VIDEO: Red White And Blue Layered Drink Recipe

June 8, 2014June 17, 20141 Comment

Watch our how-to video for a quick demo on how to get the layered effect in this red, white and blue layered drink. Instructions and quantities are listed below. Cheers!

Red white and blue layered drink (Poor Girl’s Guide Chicago)

SMALL BATCH / INDIVIDUAL DRINK RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Red=

Hawaiian Punch OR
Cranberry Juice
*Mix alcohol here (optional, I use Vodka)

Blue =

Light blue Gatorade, watered down with any of these options….
Diet Sprite, Diet 7-Up, Soda Water, Plain Water

White = Ice

Quantities:

Red drink & Vodka mix = 1/3
Blue drink (75%) & water or clear diet drink to dilute it (25%)= 1/3
Ice = 1/3

For this drink, I use thirds to make it easy. The amounts will vary depending on how many you’re making and the size of the glasses.

Red white and blue layered drink (Poor Girl’s Guide Chicago)

Instructions:

The key to this drink is the sugar levels. The more sugary drink will stay on the bottom and drink with less sugar will float to the top. Mix your alcohol in the red layer so the extra sugar will help keep it at the bottom. With the ice included, you’ll get the red, white and blue layered effect!

In 1 cocktail shaker mix your desired red drink with alcohol if you’re using it. For 4 drinks, I use 6 shots of vodka and fill the rest of the cocktail shaker with cranberry juice or Hawaiian Punch
Pour red mixture in to empty glasses
Add ice so your cups are now 1/3 red, 1/3 ice. Use plenty of ice to act as a separator between the red and blue. Eventually the ice will float to the top.
In the 2nd cocktail shaker, mix 75% blue drink with 25% clear liquid, choices noted above
Pour blue drink SLOWLY directly over the ice to avoid mixing

*Garnish with American flag toothpicks, red or blue berries & enjoy!

LARGE BATCH / DRINK DISPENSER RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Same as above

Quantities:

Red = 2 Liter or large bottle of cranberry or punch
Blue = 4 large light blue Gatorades, watered down 1/4 a liter of any of these options: Diet Sprite, Diet 7-Up, Soda Water, Plain Water
White = ice

Instructions:

Same as above for small batch recipe
Replace cocktail shakers with pitchers and pre-mix separately before pouring in to the dispenser
Follow the same order – 1) red, 2) Ice 3) blue mix

4th of July Punch - Cranberry punch with blueberries

Red, White And Blue Punch Recipe

May 14, 2014May 13, 2014Leave a comment

Red, White & Blue Punch

Add a a little something extra to your BBQ this Memorial Day or 4th of July! Try this easy Red, White & Blue punch recipe- perfect for a summer get together.

With cranberry juice and blueberries, this punch is as festive as it is delicious!

Ingredients:

4 cups cranberry juice
1 1/2 liters of vodka
4 cups pineapple juice
2 liters ginger ale
blueberries to garnish

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 15 mins

Combine all ingredients except the ginger ale.
Chill until serving time.
Pour into punch bowl and add ginger ale

Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe

May 2, 2014May 2, 2014Leave a comment

Mint Julep/photo-foodnetwork.com

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with this recipe for the staple Derby drink– The Mint Julep!

Recipe: www.foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

4 cups bourbon
2 bunches fresh spearmint
1 cup distilled water
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar

Directions

To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it’s right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to “marry” the flavors.

To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

Peep Cake Pop Recipe

April 8, 2014Leave a comment

Peep Cake Pop – Poor Girl’s Guide Chicago

As part of our DIY Holiday + Party Kit series, we’re giving you some of our favorite (and cheap) ideas for Easter. Try these adorable “Hatching Chick” Peep Cake Pops this Easter.

Ingredients *Makes 24 cake pops

1 Box Cake Mix (Your choice)
1 Can Frosting (Your choice )
2 boxes of white chocolate chips
24 Cake pop sticks
24 Peeps
Styrofoam block
Clear treat bags (if desired)

Instructions

Bake cake as instructed
Let cake cool
Crumble cake as small as possible in large bowl
Mix in frosting by hand slowly
Shape cake in to small ball/egg shapes, use an mini ice cream scoop if you have one
Roll the balls on to a plate covered in wax paper
Melt half the chocolate as instructed (double boil or microwave)
Dip half the ball in chocolate and place back on the plate with wax paper
Put them in the freezer for about 20 minutes
While pops are in the freezer, cut the faces off the peeps and set aside
Melt the remaining chocolate and place small amounts at a time in cup
Remove cake balls from freezer, place a stick in each
Dip cake balls carefully in to the cup of chocolate so they are fully covered
Let the excess chocolate drip off
Take the peep and place it on the front of the cake pop, push it lightly so it sticks
Place cake pops in the styrofoam block and put them in the freezer
Serve them as is or individually wrapped in clear baggies or treat bags

Continue reading →

Recipe: Green RumChata Shots

March 8, 2014March 11, 20149 Comments

Green St. Patrick’s Day RumChata (poorgirlsguidechicago.com)

Well folks, I don’t think this recipe can get an easier! As part of our DIY Holiday + Party Kit series, we’re giving you some of our favorite (easy and cheap) ideas for St. Patrick’s Day. This is a super quick way to add a little St. Paddy to your party.

Ingredients:

1/2 bottle of green food coloring
1 750 ml bottle of RumChata

Directions:

Pour half a bottle of green good coloring in to the RumChata bottle
Close the lid tight and give it a shake (use more or less for the color green you desire)
Chill, serve and enjoy!

————————————————-

This article is part of The D.I.Y. Holiday + Party Kit Series:

RECIPES: