Monday, June 25, 2012

An Adult Arnold - Because it's Cocktail Week!

This week, my favorite partners in crime and I have once again circled the wagons to bring you Cocktail Week.  Considering that The Husband was out of town for nearly two weeks and will be doing so again soon, this week couldn't come soon enough for me.
With the temperatures now solidly nestled in to the triple digits during the days here, I thought it was only appropriate to start off with a cocktail that is both refreshing and malleable - my effervescent version of the ubiquitous Arnold Palmer.
Both The Husband and I love iced tea, so much so that we have two large iced tea dispensers; that way, when we run low on one batch, we can begin another.  At no time is this more necessary than the summer months.  But even tea can get tiresome if you don't change it up every so often.  So sometimes we have Arnold Palmers, the combination of equal parts lemonade and iced tea.  And that's great, especially when you want something a touch sweet.  If I want something really sweet, I'll make sweet tea (which, sidebar, is not just tea into which sugar has been sprinkled - sweet tea and sweetened tea are two different concoctions, and they must not be confused).
But sometimes you need something bubbly.  And fruity.  And kind of spicy.
A few weeks ago I made a cinnamon-raspberry-infused iced tea that was just lovely.  This time, we're going for another fruit that basically screams summertime: peaches.

I totally get why they were in Prufrock's love song.
Peach Pie Prosecco "Palmer"

For the Peach Pie Iced Tea:
  • 2 quarts water
  • 2 large iced tea bags
  • 2 bags peach tea
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 peaches, chopped roughly
Bring water to a boil.  Pour over tea, peaches, and cinnamon sticks; let steep ten minutes.  Remove tea bags.  Bring tea to room temperature.  Leave cinnamon sticks and peaches in overnight as you chill the tea (the longer they stay in, the stronger the taste - we have determined that we love the cinnamon so much that we just let the sticks live in the tea, but you might not be such a fan).

For the Palmer:
  • Prosecco
  • Peach Pie Iced Tea
  • Simple Syrup (plain or flavored, totally optional - I don't use this)
Fill a champagne flute large glass with ice cubes.  Add equal amounts Prosecco and iced tea.  Sweeten if desired.  Take a long drink.  Say, "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."  Repeat as needed.

And maybe you should have some
fresh peaches and cream ice cream.
After all, it's hot out.
Now, make sure that you check out all the amazing posts and recipes offered this week!
Megan at Wanna Be a Country Cleaver made a Raging Aztec Slushie.  I don't even know what that is and I want one. Oh, and to sweeten the pot, she is giving away a KitchenAid blender.  Just head over to her post and enter to win today!!!!
Also on tap today is Carrie at Bakeaholic Mama; she's serving up a raspberry Tom Collins.

Tomorrow, Kat at Tenaciously Yours, is whipping up an amaretto cocktail that makes me feel much more sophisticated than I actually am, and Kirsten over at Comfortably Domestic is making Traverse City cherry mojitos - I'm already making my grocery list!

And keep checking back - we've got lots of delicious drinkables to enjoy this first full week of summer!

What's your favorite way to stay cool in the summer?  Ice cream?  Iced tea?  A frost adult beverage?

10 comments:

  1. One of my favorite summer drinks is an Arnie Palmer - and when we can dress him in drag with some peach tea and bubbly - he looks/tastes even better!! Thanks Allison! Happy Cocktail Week!

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    1. LOLs!!!!!! I'm sure Arnie won't mind at all!

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  2. Allison - You know you had me at the Prosecco! Can't wait to drink a big ol' glass of the Mr. Adult Arnold!

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    1. Lauren, I knew you'd be a fan. You and I are soul sisters when it comes to love of the bubbly!

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  3. Though I am someone who doesn't really "do" the hard stuff... I do love my sparkling wines. This looks awesome Allison! Happy cocktail week!!

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    1. You and I are so alike - I love the bubbly, and the hard stuff can be tough for me. I imagine us all sitting under an umbrella somewhere, clucking away, drinking these. :)

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  4. Happy Cocktail week! I will say that once peaches come into season they are in my breakfast EVERY SINGLE MORNING and it is omg amazing. Truly. Overnight Oats with peaches and popsicles are how I survive these trying months.

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    1. I am always sad that AZ peach season is like two days long. For this post I used the last of the peaches we picked last spring and preserved. It was hard, but worth it. Totally worth it. I'll bet peaches in overnight oats are great - I had my first ones this morning with berries, and I LOVED THEM!

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  5. I have to say that I'm not an iced tea fan, but I can't get enough Arnold Palmer's in the summertime. My boys are hooked on them, too. Adding peaches & bubbly is just brilliant! That will happen, and soon.

    I'm with Kat on the peaches. I inhale them every morning while I can get them. It's shameless, really. But they're too dang perfect on oatmeal or vanilla yogurt.

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    1. There is something about an Arnold Palmer that is more refreshing than anything else ever. This just separates Mom - and her pink champagne flute - from the boys.

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