Drinking and driving is the biggest “”no-no”” around, but just because you happen to have been voted as the designated driver it really doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the party. There are some really tasty, refreshing and . . . dare I say it . . . rather special drinks you can enjoy which don’t have any alcohol in them at all.
Summer barbecues can be fun for everybody, with or without the beer. These recipes all come with a warning however, it’s not a health warning but rather a warning that the people who are supposed to be drinking the beer and wine will probably try to snaffle a taste of these delicious drinks when you’re not looking. You’ll have to be on your guard and make sure that you have plenty in reserve.
Ginger Cranberry Punch – yes, it sounds pretty special and it tastes special too. Take some thin slices of fresh ginger and boil in a little water, then take it away from the heat and leave it steeping to really absorb all the flavors. Then strain the liquid and add a few cups of cranberry juice, raspberry juice will do too if you don’t have the cranberry. Next you’ll need a dash of lemon juice and a few slices of oranges and lemons, then serve it chilled poured over lots and lots of ice. Warning – even the people who aren’t driving and can drink the beer and wine will probably try to drink this, so be sure to keep a close eye on it.
Orange and Lemon Fizz – who doesn’t like something fizzy on a hot summer’s day? Just combine a couple of cups of delicious orange seltzer with a tablespoon of lemon juice and a couple of tablespoons of frozen lemonade. This not only tastes delicious but also looks extremely elegant, particularly if you rub around a cocktail glass rim with some lemon, dip it into some crystallized sugar and fill with ice cubes before filling with this fizzy drink. It’s refreshing, it’s zingy and it’s alcohol free. Again, you’d better hide it from your beer drinking buddies.
Fruity Iced Punch – there are lots of different punch recipes, some include alcohol but some really don’t need it at all. All you’ve got to do is to freeze lots of different fruit juices in the ice trays of your freezer, then pop a collection of ice cubes into a glass and top with saltzer water and ginger ale. This drink is deliciously refreshing and can be different every time, depending upon the flavors of fruit juice you choose.
Limeade – if life serves you lemons make lemonade, and if life serves you limes why not make lemonade? Heat a cup of sugar in a little water, stirring until all of the sugar has dissolved then you should add the juice of around 15 limes. It’s a nice touch to save a few wedges for serving. Anyway, pop this drink into the fridge until you are ready to drink it . . . you can make it a few days in advance if you store it in some sort of airtight container.
So, let’s get this party started and head on to Downtown Nissan. There are lots of new and used cars in Los Angeles and you’ll be perfectly capable of taking the test drive if you’ve been sticking to these alcohol free drinks at your party.
You really don’t have to drink alcohol to have a good time, and you really don’t need to buy a new car to have something fabulous to drive.
