Summer is the perfect time to enjoy some sips and small bites with family and friends. Here are some Wildcatter suggestions for your next Summer Soirée.
Set the Mood
Place a couple of strings of lights or decorative lanterns, fresh flowers picked from your garden or a summer bouquet from the store and placed in a mason jar. Comfy cushions in the chairs, cocktails, small bites, and a great playlist will show your guest that: “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.”
Sips
Always greet your guest with a speciality drink. Try mint juleps with a twist.The traditional julep calls for bourbon, crushed/muddled mint leaves, simple syrup poured over crushed ice and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Substitute the simple syrup with apricot nectar or brandy and muddle with fresh apricots. Same goes for Watermelon mint juleps, or any other fresh fruit mint julep.
Ingredients
- 3 slices fresh apricot/a few cubes of fresh watermelon/3-4 blackberries/any fresh fruit
- 12-14 fresh spearmint leaves
- ½-1 ounce of apricot/watermelon/Crème de cassis liqueur/brandy
- Crushed ice
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
Directions
Place 3 slices of fresh apricot, watermelon, blackberries and 12 to 14 mint leaves in each cup, add simple syrup, and gentle muddle with a muddler.
Next fill the cup with crushed ice, add bourbon and apricot or other liqueur, then stir to mix. Top the cup with crushed ice, then continue to stir until a frost forms on the outside of the cup. Garnish with mint (3 or 4 sprigs bundled together). Add a straw before serving to keep your guest a safe distance from the garnish.
*Wildcatter Mixologist Tip-Tropical cocktails are always popular summer drinks. Think of clever twists to classic standards like pineapple margaritas or strawberry mojitos! Go to your local party shop or order online the tiny drink umbrellas for an extra pop of fun.
Small Bites
Now that your guests have fun cocktails, start passing around the small plates. Think outside of the box like the cocktails. Twist up old favorites and serve fresh local ingredients.
Hawaiian Nachos– Instead of one large platter, make two medium plates with blue & yellow tortilla chips with all of the fresh traditional toppings, but add fresh chopped pineapple, and fresh cilantro. Make the second platter meat-free for all of the vegetarian, health-seeking, vegans, or plant-based guests.
* Wildcatter Chef Hint- Leave off the cheese! It makes it stringy, hides the fresh toppings, and makes it a difficult to eat. Place fresh sliced avocados or guacamole, walnuts, macadamia nuts, sliced jalapeños, shredded coconut on the side for guests to add.
Mango Salsa can usually be found freshly made at you local grocery store or make it fresh.
Texas Caviar and Chips are another great simple small bite choice. It can also be serve as another meatless choice.
Cold Pasta Salads with tropical adds are delicious and easy too.
Grilled Shrimp with Jamaican Jerk marinades are crowd pleasers.
Desserts
Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote Squares- Cut a pre-made cheesecake into small bite sizes squares with blueberry compote.
Blueberry Compote
8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Directions
Add blueberries, water, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over a medium heat for about 8-10 minutes. Add the rest of the blueberries and cook for 8 minutes more, stirring frequently. Add a dollop to the small cheesecake squares.
Fresh Fruit with Yogurt-Use strawberry, pineapple, or mango yogurt.
Champagne with Popsicles® in the glass are always a fun crowd pleaser.
Dress
Make it casual, but not sloppy. Hawaiian or Cuban style shirts for the men guests or male host. For the women guests or female host, pair a pearl necklace with you shorts and a shoulder-bearing shirt or a maxi dress paired with some clunky turquoise jewelry.
Playlist Suggestions
- Soak Up the Sun-Sheryl Crow
- Summer-War
- Ocean Man-Ween
- All Summer Long-Kid Rock
- Summer Breeze-Version by Isley Brothers or original-Seals & Crofts
- Hot Fun in the Summertime-Sly & the Family Stone
- Toes-Zac Brown
- Summer in the City-The Lovin’ Spoonful
- Groovy Little Summer Song-James Otto
- Summer Girls-Lyte Funkie Ones
- Margaritaville-Jimmy Buffet
- Sweet Home Alabama-Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Beer in Mexico-Kenny Chesney
- Any song by the Beach Boys
- Caribbean Queen-Billy Ocean
- Lookin’ Out My Backdoor-Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Island Girl-Elton John
- Here Comes the Sun-George Harrison
- Brighter than Sun-Colbie Caillat
- Summer Nights-Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta