Summer Cocktails with a Tropical Twist

Beat the heat with refreshing summertime cocktails while wowing guests at home! Following is a roundup of island-inspired drinks - perfect for sipping on poolside all summer long.

Island of Misfits

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ oz. Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey

• ¾ oz. Amber or White Rum

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1 oz. Cream of Coconut

Directions: Shake and serve on the rocks. Garnish with nutmeg and a pineapple leaf.

Lava Flow

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz. ice in a blender

• 1 ¼ oz. Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey

• ¾ oz. White Rum

• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 2 oz. Cream of Coconut

• 2 oz. Strawberry Puree

Directions: Pour strawberry puree in glass. Blend remaining ingredients and pour into glass. Garnish with a strawberry.

Unite & Delight

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz. (30 mL) Crystal Head

Vodka

• 2/3 oz. (20 mL) Blue Curacao

• 1/3 oz. (15 mL) Yuzu Sake

• ½ oz. (15 mL) Lemon Juice

• 1 tsp. (5 mL) Simple Syrup

Directions: Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with lemon zest.

The Coco Connection

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/3 oz. (45 mL) Crystal Head

Vodka

• ¾ oz. (22 mL) Coconut

Liqueur

• ¾ oz. (22 mL) Lime Juice

• ½ (15 mL) Raspberry Syrup

• 1 tsp. (5 mL) Grenadine Syrup

Directions: Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a raspberry skewer.

Jungle Ball

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ oz. Skrewball Peanut

Butter Whiskey

• ½ oz. Campari

• ½ oz. Falernum

• ½ oz. Orgeat Syrup

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• ¼ oz. Dark Rum

Directions: Shake all ingredients and pour into a collins glass. Float ¼ oz. dark rum. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and a cherry.

Cocktail recipes provided by Skrewball Whiskey and Crystal Head Vodka.

Grilled Tenderloin with Pan-Seared Cherry Tomatoes

4 tenderloin steaks (1 ½ to 2-inch thick)

3 tsp. kosher salt

1 ½ tsp. pepper

6 large garlic cloves

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 one-pint containers multi-coloured cherry tomatoes

4 large thyme sprigs

1 cup coarsely torn basil leaves

Pat steaks dry. Sprinkle with salt & pepper; rub into meat. Prepare grill for indirect heat cooking over medium high heat. Oil BBQ grill rack & sear steaks over burners, until well browned (2-3 minutes on each side). Move steaks off direct burners & grill covered until instant-read meat thermometer inserted in center of steak registers 120°C for medium rare, 8 – 10 minutes more. Move steaks to platter & loosely cover, let stand for 15 minutes. Reserve meat juices.

Heat oil in 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté garlic until golden & transfer to plate. Add tomatoes & thyme to hot oil. Cook covered, stirring occasionally until tomatoes begin to split open, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic & meat juices from platter. Season with salt & pepper, then spoon over steaks & scatter basil on top.

Serve with roasted potato wedges & grilled asparagus.

Potato Wedges

6 medium yellow-fleshed potatoes, cut in wedges

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

Salt & pepper to taste (about ½ tsp. of each)

3 to 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, stripped

Add oil, lemon juice, rosemary, salt & pepper to large bowl. Toss potato wedges in mixture until well coated. Line baking pan with parchment paper & bake in oven at 425°F for 35 minutes, turning halfway through.

Grilled Asparagus

1 ½ lb. fresh asparagus

½ lemon, juiced

2 tbsp. olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Trim one inch off asparagus ends. Mix oil, salt & pepper in bowl; then coat asparagus with mixture. Place on BBQ grill pan on low heat, turning frequently until done. Drizzle lemon juice over cooked asparagus.

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Hamilton Beach, Canada’s favourite small appliance company, is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its fan-favourite Breakfast Sandwich Maker. This handy little appliance helps create homemade breakfast sandwiches using a variety of fresh ingredients in five minutes or less, stacking & heating all layers at once – including freshly cracked eggs. You can customize your breakfast sandwich with a practically endless variety of ingredients - a fresh, economical alternative to drive-thru and frozen grocery store versions. To make clean-up easy, the cooking surfaces are nonstick & all removable parts are dishwasher safe. Available for purchase at Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Marshalls & HomeSense. For product info, recipes, or to order online, visit: hamiltonbeach.ca