Pitcher Drinks for summer parties

Pull out a pitcher! It’s summertime!
Many people know Limelight for our extravagant Galas and weddings. But we design just as many at-home parties and celebrations! This week’s fresh produce explores the world of casual entertaining.
Pitcher drinks provide the best option for serving fun drinks and having the time to enjoy your company.

Clementine Cooler ( serves 12)
6 cups orange juice
2 cups mandarin vodka
1 cup fresh lemon juice
7 – up
12 clementine slices
12 mint sprigs

Combine orange juice, vodka and lemon juice in a large container. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Pour into chilled glasses about ¾ full. Top with 7 – up. Garnish with a Clementine slice and mint sprig.

You can also freeze orange juice in ice cube trays to add to the drinks to keep cold. This will help prevent diluting the drink with water ice cubes.


Lemoncello Fizzy Sangria ( serves 12)
1 bottle dry white wine
2 cups lemonade
½ cup limencello liqueur
2 lemons, cut into wheels
2 oranges, cut into wheels
1 bottle sparking semisweet wine ( eg. Spumante)
20 mint sprigs
Lemon peel twists, for garnish

Combine the wine, lemonade, lemoncello, lemons and oranges in a large ceramic or glass container and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve over ice ( or frozen lemonade ice cubes). Fill glass halfway with sangria mixture; then top with Sparkling wine or Spumante. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon twists.

Frozen Peach Sangria ( serves about 7)
1 bottle Moscato d’Asti
1 cup peach nectar
¾ cup Peach liqueur
½ cup lemon juice
2 peaches, pitted and sliced
Combine all ingredients except the peach slices in a blender with 2 cups of ice. Blend until smooth. Garnish with peach wedges.


Nancy’s Cutting Garden

Anemones (pronounced uh – nem’ –uh-nees) Greek “anemos” meaning “wind” are sometimes mistaken for poppies. They are available in peak quantities from May until October. However they are available on the international market year round. These colorful but fragile flowers are also called Wind Flowers, because it was believed that the wind made them bloom. There are about 120 species of Anemones. The most common species on the cut flower market is the Anemone Coronoria. This flower is available in red, pink, blue, yellow and white. The most common color is red.

The white Japanese Anemone is beautiful for wedding flowers, but a little pricier than the Coronoria because of limited availability. You can buy them in bunches of ten stems and they are generally pretty reasonable, about $15 to $20 a bunch. This is not something your florist would generally have in their standard inventory but with a little notice they could order some in for you.
For my gardening friends: They are a tuber and grown in zones 4 – 7.

Have a safe and fabulous Independence Day!!! Nancy