Memorial Day is this weekend! Will you be barbecuing? Our family, along with probably everyone else in my neighborhood, will be outside, grilling food and sipping cold drinks. When the weather warms up, I like to try to find a new “go-to” drink. Since this summer I will be vacationing where temperatures reach well over 100 degrees (which means I will be forced to wear a swimsuit), I need something that is delicious and refreshing but without a ton of calories or sugars.
This is a sponsored post by Smirnoff Sorbet Light. All reviews/opinions expressed in this post are unbiased and based on my personal view. And yes I did want my title to sound like Buzz Lightyear was saying it. Smirnoff sent me their new line of infused vodkas, Smirnoff Sorbet Light, to try and they are exactly what I was looking for. They have only 78 calories per 1.5 ounce serving which makes them light so I don’t feel super guilty about having a cocktail. The best part is they taste natural and do not have any sort of diet-y aftertaste.
I love to barbecue when the weather gets warmer but the menu can get pretty boring if you aren’t careful. It is usually just steak and corn, or at least at my house it is. I invited a few friends over for a little lunch barbecue to try out something a little different. My amazing friend, Amy (who used to write the most delicious food blog) put together this awesome grilled lunch to show us how we can change-up our menu. This grilled shrimp and hearts of romaine salad was insanely good and super easy since it was paired with a store-bought cilantro dressing. And remember shrimp grill up super fast so you won’t be stuck over the hot grill for long. Nothing is better than sweet grilled onions, am I right? The grilled tomato skewers are a fun take on a caprese appetizer and are sweet and juicy. And while I have never met a loaf of bread that I didn’t like, this grilled crostini is what dreams are made of. I will be recreating this menu on Memorial Day for sure.
The Smirnoff Sorbet Light Vodkas come in three, perfect for summer flavors, Lemon, Raspberry Pomegranate and Mango Passion Fruit. Perfect for making light cocktails.
I’m an iced tea lover so this black tea based cocktail had to be tried:
Smirnoff Sorbet Light Lemon Tea
1.5 oz Lemon Smirnoff Sorbet Light
3 oz Unsweetened Black Tea
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.25 oz Agave Nectar
Mix well and serve over ice.
YUM! And totally refreshing.
Hosting a barbecue is a good time to invite friends to try something new. Most of us get stuck in a rut and it doesn’t take much to push us out of it again. Set out some simple recipes and ingredients and have everyone pour their own cocktails. Chances are, they will give something new a shot. Or maybe they’ll just have a shot. And that is when the party gets really fun. (Please drink responsibly).
I’m pretty sure I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth. If you haven’t tried grilled pound cake yet you better get on it! Amazing! Like Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch amazing. And just that quick grill on the bread adds a whole new depth of flavor to a simple berries and cream dessert. I’d like to also note that this creme fraiche had honey in it which made me want to sing love songs to it. So simple, but SO delightful.
Passion fruit is one of my favorite flavors ever so I really enjoyed the Mango Passion Fizz but the big winner was the Raspberry Lemon Punch. Total crowd pleaser.
Smirnoff Sorbet Light Mango Passion Fizz
1.5 oz Mango Passion Fruit Smirnoff Sorbet Light
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Agave Nectar
2 oz Club Soda
Shake up first 3 ingredients and top with Club Soda.
Smirnoff Sorbet Light Raspberry Lemon Punch
1.5 oz Raspberry Pomegranate Smirnoff Sorbet Light
4 oz Lemonade
4 raspberries muddled
Muddle 4 raspberries in a glass and add cold lemonade and Smirnoff Sorbet Light.
Huge thank you to Lauren and Amy for helping me out with my little lunch barbecue (Lauren did all my floral styling and Amy did all the food) I know testing cocktails and eating delicious food can be such hard work. Wink. And thank you Smirnoff for introducing me to your delicious new product. While this was a sponsored post by Smirnoff Sorbet Light all opinions are my own.
What are your favorite summer drink flavors?
This post makes me want to start a new Pinterest board: “Stuff to drink AFTER the baby gets here.” LOL Looks delish!
I would totally follow that pinterest board. :)
Once again – amazing job! These drinks look delish & I think I’ll be putting these on my list to pick up the next time I am out. Quite a few of them sound like ones I would LOVE!!! Can’t wait to try them!!! Is it 5 o’clock yet? ;)
You totally have to try them!! I made the raspberry lemonade drink for my mom in law the other day and she LOVED it!
OMG…everything looks amazing! Every meal should look so beautiful! I have to PIN!
You are right!! Every meal should be amazing. :) We would all just need a few more hours in the day to prep for it.
Yummmmmmmmm!!! I’ve been wanting to try these out. glad to hear they don’t have a weird diet-y after taste. Def going to try that Mango Passion Fizz drink this weekend.
Your pictures are amazing! I love the color combinations. Since we had the baby, we don’t get out much but we have been inviting friends over here. I think I have an idea for our next bbq because of this post! Thank you!
wow!!! YES, YES and… YES!!! Everything looks so good – and I love when there’s an easy recipe there to recreate the drinks. Thank you!
This is gorgeous and the drinks sound delicious! I’m definitely pinning some of these ideas!
That all looks great!
Thanks Justine! It all tasted great too!
Looks so fun & colorful! Can’t wait to try out the drink recipes!
I wish every barbecue was this colorful!! :)
Yummy! Everything looks so good…the food, the drinks, the decor. All of it, get in my tummy.
p.s. I love lemonade flavors.
Nothing says summer like lemonade!!!