Lemon Sparkler Food

LEMON-LIME SPARKLER

Steps:

• Pick the grapes from the stems and place them in a single layer on a rimmed cookie sheet. Put the grapes into the freezer and freeze for at least 3 hours or overnight. Once frozen, the grapes can be put into a plastic freezer bag.
• When ready to serve, in a large pitcher stir together the lemon-lime soda, gin, and lime and lemon juice. Fill a glass with frozen grapes and pour over the cocktail mix. Garnish with slices of lemon and lime if desired.

CHERRY-LIME SPARKLER

Steps:

• Place the pitted cherries in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, lime juice and salt. Stir until the cherries are evenly coated. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to macerate the cherries.
• Drain the cherry mixture, collecting and reserving all the juice. Thread the macerated cherries amongst 8 cocktail skewers and set aside for garnish.
• Stir together the reserved cherry juice and seltzer in a small pitcher.
• Fill 8 highball glasses with ice cubes. Pour the cherry sparkler over the ice and garnish each glass with a skewer of cherries and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

PROSECCO-PEAR SPARKLER

Steps:

• Combine the pear nectar, vodka and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until cold, then strain into a champagne flute or coupe.
• Top the drink with the prosecco. Garnish with a pear slice and lemon zest.

LIMONCELLO AND MINT SPARKLERS

Steps:

• Combine mint and limoncello in a bowl, then gently bruise mint with a pestle or wooden spoon (to release flavor). Chill, covered, 1 hour.
• Pour limoncello through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing firmly on mint and then discarding it.
• Just before serving, stir in lemon juice, sparkling water, and enough ice to fill pitcher.