Ina Garten’s Limoncello Tom Collins

Ingredients – (Makes 4-6 drinks)

• 1 1/2 cups good vodka, such as Grey Goose – I used Skyy Vodka
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (6 lemons)
• 6 tablespoons sugar syrup (see below)
• 1/4 cup Italian Limoncello liqueur
• 1 1/2 cups cold club soda
• Ice cubes
• sliced lemon for serving and fresh mint for garnish
• Simple Sugar syrup (Yield 1 1/2 cups) 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar.  Bring water and sugar to a boil and boil till sugar is dissolved.  Cool to room temperature and transfer to jar.  Store in refrigerator. 

Combine the vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Limoncello in a large pitcher.  Just before serving, pour in the club soda and stir.  Fill glasses with ice and pour the mixture over the ice.  Garnish each drink with a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint and serve cold. Cheers! 

I served these Limoncello drinks one evening last week when a few friends came for dinner (see menu below).   I do love playing hostess, throwing a party, entertaining guests from out of town etc.  It could  either be an impromptu dinner or putting on a spread, planning a tablescape, picking out flowers, candles, deciding on a menu and making it all happen.  Since we’ve recently downsized, we are not able to accommodate the 30-40 people we hosted at prior parties,  so more intimate gatherings and smaller groups seem to be the norm.  I do miss the dancing at some of our parties though…..hubby would get the music organized, and the house cleaned and all set up for the party, I would spend hours in the kitchen, getting it all together and loved every minute of it. Click on this link  Cooking Up a Storm  to read how I developed my love of cooking and entertaining.  I also enjoy teaching folks some of the techniques I’ve developed over the years, so often I will invite friends over and teach them how to cook an Indian curry, perhaps show them how to make a paella or the fine art of rolling sushi.  I enjoy this immensely as everyone is involved in the preparation, fueled by glasses of wine, chatter and laughter. A group of us started a Cooking Club a while back, the hostess would create a menu, most times it was from a different country, and we’d all contribute ingredients and learn from each other.  The virtual linky parties that I’ve joined as a result of blogging, are also a lot of fun, you get to meet folks with cooking interests from around the world and you get to try recipes you would never have before.   

For last week’s dinner party with our friends, I served Roasted Chicken thighs with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Herbed Oven Roasted Baby Red Potatoes, with a sprinkling of grated parmesan,  Caponata (Eggplant with Tomatoes and Olives) and my infamous Apple and Cheese Tart.

Here’s what my table looked like – I especially love taking pictures at dusk, it gives the entire room such a glow doesn’t it?  I’m heading over to Angie’s  for our Fiesta Friday virtual party, I can’t wait to see all the entries and thank our British duo from across the pond.  Hop on over to their blogs and see what an amazing job they both do.  Thanks Selma and Elaine – your co-hosting is very much appreciated.