Summer Thirst Quenchers

Ashley shares her favorite ideas for relaxed entertaining that's sure to impress any guest.

By Ashley Hymore

As a lot of you know from reading my brother's blog, we come from a family of great hosts.  Our mother and her sisters are all great bakers and cooks who love planning and throwing parties, and my brother and I enjoy carrying on the torch.  But what do you do when a guest drops by unexpectedly and you have no time to prepare?  No need to be caught off guard, and no need to resort to canned juices and sugar-filled soft drinks.  Here are a few tricks I always use for fresh, easy, and impressive entertaining.

Fresh Lemons & Limes
These are an absolute must to keep on hand come summer.  Fresh lemonades and limeades are the perfect afternoon treat when trying to beat the heat.  Before juicing, I always make sure to wash them well, getting as much wax off as possible.  To maximize the juice from the fruit, use your palm to roll the lemon or lime around on the countertop a few times before squeezing.  Also, make sure they are room-temperature, as refrigerated fruit does not yield as much juice.  So forget about those concentrated canned juices, and show off a homemade version of this american summer classic.

Simple Syrup
So easy to make (hence the name!) and is a commonly used ingredient in many cocktails.  Also use this bartenders staple when making fresh lemonade and and ice tea.  To add a little more excitement to these beverages, infuse your simple syrup with your favorite herb, like thyme, mint, ginger, or lavender.  Remember, dissolve equal parts sugar and simmering water and allow to cool.  When infusing, add the herbs and let the mixture simmer while covered for just a few minutes.  This lets the essence of the herb really soak into the syrup.  Then, just strain the syrup until it is clean.  Once you start making these aromatic drink enhancers, you will see the possibilities are endless.

Sparkling Water
I always make sure I have cold sparkling water at the ready, especially my favorite, San Pelligrino.  On it's own with the addition of fresh lemon, lime, or orange slices, it's incredibly refreshing.  Add it to fresh made lemonade or limeade and and you have a beautiful sparkling, non-alcoholic beverage.  Worried about being eco-friendly and refuse to buy bottled water?  Then save up for a home fizzy water maker, like these from Sodastream

Lipton Cold Brew
This summer staple is the perfect thirst quencher, (not to mention full of protective antioxidants!), but sometimes you don't have time to brew up a batch the old fashioned way.  So what's the answer?  Easy!  Lipton's Cold Brew.  It brews in cold water in just minutes!  No thinking ahead necessary.  Another thing I love about ice tea?  It's easy to put your own spin on it.  Just add one of those herb infused simple syrups mentioned above, or some fresh made lemonade to the tea, throw on a garnish, and this classic is new again!

Glass Pitcher
Good presentation is important for a good host, but it doesn't have to be extravagant!   A simple glass pitcher, like this one from Target, is perfect for relaxed entertaining.  So throw out those old plastic pitchers, and elevate your creation from everyday to impressive.