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.
Yes, please! Sounds refreshingly delicious, Loretta!
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Coming right up Nancy – it is wonderful on a hot, humid day!
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Oh Loretta – that would go down a treat today – it’s really warm and humid here. I love the sound of your entertaining – I can just imagine the throngs of people feasting and dancing at your parties. What happened to the cooking club? It sounds like such fun – perhaps you could revive it now that it’s nearly time to put the garden to bed?? Thanks for sharing this with us – Happy Fiesta Friday x
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Thanks Selma, and thank you again for co-hosting, no small feat I’m sure. Unfortunately the cooking club died a slow death – folks are so busy nowadays and the commitment just wasn’t there, still it lasted a whole year and it was a lot of fun while it lasted. Enjoy your Indian summer, and hope to stay in touch.
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For a moment I was sitting in your dining room with a napkin on my lap anticipating a lovely meal. Thanks
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Thanks Tracey, drinks and a meal coming right up 🙂
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It all looks wonderful! Lucky dinner guests 🙂
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Thanks Arl, loved getting it all together.
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The perfect way to celebrate FF! I like Limonchello but think I would like this better.!
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Thanks Julie, love Limoncello too – on it’s own, it’s a perfect way to end a meal.
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I was given a recipe for it by an elderly woman in Italy last summer after she shared hers with us. It’s divine!
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Just perfect, Loretta! And what a gorgeous table setting! Cheers!
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Thanks Lisa, so glad you stopped by. Cheers!
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I love your dining area with all the windows–it’s beautiful! And so is your table setting!
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Thanks Nancy, love the dining room myself, it is what attracted me to the house in the first place, there’s just so many windows. Thanks for stopping by.
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The Apple and cheese tart looks delicious!!
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Thanks CAt, it’s my go-to recipe whenever I can’t come up with anything too creative 🙂
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This is a drink I would definitely enjoy – I am a big fan of Ina’s (I have all 8 of her cookbooks) and her recipes never disappoint me 🙂
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Yes, I do enjoy her recipes too – it always seems so fresh and creative. Enjoy your wekeend.
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Limoncello! Yum! 🙂
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One glass coming up 🙂
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Yes please! This is my kind of cocktail! So refreshing! 😀
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It was pretty refreshing, it’s a great summery drink I’d say.
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The drink sounds yummy – love lemon flavour. But the food looks awesome too!
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Thanks Mandi. So glad you stopped by 🙂
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You are such a fabulous hostess, everything looks delicious and what a great refreshing drink to serve, wish I was there:)
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Thanks Lily, the drink was pretty good, so refreshing for the end of summer!
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Everything looks so delicious – your guests must have appreciated it no end. I love the table cloth and the decor in general and windows in particular.
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Thanks for stopping by Hilda. The table cloth is a hand me down from my Mother, I love that it is sort of transparent and not too heavy – love the windows myself, thanks and have a great weekend.
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How beautiful Loretta, love your dining room and the spread you made looks fabulous! The tom collins seems to have been just the right beginning to a wonderful evening 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words Naina, love the dining room too and the natural light and windows, it makes for great hosting.
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Yum this looks amazing! Your dining room is beautiful too!
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Thanks Michelle for stopping by, love your blog title by the way 🙂
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Everything looks so yummy! Lovely photos! 🙂
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Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
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