I mean shoes off, feet up, summer breeze blowing in your hair. Are you with me? This light and fruity sipper is gentle enough for brunch. It’s perfect to share with friends. Pretty enough for the front porch yet begs for the backyard!

Use your favorite fruits of the season with a bottle of nice crispy white wine. Adding a few other flavor enhancers like vodka, simple syrup, and a sprig or two of lemony thyme (or your favorite fresh herb) add complexity.

Fresh strawberries, peaches, cherries, pineapple, and lemon get a little tipsy in a nice soak of chilled vodka, white wine and a splash of simple syrup.

If you can give the fruit at least two hours your Summer Thyme Sangria will will take on the beautiful fruit flavors. You can use any combination of berries and stone fruit that you love.

Step 1

Our summer sangria begins with a simple syrup. You combine equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then whisk to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool before using.

Simple syrups are another wonderful way to infuse layers of flavor. Just add herbs, aromatics, fruit or even spices to the sugar water while boiling. I’ve made vanilla, cranberry, ginger, and brown sugar.

Step 2

Once your fruit has had time to hang out and chill with the white wine and vodka, it’s ready to serve. This white sangria is so smooth and delicious! It’s the perfect pool-side sipper, backyard bbq batch-cocktail, and weekend brunch beverage.

Step 3

Don’t forget to put out a few finger foods. Our Roasted Golden Beet Hummus with Flatbread Crackers were the perfect pre-dinner nibbles.

How do you ease into the weekend? Favorite summer cocktails and mocktails? I’d love for you to comment below. Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Summer Thyme Sangria

Summer Thyme Sangria is so smooth and delicious! It's the perfect pool-side sipper, backyard bbq batch-cocktail, and weekend brunch beverage.

Course Cocktail

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time 2 hours hours

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 lemon thinly sliced
• 1 peach sliced
• 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
• 1 cup fresh cherries pitted and sliced
• 1/4 cup simple syrup more or less to taste
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1 750 ml bottle white wine
• fresh lemony thyme sprigs optional garnish

Instructions

• Prepare simple syrup by combining equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisk to dissolve sugar. Cool before using.
• Combine all recipe ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve chilled with lemony thyme sprigs (optional).

The post Summer Thyme Sangria Will Ease You Right Into the Weekend! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Do you ever get stuck in a pasta rut? Or better yet a ‘what’s for dinner’ rut?  We have become such fans of Spaghetti & Meatballs that we have it almost weekly.  No complaints, but I was ready for a change.  Enter cream and vodka.  Voila Penne with Vodka Sauce {penne alla vodka}.

This past summer weather was ideal for growing tomatoes and as a bonus the season spanned several months.  Each week the Farmers Market was lined with table after table of this gorgeous fruit.  I’ve shared before that I have a huge soft spot for local farmers and buy something from each of them, every week.  Which is precisely how we have ended up with a freezer full of Homemade Marinara Sauce.

This is a good time to talk about Mother Sauces.  I learned years ago that there are five classic Mother Sauces from which most all secondary sauces are derived.  At that pre-Lemony Thyme period I was certain I would never become a foodie geek….but I listened.  I’ve come to understand that there is something to be said for understanding Mother Sauces.  Here’s an article I found helpful and informative on this topic.

While Penne with Vodka Sauce has a wonderful rich flavor, one serving comes in under 400 calories.  Making this 15-minute dish the perfect weeknight meal.

Vodka Sauce, might be one of the simplest variations of Mother Sauce #5 ~ Tomato Sauce, coming together in mere minutes.  Which is precisely why Penne with Vodka Sauce is being added to our easy weeknight meal rotation.

Begin with your favorite marinara sauce, add vodka and simmer 5-7 minutes (cooking off the alcohol).  The vodka gives the sauce a nice crisp flavor, a bit hard to explain but really nice.  Stir in heavy cream and a pinch of red pepper flakes, toss with cooked penne pasta, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.  Such a rich, yet fresh flavored dish.

Recipe Note:  We’ve found that when making Healthy Choices it’s best to only prepare the number of portions = to the number of people you’re serving.  May seem like common sense but we’ve been guilty in the past of cooking the entire box of pasta vs. weighing out two ounce portions.  Serve Penne with Vodka Sauce with a tossed salad and you’ll find one portion is plenty.

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Penne with Vodka Sauce

While Penne with Vodka Sauce has a wonderful rich flavor, one serving comes in under 400 calories. Making this 15-minute dish the perfect weeknight meal.

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 lb. penne pasta
• 4 cups Marinara Sauce see recipe link in post
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• pinch red pepper flakes
• freshly grated parmesan cheese
• fresh basil

Instructions

• Cook penne according to package instructions.
• Heat marinara sauce over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in vodka. Return to a low simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and red pepper flakes and heat through.
• To serve, toss penne in vodka sauce. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

The post Penne with Vodka Sauce {penne alla vodka} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I had the day off today.  Well, I had a few ‘must do’s’ but mostly I had the day to enjoy my way.  Translated I hit every thrift and antique store (including Goodwill and Salvation Army) in search of a…..

In search of a copper cup.  This is the best example I can give you of my passion.  A special friend recommended a special cocktail that she thought our followers might enjoy.  The Moscow Mule Cocktail.  What she didn’t tell me is that it’s classically served in a chilled copper cup.  Okay, I’ve got this, I can find a copper cup.

Well folks I’m thrilled to say that stop #9 gave us….the copper cup.

And from what I’ve read here these copper cups are a bit of treasure.  My sister has dubbed it my ‘Holy Grail.’  I like it!!

Now let’s get to that Moscow Mule Cocktail.

~ Moscow Mule Cocktail ~

1/2 ounce lime juice
2 ounces vodka
4-6 ounces ginger beer
garnish with lime slice & fresh mint
Serve in a chilled copper mug

Do you know of Ginger Beer?  We were first introduced while vacationing in Bermuda.  We fell in love with the Dark & Stormy Cocktail which blends Gosling’s Black Seal Dark Rum with Ginger Beer.  Here’s the wiki on this uniquely flavored carbonated beverage.

The post Moscow Mule Cocktail {TGIF} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

~ Lingonberry Martini ~

1 ounce Lingonberry concentrate (available at Ikea)
3 ounces vodka
1 squeeze lemon juice
lemon twist for garnish
ice in shaker

Combine Lingonberry concentrate, vodka, and lemon juice in a ice filled shaker.  Shake until well chilled.  Pour through strainer into martini glass.  Garnish with lemon twist.  Enjoy!

The post Lingonberry Martinis appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Shelby came through the door tonight…Lilah could barely hide her excitment….and I, I just want to keep her.  Ah the Empty Nesters!  “Mom, do you know how to make a White Russian?”  Why yes I do!

~ White Russian Recipe ~

1 1/2 oz. Vodka, 1 1/2 oz. Kahlua, 1 1/2 oz. Cream

Fill shaker with ice.  Add Vodka, Kahlua, and cream  Shake, pour into an old-fashion glass (I know! I used this cute martini glass…I blame myself).  Enjoy and stay a while!

The post White Russian {TGIF} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

First it was the Green Bloody Mary, then the Bloody Mary Dressing for our Avocado & Shrimp Salad….both which inspired these Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters.

The two star ingredients are…Clamato Juice (which makes it a Caesar vs. Mary) and Sriracha (which makes it spicy spicy).

~ Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters Recipe ~

2 cups well chilled Clamato Juice.  Add 1 Tbl. prepared horseradish, 1 tsp. sriracha sauce, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 squeeze of fresh lime juice, sea salt & fresh cracked pepper, 3 oz. chilled vodka.

Combine all ingredients and chill over ice.  Pour into oversized shot glasses.  Garnish with cocktail shrimp.

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Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters

Course Cocktail

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 cups well chilled Clamato Juice
• 1 Tbl. prepared horseradish
• 1 tsp. sriracha sauce
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 squeeze of fresh lime juice
• sea salt & fresh cracked pepper
• 3 oz. chilled vodka
• cocktail shrimp for garnish

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients and chill over ice. Pour into oversized shot glasses. Garnish with cocktail shrimp.

The post Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Nothing like a good spicy Bloody Mary to wake up the taste buds and catch your attention.  Gosh I love them.  Now that the whole world is caught in a smoothie, vegenator, super blender craze I envision the Bloody Mary reborn.  We’ve already fallen in love with Green Bloody Mary’s and recently enjoyed a version made with Sake as well.  I think I need to dedicate an entire post to Bloody Mary’s or better yet cocktail inspired recipes, but for today we’ll focus on this lovely Bloody Mary Dressing.

Since I originally prepared this post, I discovered that October 4 is National Vodka Day.  Which inspired me…no apologies here.  I came home today and created two favorite “Bloody Mary’s” to share….The Green Bloody Mary and the Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters.

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Bloody Mary Dressing {with Shrimp & Avocado Salad}

Course Dressing

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup tomato juice
• 1/4 cup Eureka Lemon olive oil
• 2 Tbl. pickle juice
• 2 Tbl. lemon juice
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 Tbl. prepared horseradish
• 1 Tbl. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. sriracha sauce
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. celery seed
• sea salt to taste

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
• Drizzle over favorite salad greens and toppings.

The post Bloody Mary Dressing {with Shrimp & Avocado Salad} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.