Drink - Extra Helpings

Strawberry-Lemonade Cocktail with Flower Ice Cubes

We’re cheers-ing to spring with our favorite festive, seasonal cocktail. This take on strawberry-lemonade features three DIY components – homemade strawberry jam, pink simple syrup, and flower ice cubes – that are all delicious and beautiful on their own, but even better when served together (especially when you add vodka!) We’re sharing the recipe for each component below so you can make this refreshing drink right in your own kitchen.

Short on time? We have a trick or two up our sleeves, so stay-tuned to the end to see a few ways to shortcut the recipe.

Strawberry-Lemonade Cocktail with Flower Ice Cubes

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)
6 Oz. Strawberries
1 Cup Sugar
½ lemon
8 Oz. Vodka
1 Cup Sugar
4 Lemons
2 Cans Soda Water
Edible Flowers
Salt

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

1 Cocktail shaker (or Mason Jar)
1 Ice Cube Tray

RECIPE

Make the Flower Ice Cubes:

In a large ice cube tray, insert 1 edible flower per space and top with hot tap water. Transfer to the freezer and freeze overnight. (Believe it or not, hot water freezes faster—weird, right?—so it yields quicker ice cubes that are more clear!)

Make the Strawberry Jam:

In a medium pot, combine 6 oz. cored and chopped strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and one pinch salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until thickened and syrupy. Transfer the strawberry jam to a plate and spread out with a rubber spatula to cool. Transfer to a jar and store in refrigerator until ready to build your cocktail.

Make the Simple Syrup:

In the same pot used to make the strawberry jam, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to build your cocktail.

Mix Your Drink

In a tall glass, add 1 tablespoon homemade strawberry jam and top with several ice cubes. In a shaker filled with regular ice, combine 1 teaspoon homemade strawberry jam, 2 oz. vodka, 1 oz. fresh lemon juice and 1/2 oz. simple syrup. Shake until the shaker is too cold to handle. Strain into the tall glass and top off with as much soda water as you’d like.

Cheers, chefs!

Short on time? Try these tricks for a quicker strawberry-lemonade experience

1. Pick up a jar of strawberry jam at your local market. The fewer the ingredients, the better! While we prefer homemade, we don’t always have the time.

2. Boil water for your flower ice cubes. When it has cooled enough so that it will not to melt the plastic, add it to your ice cube tray. Submerge the flowers with a spoon. Put the tray in the freezer.

3. Don’t have time to hunt down edible flowers? You can use herbs or a bouquet of regular flowers as it is unlikely that your ice cube will melt all the way through. Just make sure to thoroughly wash everything before putting it in the ice cube tray.

Watermelon Palomas Are The Refreshing Drink Of The Summer

Summer is in full swing, and what better way to beat the heat than with a refreshing cocktail to pair with our Summer Crab Picnic for 8? The Watermelon Paloma is a delightful blend of juicy watermelon, zesty lime, and crisp tequila that pairs perfectly with our crab sandwiches. So, grab your picnic blanket, chill some glasses, and get transported to a summer paradise.

Ingredients

4 ½ cups grapefruit soda (such as Jarritos, Fresca, or Squirt)
1 ½ cups watermelon juice (see recipe below)
2 ½ Tbsps lime juice (1 to 2 limes)
Blanco tequila
Watermelon slices (optional, for garnish)
Tajin (optional, for garnish)

Put some ice in a large pitcher. Add the grapefruit soda, watermelon juice, and lime juice; stir to combine.

To serve, set out the pitcher, tequila, glasses, watermelon slices, and Tajín. To make palomas, rim the glass with Tajin, if desired. Add ice and about 1 ½ oz tequila to the glass. Fill with the watermelon soda mixture. Garnish with a slice of watermelon. Enjoy!

Watermelon Juice Recipe:

Working in batches if necessary, place about 3 ½ cups cut up watermelon in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer; discard any solids and reserve the juice for the cocktail. Makes about 1 ½ cups juice.

Note: We left the tequila on the side on purpose! The watermelon-grapefruit soda is just as delicious and refreshing without alcohol. This way, each person can decide if they want a cocktail or a mocktail.

How to Make a DIY Mimosa Bar

Mimosas are synonymous with brunch. Whether or not you feel like having an alcoholic beverage, a little sparkling juice is always a good idea. Creating a DIY mimosa bar is an easy and fun way to let your guests customize their drinks and get creative with their own combinations.

Tips for your DIY mimosa bar

Go beyond orange juice

Provide an assortment of juices in carafes so that guests can mix and match flavors. Orange juice is the classic choice. Grapefruit juice provides a tangier flavor profile. You can also try tropical pineapple juice, sweet peach juice, or pomegranate juice.

Add some bubbles

Provide sparkling wine, sparkling water, and some liqueurs or flavored syrups. Guests can choose if they’re craving a brunch cocktail or a refreshing mocktail.

Add flair with fancy ice

Prepare fancy ice cubes before the big day. Freeze mint leaves and raspberries with water in an ice cube tray for a beautiful, memorable addition to your drink. You can also freeze whole cubes of juice. These will look festive and will create a flavor-changing drink that evolves as the ice melts.

How to serve your DIY Mimosa bar

Set up a self-serve drinks station on the counter or on a side table. Guests will feel comfortable getting up to refill their glasses whenever they please. Once everything is in place, it’s time for your guests to get creative! Encourage them to mix and match different juices with sparkling wine, soda water, or liqueurs. Each guest will be able to find their perfect combination.

Wondering what to serve alongside your mimosa bar? The Blue Apron Brunch box is here to bring a restaurant-quality meal to your table this spring. Skip the reservation and enjoy easy recipes that satisfy every craving. This limited-time box is available now.

brunch menu — *Blue Apron Brunch Box, $119.99*

Recipe: Concord Chai Smash

Concord grapes are known for their thick skins and intense flavor. These are the grapes used to create grape-flavored candies and sodas. They’re smaller, darker, and more flavorful than table grapes. Here, we used them to create a sweet purple purée, which becomes the base of this sparkling grape cocktail.

This seasonal fruit is the key ingredient in our Concord Chai smash.

Ingredients:

Concord grape purée (see recipe below)
Chai simple syrup (see recipe below)
Sparkling Wine (such as our Blue Apron Blue Barrel Brut)
Optional Garnishes:
Concord grapes
Thinly sliced limes
Angostura bitters

To Make

In a coupe glass, combine 1 tbsp concord grape puree and 1 tsp chai simple syrup. Top with enough sparkling wine to fill the glass. If desired, add more grape puree and simple syrup to taste. Garnish as desired with grapes, sliced lime and bitters.

Concord Puree:

2 ½ lbs concord grapes (reserving a handful for garnish)
5 oz lime juice (about 5 limes)
1/4 cup water

Remove and discard any stems from the grapes. In a blender, combine the grapes, lime juice and water. Blend well until smooth. Strain through a mesh sieve. The texture will be like a thick fruit puree. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to use.

Chai Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 Tbsp ground chai spice*

In a small pot, combine the sugar, water, and chai spice. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, turn off the heat. Set aside and allow to cool slightly. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

*Chef Tip: Chef Lili and the Test Kitchen recommend using Diaspora Chai Masala, which you can find here.

Our Favorite (Slightly Spicy) Michelada Recipe

Keep things casual with a tasty beer cocktail that everyone will love. Our chefs developed this riff on a Michelada recipe for all of your game-day viewing needs. Because it’s based on beer, it’s lighter in alcohol than most classic cocktails, which makes it perfect for enjoying during an afternoon event. It’s the perfect alternative to a simple beer and an ideal pairing with salty snacks.

Michelada recipes differ based on region and preference. Many variations include tomato juice or clamato. Our version is slightly lighter—a chilled beer gets a kick from lime juice, spices, and savory Worcestershire sauce. If you’re not a fan of spice, you can adjust the amount of Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper depending on your preferred spice level.

The best beer for a michelada

A michelada is a classic Mexican cocktail. To respect its origins, the best choice of beer is a Mexican lager like Corona, Pacifico, or Tecate. If these aren’t available, any light lager will do. The key is to choose a simple beer that lets the other ingredients shine. Avoid bitter or floral options like IPAs, which will clash with the savory ingredients.

Michelada Recipe

Makes 1 michelada

2 Lime Wedges
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/2 oz Lime Juice
2 drops Tabasco Sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Celery Salt
12 oz Chilled Beer

Combine the cayenne and salt in a shallow dish. Rub 1 lime wedge along the rim of a pint glass and roll the outside rim of the glass in the cayenne-salt mixture. This way you’ll get a little bit of spicy salt with each sip, but the mixture won’t all fall into your drink. Add the lime juice, tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and celery salt to the glass. Top with the beer and garnish with the remaining lime wedge. Enjoy!

Pair this cocktail with the Blue Apron Tailgating Box for an easy fall party.

What Is Sparkling Wine? Everything You’ll Want To Know

Sparkling wines are synonymous with celebration, but they can also be full of complex flavors that make them exceedingly food-friendly. Here’s a closer look at what it takes to get a bottle of bubbly on your table.

Blue apron sparkling wine — Try our new sparkling wines

How sparkling wine gets its bubbles

There are several different methods for creating bubbles in sparkling wine. Winemakers chose a method based on their budget, location, and desired flavors.

Méthode champenoise

The méthode champenoise, also known as the traditional method, is the classic way of producing sparkling wine in Champagne, France. The key element of this method is that the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The fermentation produces carbon dioxide, which is trapped in the bottle and absorbed by the wine. This creates a fine, delicate carbonation.

Charmat method

In the charmat method, which is commonly used to create Prosecco, the secondary fermentation occurs in a steel fermenting tank. Compared to the traditional method, the charmant method is simpler and less expensive.

Ancestral method

This is the oldest method of creating sparkling wine. In this process, the wine is bottled before the initial fermentation is complete. The fermentation finishes in the bottle, creating light carbonation. This method is inexpensive, but can be difficult to control. Today, it is commonly used to create wines labeled pétillant naturel, sometimes referred to as “pét-nats.”

Carbonation method

In the carbonation method, a still wine is created from start to finish and then carbonated in a pressurized tank. No secondary fermentation occurs. This method is generally only used in lower-quality, bulk-produced wines.

How méthode champenoise wine is made

Vinification

Grapes are harvested and fermented into a still, dry wine. This base wine is known as a cuvée.

Tirage

The cuvée is bottled with the addition of a tirage, a liquid solution of sugar and yeast. The tirage kick starts the second fermentation.

Secondary fermentation

As the additional yeast cells consume the remaining sugar, they give off carbon dioxide, which creates gas and pressure. Because the bottle is sealed, the wine is forced to absorb the gas, creating carbonation. At this stage, the dead yeast cells remain in the bottle, and are known as the lees. The lees impart delicate, toasty flavors into the wine.

As the added yeast cells consume the remaining sugar, they give off carbon dioxide. The sealed bottle traps the gas, and the wine is forced to absorb it, creating carbonation. The yeast cells that remain in the bottle are known as the lees. The lees impart delicate, toasty flavors into the wine.

Riddling

During riddling, bottles are stored upside down in a slanted rack and rotated. This allows the yeast cells to settle in the neck of the bottle.

Disgorging

To remove the spent yeast cells, the neck of the bottle is quickly frozen. The wine is opened, and the dead cells are forced out by the pressure in the bottle.

Dosage

After the yeast cells are removed, a dosage may be added. A dosage is a mixture of wine and sugar, which is added to round out the flavors of the wine. The amount of dosage determines the sweetness of the finished wine. Brut and extra brut wines receive little to no dosage.

After the yeast cells are removed, a dosage may be added to round out the flavors of the wine. A dosage is a mixture of wine and sugar. The amount added determines the sweetness of the finished wine.

Cork & cage

After the wine is finished, it’s closed with a cork. The carbonation creates pressure in the bottle, so a metal cage to keep the cork in place. Each cage is closed with a loop that requires precisely six twists to open.

The finished wine closed with a cork. Carbonation creates pressure in the bottle, so a metal cage is used to keep the cork in place. Each cage is closed with a loop that requires six twists to open.

Our new sparkling bottles

The Blue Barrel Brut, Blue Barrel Brut Reserve, and Blue Barrel Brut Rosé are made using méthode champenoise, the most complex and respected method for producing sparkling wine. Our sparkling wines are full of bright acidity and beautiful aromatic fruit that make them easy to enjoy with almost any meal. It’s always a good idea to keep a bottle handy.

Learn more about how to pair these wines here.

Easy Beach Food Ideas For Everyone

beach food picnic — Make sure olives are pitted

Going to the beach is supposed to be relaxing, but sometimes planning for a day of doing nothing can be surprisingly stressful. Your whole beach crew needs sun protection, a prime spot on the sand, and of course, the perfect beach food. That last item can get a little tricky—some foods are better suited for the beach than others. To make relaxing a little easier, here’s a rundown of the best foods to bring to the beach.

To be a good beach treat, a snack needs to check a few basic boxes. The key elements of an oceanside lunch are:

A beach food needs to travel well

From cooler, to car, to shore, it might be hours from when you pack your lunch to the time you dig in. The best beach foods should be able to hold up to the heat, and maybe even improve as they sit. This means no temperature sensitive items. Sorry, but poke is off the menu.

Find a snack that doesn’t produce trash

The goal here is to make things easier. You don’t want to spend your day at the beach keeping track of wrappers or other refuse, and you certainly don’t want to leave anything behind on the pristine sands. If you plan ahead, this should be easy to solve for. Just pit any cherries before you pack them, slice a watermelon and discard the rind, and avoid individually wrapped snacks.

Focus on refreshing foods

Hours out in the heat can be depleting, even if you’re just lounging. Fresh foods with a high water content and salty foods to replace lost electrolytes will keep you frolicking in the waters all afternoon. Of course, we can’t deny the pleasure of a stealthy glass or rosé or a pre-made cocktail, even if it makes you a little sleepy. Just make sure to bring along plenty of water.

Highly recommended:

Pre-cut fruit

Some fruits will travel better than others. Raspberries are lovely, but are a little delicate for the beach. Strawberries with the tops trimmed off will transport well and be easy to eat. Be sure to remove any pits or peels before packing your fruit, lest you be burdened with scraps to throw away. Sliced apples may oxidize slightly, but will still be fine to eat. If you don’t like the appearance of browning, toss them in lemon juice before packing. Grapes are also a great choice.

Potato chips

Any chip will work, but potato chips are the perfect salty treat to satisfy cravings and encourage you to drink water. They’re delicious on their own, which means you don’t have to fuss with any potentially messy dips or salsas.

Cheese and crackers

If you’re aiming for a sophisticated vibe, throw some soft cheeses in a cooler. They’ll keep well, and are delicious at room temperature. Be sure to pack the requisite tools. Having a knife, plate, and napkins will make things infinitely easier.

Pressed sandwiches

Eventually, you may crave a more substantial meal. That’s when it’s time to bust out the sandwiches. When packing the perfect beach sandwich, the secret is in the bread. A sliced sandwich-style bread can get soft and soggy over time. A hearty baguette or ciabatta will absorb flavors and only grow more delicious. A pressed sandwich like a cuban or a pan bagnat is the ultimate travel hero—even if it ends up squished under a book, it will just enhance the flavor.

Looking for more travel treats? Try our favorite snack for road trips.

Recipe: A Lemonade Cocktail Spiked with Basil

lemonade cocktail and a lobster roll — The perfect summer pairing

With summer in full swing, we’re all about easy entertaining. This lemonade cocktail can be served prepared in a large batch and served in a pitcher. That way, guests can help themselves to refills, and you can keep the party going. To make things even easier, the lemon basil syrup can be made the day before.

Lemonade cocktail recipe

Ingredients:

8 lemons
2 cups sugar
4 sprigs basil
16 oz gin (optional)
16 oz plain sparkling water
Cucumber slices (for garnishing)

Directions:

Make the lemon sugar: Wash and dry the fresh produce. Using a sharp vegetable peeler or a paring knife, peel the rind off the lemon to get long pieces of peel. In a small bowl, combine the lemon peel and sugar. Using a muddler, wooden spoon, or your hands, smash the peels and sugar together until some of the oils release and the sugar becomes fragrant. Cover and let stand for 3 hours or place in the refrigerator overnight.

Make the lemon-basil syrup: In a small pot, combine the lemon peel and sugar mixture with 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on medium high. Cook, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot. Turn off the heat. Add the sprigs of basil and stir to combine. Let stand until the mixture has cooled to room temperature. Strain the liquid into a bowl, discarding the lemon peel and basil sprigs. Juice the lemons, discarding any seeds. Add the lemon juice to the bowl of strained syrup and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Prepare the cocktail: To the pitcher of lemon-basil syrup, add the gin, if using. Stir to combine. Add the sparkling water and stir once more. To serve, fill collins glasses with ice and pour in cocktail from the pitcher. Garnish with cucumber slices. Enjoy!

basil lemonade cocktail at lobster dinner — Serve a lemonade cocktail with your lobster feast

For an easy summer gathering, serve this lemonade cocktail with our first ever lobster box.

Best Wines for Summer Dinners

The best wines for summer depend on the occasion. Some of our warm weather favorites are perfect for sipping on the beach, while others are best when paired with dinner.

Summer is traditionally a time for chilled whites and rosé wines, but if you’re serving up hearty grilled fare, a robust red will bring out the best in your dinner. Try some of these bottles to keep your glass filled all summer long.

Sparkling wine

best wines for summer, sparkling — Sparkling wine bundle

Blue Barrel brut sparkling wines are delicious on their own, with salty cheeses, or with delicate summer seafoods. Try enjoying these wines chilled with grilled shrimp or raw oysters for a delightful summery treat.

Pairing tip: For fresh flavor, try a high-acid wine

Wines with tart acidity can enhance the flavors of fresh vegetables. Try a bright white like a sauvignon blanc to enliven our Summer Bean & Goat Cheese Panzanella.

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Big bold reds

best red wines for summer — Big bold reds bundle

Delicate whites can be a lovely summer treat, but when the grill is out, a red is your best bet. Complex, smoky wines like the el Rede malbec will enhance the flavor of the grill and pair well with beautifully charred steaks or burgers.

Pairing tip: Make it meaty

An oak-aged red wine will combine fruity flavors with notes of warming spice. These full flavors complement richer dishes, and the tannins will cleanse and prime your palate for another bite. Pair reds with burgers like our Ginger Pork Burger.

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Pairing tip: Spice is nice

Dishes with plents of spices—not hot spice, per se—can play well with the spice aromas in oak-aged red wine. Try an oaky red with dishes like our Spiced Lamb & Beef Tagine.

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Beautiful rosé wines

rose wines for summer — Endless summer rosé bundle

The thing to love about this wine is how delightfully deceptive it is. Its fruity aromas suggest the wine is sugary—yet it’s almost completely dry, with a bright zestiness that makes your mouth water for more. The powerful, alluring aromas and overall vibrancy of the wine are what help it pair so well with wildly different types of dishes.

Paring tip: Think light, summery fare

A light, crisp wine draws out the fresh flavors of vegetables, and makes something like a simple as a salad taste more exciting. These particular wine’s aromas will add an extra dimension to our Romaine, Potato & Snap Pea Salad.

Pairing tip: Opposites often do attract

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In the same way that fruit matches spice or hot matches sour, a light, floral wine can often provide a delightful contrast to an earthy, savory dish. Sometimes it takes just one ingredient to bridge the gap, as black garlic does in our Shoyu Ramen.

Try these wines by subscription, or order ala carte from our marketplace.

Gin & Ginger Ale Punch

Gin and ginger ale combine forces to make this spicy, refreshing gin punch.

This gingery punch will be beloved by all—even those who claim to not like gin-based drinks! The angostura bitters turn this punch a gorgeous shade of blush and the massive ice cube, shaped by a bundt pan, cools the festive drink without making it watery.

The ingredient list is simple. You’ll need limes, ginger root, and ginger ale. The ginger root gets minced into pieces and made into a sweet, spicy syrup that gives this cocktail a special kick.

Ginger ale blends all the flavors together and adds pizzazz with some bubbles. To garnish, try frozen lime slices. Freezing them before helps the slices maintain their shape in the punch. Once everything is all mixed in together, the punch is ready and your work is done.

Read on for the full recipe

What Are Tannins In Wine?

Pairing food and wine is as much about feel as it is about flavor. We’re not talking about your feelings, we’re talking about the effect that tannins have on your palate as you sip a glass of wine. If you consider the mouthfeel, or texture, of your wine, you’ll have an even better dining experience. Of course, your feelings matter too.

Here’s a way to think about it: If you practice yoga, you use a mat with little grooves on the surface, right? Those grooves give you grip. ‘Grip’ is the also the term that wine experts use to describe a red wine’s tannins. Tannins are polyphenols, natural compounds in wine that quickly bind to proteins; your saliva contains proteins, so tannins give your palate the feeling of drying out. Have you ever let a cup of tea steep for too long, taken a sip, and found that it tasted really dry and bitter? That’s the effect of tannin. In addition to grapes, as they’re found in most plants.

Tannins grip your saliva and prime your palate for that next bite of food, just as your feet grip the yoga mat. The more difficult the pose, the more grip you want the mat to have. And the more tannic a wine, the more likely it is to pair with richer, more flavorful food. Tannins can make complex flavors pop after each sip of wine. Below are a few pairings we suggest.

Just how important a factor are tannins in pairing? Forgetting flavors for a moment, each and every wine, red or white, can be thought of in these four aspects in terms of their food-pairing options: Tannins, sweetness, body and acidity. One of the wines below is red, one is white. Can you guess which is which and, therefore, would pair better with a rich, juicy steak?

In terms of sweetness, body and acidity, the wines are very similar. Tannins are the key differentiator. Tannins are found in the skins of grapes. Red wines are made by soaking the grape juice along with the skins to extract the red color and tannins. White wines are made by pressing the grapes so there’s no contact with the skins and, therefore, no tannin extraction into the wine. Most white wines don’t contain tannins.

If you guessed that the wine on the left is the red wine, you’re right! That is the wine that we’d pair with a steak. The wine’s tannins will not only help cut the richness of the meat, they’ll dry out and cleanse your palate. Take another sip, and now you’ll enjoy the wine’s flavors and textures on their own—and you’ll especially enjoy the next bite of meat!

When you’re considering pairings, definitely think about complementary flavors in the food and the wine. But remember that the effect of the wine’s core components on your palate, particularly the amount of tannins, is just as important a factor—sometimes, the most important one.

Want to experience these pairings first-hand? Order wine delivered to your door with Blue Apron.

Delight Your Friends with This Color Changing Cocktail

The problem with April Fool’s day is that it can be a little … mean. This year, try a surprise instead of a prank. Chef Lili Dagan developed this color changing cocktail made with butterfly pea flowers. It’s sure to delight any crowd.

color changing cocktail — The color changes as the ice melts

If there’s a hill I’ll die on, it can be summed up as “When there’s a blue drink, order it.”

Why?

Well.

Blue Drinks are unquestionably fun (My friend Mike wrote a song about enjoying a Blue Drink with all your buds, he is not wrong.)
Fun is fun!

A few general rules:

Thou shall not order the Blue Drink at a chain restaurant where the Blue Drink comes with a Trademark.
Blue Drinks are best enjoyed with friends, preferably outside, preferably on an outdoor boat bar
Fun as they may be, more than two is a risky idea.

Have I ever regretted ordering a blue drink? YES. Absolutely. One. Hundred. Percent. This is why I’ve decided to make my own Blue Drink. I make no promises that you won’t regret this, but an informal survey suggests you’re 70-88% less likely to feel terrible about your decisions tomorrow.

And I’m sorry I’ve buried the lede here, but this Blue Drink is also a party trick. We are making our own blue tea ice cubes with butterfly pea flowers, a flower containing a blue pigment called anthocyanin. When it comes into contact with acid, like the acid in grapefruit juice, anthocyanin turns from blue to purple to pink. Butterfly pea flowers can be ordered online.

April Fools! Why pull a mean prank when you can provide a delightful drink?

The Pal Around Color Changing Cocktail

Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients:
2 Tbsps butterfly pea flowers
8 oz fresh grapefruit juice (reserve rounds for garnish)
2 oz fresh lime juice (reserve rounds for garnish)
6 oz vodka
2 oz Cointreau
2 oz simple syrup**

Step 1:

Steep 2 Tbsps of butterfly pea flowers in 1 quart of boiling water. Cool, strain, and freeze into ice cubes.

Step 2:

Juice 8oz fresh grapefruit juice and 2 oz fresh lime juice, reserving wheels of each for garnish.

Step 3:

Fill a cocktail shaker with regular ice. Add 6 oz vodka, 2 oz Cointreau, 8 oz grapefruit juice, 2 oz lime juice, and 2 oz simple syrup.

Step 4:

Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain over butterfly pea flower ice into a clear glass. Garnish with grapefruit and lime rounds. (I like to slide the grapefruit into the side of the glass.) Party on.

**Chef’s Tip: You can buy simple syrup at the store, but it’s also easy to make at home. In a pot, combine equal parts water and granulated sugar. Heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool and use it for a variety of cocktails or as a sweetener for your coffee.

For more of chef Lili’s cocktail creations, click here.