past, there are still a lot of things about summer in Lake Oswego that we can still enjoy. Warm,  beautiful, bug-free, and light summer evenings are one of them. Add a refreshing cocktail to the mix, and you’ll find that you don’t mind “sheltering in place” when the place is Lake Oswego on a summer’s night.

ENJOY!

And if I can help you with buying or selling your home in and around Lake Oswego, please give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, or complete the contact form below. With over 30 years as a Realtor, real estate is my specialty…summer cocktails are a bonus!