Sangria

  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we all know what that means:  family time.  Whether they are your family by blood or your family by marriage, time together is something to be treasured.  While cooking up the feast, you all might enjoy this tasty treat.  Easy to make, plenty to share, this sangria can be whipped up in no time from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and bar.

Sangria
recipe and pictures from Prudent Baby

INGREDIENTS:
wine (red or white)
fruit (strawberries, grapes, melon, oranges, apples, pears, etc.)
sugar
carbonated mixer (ginger ale, Sprite, Fanta, Fresca)
pitcher
glasses

DIRECTIONS:
Pour the wine into the pitcher until it is about 3/4 of the way full.  Add cut up fruit, just a little sugar (if you like things sweet) and stir.  The longer the sangria sits the sweeter it gets so don't sweeten it too much in the beginning (unless of course you're planning on drinking it all right away).  This mixture is really strong.  Think of it like a concentrate, so when you pour it into the glass to serve you will want to mix it with a carbonated beverage (about 50/50).

NOTE:  Because the wine is all mixed up, it does have to be expensive wince.  Actually, this is the one time you can buy bargain wine and no one will be the wiser

Windy City Lemonade

  There's not much to say about this drink, except it is super delicious.  When a recipe calls for parts, it doesn't matter how much you put in except they should be equal.   Which means that you could measure using a shot glass or just half of that shot glass.  That is if you're making it at home.  If you don't want to go to through the trouble of making this drink at home, Windy City Grille on the Hernando Square would love to make it for you.

Windy City Lemonade
provided by Windy City Grille

INGREDIENTS:
Belvedre Vodka or Jack Daniels
Sour Mix
Triple Sec
Sprite

DIRECTIONS:
Mix 1 1/2 parts Belvedre Vodka or Jack Daniels with 1/2 part Triple Sec.  Fill cup with Sour Mix and top off with a splash of Sprite.

Brandy Old Fashioned

  This Thirsty Thursday recipe comes to us from a reader.  This timeless classic hasn't been made popular like the Martini ("shaken, not stirred"), but it has stuck around for quite some time.  While it might not be the trendiest drink around, the Brandy Old Fashioned could easily because your drink of choice.  

Brandy Old Fashioned
provided by John Rawlsky

INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp. granulated sugar
2 dashes bitters
1 1/2 ounces brandy
7-Up
Orange slice
Maraschino cherry

DIRECTIONS:
Spoon sugar into one 6 ounce cocktail glass.   Add bitters.  Dissolve quickly with a splash of 7-Up, then add brandy, followed by ice cubes.  Top off with 7-Up and garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry on a tooth pick.  (Good bartenders skewer the orange slice from bottom to top with the cherry in the middle, which they call a "flag.")  Enjoy.

Wadford's S'more Martini

Enjoy this festive drink while at a bonfire, outside on your porch, or just when you need a chocolatey pick-me-up. Wadford's S'mores Martini will leaving you asking for "some more."  If you don't want to make this drink yourself, pop on down to Wadford's Grill and Bar and their helpful staff will be happy to make you one.

(Photo Credit)

Wadford's S'mores Martini
provided by Wadford's Grill and Bar

INGREDIENTS:
1 oz whipped vodka
1 oz coca wine
1 oz half & half
Crushed graham crackers
Melted chocolate (optional)
Marshmellow (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
Rim a martini glass with graham cracker crumbs (use melted chocolate to help crushed graham crackers to stick).  Shake ingredients with ice.  Pour into rimmed martini glass.  Sprinkle graham crackers on top.  Garnish with marshmallow (optional).

Manhattan

  Looking for a perfect traditional drink to make this weekend?  Try this recipe to make a Manhattan.  This recipe is brought to you by D'Vine Wine and Spirits.

(Photo Credit)

Manhattan

provided by D'Vine Wine and Spirits

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Bulleit rye whiskey

1 oz Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 Maraschino Cherries for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Combine over ice.  Stir.  Garnish.  Now you have a perfect Manhattan.

Muscadine Gin Fizz

  Try this Thirsty Thursday recipe from Hog and Hominy.  If you don't want to make the actual drink at home, swing by Hog and Hominy.  We're sure they would love to make it for you.

Muscadine Gin Fizz

provided by Hog and Hominy

YIELDS: 1 cocktail

Muscadine Syrup

INGREDIENTS:

2 cup sugar

4 cup water

30 Muscadines

DIRECTIONS:

De-seed muscadines. Combine ingredients in a sauce pan and cook slowly over medium heat for 20 minutes. Blend ingredients. Store refrigerated.

Muscadine Gin Fizz

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 oz Hendricks Gin

3/4 oz Muscadine syrup

1/2 oz Egg white

1/2 oz Lemon juice

3 thin slices of Muscadine for garnish

Collins glass

DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.  Pour ice and drink into glass and garnish.