Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Minute Maid Press Release:

With summer months filled with so many reasons to celebrate, entertainers are always looking for new ways to make a gathering a memorable one. This season, put a twist on your sunny celebrations and invite your guests to escape the heat with some homemade breezy summer drinks.  Whether throwing a backyard barbecue, an elegant garden party or a celebratory shower, Minute Maid has partnered with the experts at Canadian Living’s test kitchen to make summer entertaining a breeze with their signature summer recipes and get-the-party started tips.

Recipes:

“Lime in the Coconut” cocktail for the backyard barbecue bash

Take the work out of hosting by laying out all the plates, cutlery and condiments in advance. By encouraging a self-serve atmosphere, you can spend time with your guests instead of serving all night. Complete the meal offer a cool and colourful blender drink perfect for a summer’s eve.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Coconut milk
1 can 250mL BACARDI® Mixers Margarita  frozen concentrate (unthawed)
1 cup BACARDI® Superior white rum (optional)
4 cups Ice cubes

Directions: In blender combine coconut milk, margarita frozen concentrate and rum (optional); add ice cubes. Pulse until blended and frothy, about 1 minute.

SUMMER FUN TIP: Pour Minute Maid® Limeade frozen concentrate (thawed) into ice cube trays and freeze till frozen to make Limeade ice cubes.

Turn an afternoon tea into an outdoor garden party with Sparkling Grape Lemonade

Invite the girls over for an afternoon in the garden complete with light snacks and refreshments. For quick and creative center pieces, place flowers in something other than a traditional vase. Try floating a few fresh floral picks in a small decorative bowl filled with water. For longer stems, place in a colourful pitcher. Make your beverage part of the décor scheme with a batch of pretty purple punch.

Ingredients:

1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Grape Punch frozen concentrate, thawed (undiluted)
1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Lemonade frozen concentrate, thawed (undiluted)
3 cups Sprite® Sparkling Beverage
2 cups Water
Ice cubes or ice ring

Directions: In punch bowl or large pitcher, stir together grape punch and lemonade frozen concentrates, Sprite® and water; mix well. Fill with ice cubes or add ice ring to keep cold.

SUMMER FUN TIP: Jazz up your lemonade and use frozen grapes as ice cubes.

Celebrate the season of showers with Pretty in Pink Punch

Celebrate the mom or bride-to-be by creating a themed shower.  Play on the guest of honour’s love for cooking by having all the guests bring their favourite recipe along with a kitchen utensil or cook book. If the mom is expecting a little lady, perhaps create a Pretty in Pink shower complete with handmade rosy invitations, bright table cloths and this cheery pink punch.

Ingredients:

1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Pink Lemonade frozen concentrate (unthawed)
1 can 250mL BACARDI® Mixers Strawberry Daiquiri frozen concentrate (unthawed)
1 cup BACARDI® Superior white rum (optional)
1 cup Water
4 cups Ice cubes

Directions: In blender, combine pink lemonade and daiquiri frozen concentrates, rum (optional) and water; add ice cubes. Pulse until blended and frothy, about one minute.

SUMMER FUN TIP: Float raspberries or sliced strawberries on the surface for an extra-special touch.

Frozen Facts:

Personalized punches: Don’t like your juices too sweet? Simply add more water to your

Minute Maid frozen juice or punch

Freeze for future:  Frozen juices and punches can be easily stored for a long period of time so you never have to worry about being empty-handed when unexpected guests come knocking at your door

Mix and match: Try inventing your own summer recipes by mixing and matching different frozen juices and punches. With over 16 varieties to choose from, there is a juice or punch for every occasion

For more great summer entertaining recipes visit www.minutemaid.ca