Ahhh, summertime…. the word alone conjures up images of lazy afternoons at the beach or lounging in your porch swing with a trashy novel.  But many of us, myself included, aren’t able to enjoy a one or two month hiatus from reality during this wonderful season.  I’ll have my week-long vacation and maybe a few long weekends, but that doesn’t seem very decadent compared to our younger years when those summer months stretched out before us for what seemed like an eternity.  Sure, I’m thrilled to have a job with paid vacation, but I’m a greedy American, and I can always wish for more.  More money, more travel, but mainly, more TIME.

Time so I can wake up naturally every morning instead of being rudely awakened by my obnoxious alarm clock.  Time to get all my chores done at a leisurely pace, perhaps plant some flowers in my yard instead of having only enough time to pull weeds.  And of course, time to sit around in the late afternoons and drink my favorite summer cocktails.

Luckily for you all, I am going to save you some time this week.  I am offering up five recipes for drinks with only three ingredients, which will be so quick and effortless to prepare, you might not know what to do with all that extra time.  Maybe you’ll have the option of taking a longer walk on the beach, or enjoying a leisurely nap in that porch swing when your novel gets boring.  OR maybe, just maybe, you will be able to enjoy an extra drink!  Whatever you decide, I insist that the extra time you find MUST be used for something fun.  Don’t call your insurance company or go to the dentist with those spare minutes!  Sit down, relax and enjoy one or two of the following-

Classic Daiquiri

2 oz white rum

3/4 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice.  Shake and strain into a martini glass and add a lime wedge.

If you want to save even more time, use Jose Cuervo Light Margarita mix in place of the simple syrup and fresh lime juice.  Fresh is better, but if you can’t spare that squeezing time, then do what ya gotta do.

Gin Buck

2 oz gin

Juice of half a lemon

Ginger ale

Pour gin and lemon juice into a tall glass with ice, then fill with ginger ale and add a lemon wedge.

This drink is similar to a gin and tonic, but with extra juice.  If you like your cocktails a bit sweeter, use Sprite instead of ginger ale.

Tequila Sunrise

2 oz tequila

1/2 oz grenadine

orange juice

Pour all ingredients into a tall glass with ice, and add an orange slice for a garnish.

Another classic cocktail- there’s even a song about it! (just in case you’re too young to know that Eagles are more than just the American emblem)

Vodka Gimlet

2 oz vodka

1 oz Rose’s lime juice

Club soda

Pour vodka and Rose’s into a glass with ice, then top with club soda and a lime wedge.  If you like a stronger drink, leave out the club soda- even easier!

Blueberry Lemonade

2 oz blueberry vodka

5 oz lemonade (Simply Lemonade is a great choice)

Pour both ingredients into a tall glass with ice and garnish with a skewer of blueberries.  So refreshing!

You will notice that 4 out of these 5 drinks (with the tequila sunrise the exception) are very light and/or crafted with fresh juice.  And all five of the cocktails are not very strong, which can be a good thing on a hot day when extreme thirst causes you to drink lots of fluids, some of which may be alcoholic.  Here’s hoping you find one or two drinks on this list to add to your summertime ritual!