• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Lifestyle Blog

  • About
    • Work With Me
      • Delightful Life Media
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • Taste
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
    • Dinner
      • Grilled
      • Sides
      • Pasta
      • Rice
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
      • Cocktails
      • Non-Alcoholic
    • Snacks
  • Travel
    • United States
      • Kansas
      • Missouri
      • Nevada
      • Nebraska
      • New York
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
      • Wisconsin
    • Mexico
  • DIY
    • Projects
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

party

Cantaloupe Margaritas

May 4, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Read about the seven health benefits of eating cantaloupe by clicking on the photo.

In honor of Cinco de Mayo and my love affair with margaritas, I created a refreshing cocktail recipe – Cantaloupe Margaritas! I was equally inspired to try a new version of the standard lime Mexican cocktail by using up a ripe cantaloupe that was sitting on my kitchen counter and some leftover silver tequila. You’re going to love this recipe!

Read about the 7 health benefits of eating cantaloupe by clicking on the photo.

This cocktail reminds me of the fresh cantaloupe smoothie I ordered once at an authentic Mexican restaurant in our city. Imagine a backdrop of festive music, multi-colored decorations, and authentic food with a fresh drink to go with it. It was like a time warp back to our fabulous visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. You can read my travel tips from that vacation here.

We’ve also spent time in Playa del Carmen, my favorite spot in Mexico, thanks to the beautiful turquoise color of the water and soft sand beaches.

This cocktail, made by first blending fresh cantaloupe, is a slight variation of the traditional lime cocktail thanks to the added honey, lemonade, and refined sugar. The sweet additions counterbalance the acidic citrus taste of the freshly squeezed lime juice and lemonade, giving the margarita an easy finish.

After blending the cantaloupe until very smooth, pour it into a cocktail shaker and add the tequila, lime juice, lemonade, honey, and sugar. Shake and strain into ice-filled glasses rimmed pre-rimmed with lime juice and kosher salt. If you want to garnish each glass with more cantaloupe, use a melon baller to form several circular pieces of melon and skewer them with a toothpick. I added fresh mint and a wedge of lime for added color. One look at your finished cocktail, and you’ll quickly take a sip – it’s refreshing and delicious!

As you know, I love to celebrate a holiday or host a party. Inspired by the Cinco de Mayo holiday, my Cantaloupe Margarita is the essential cocktail to accompany sizzling fajitas or savory tacos. Let me know in the comments section how you prepare your favorite party cocktail. I’m always ready to try a new recipe! Cheers.

onedelighfullife.com

4 small cocktails

Serves 1.5 cups

Cantaloupe Margaritas

This new take on the traditional margarita is refreshing and will wow your party guests on Cinco de Mayo.

15 minPrep Time

15 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 2 cups blended cantaloupe
  • 1/2 cup silver tequila (I used Camarena Tequila)
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 T lemonade
  • 1 T honey
  • 1 T sugar
  • cubed ice
  • Garnish:
  • 1 T kosher or maragarita salt
  • lime wedge
  • sprig of mint
  • 2 cantaloupe melon balls
  • 1 toothpick

Instructions

  1. Rim the cocktail glass with a lime wedge and then salt.
  2. Blend cantaloupe in your blender on puree setting until very smooth. This may take a couple minutes.
  3. Pour blended cantaloupe in a large cocktail shaker.
  4. Add tequila, lime juice, lemonade, honey, and sugar.
  5. Shake vigourously.
  6. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish.

Notes

Tip: Spray your measuring spoon with a little cooking spray before measuring the honey. The spray helps the honey pour from the spoon leaving very little extra on the spoon.

7.8.1.2
73
https://onedelightfullife.com/cantaloupe-margaritas/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

114 cal

Carbs

29 g

Protein

2 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
ESHA Logo

 

 

 

Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: agave, Camarena, cantaloupe, Cinco de Mayo, citrus, cocktail, drink, fajitas, fresh squeezed, happy hour, herb, honey, juice, lemonade, lime, margarita, martini shaker, melon, melon baller, mexican, mint, party, salt, shaker, silver tequila, sugar, tacos, tequila

13 Tips to Host an Unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day Party

March 19, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

It’s been awhile since you’ve seen all your best buds. You’d love to get together with your family. Everyone is so busy it seems. How will you ever get to see them all? Time to host a party!

When you send out an invite for a party, the fun has only just begun or should I say “work.” For the host, there are a number of things to do to prepare for an unforgettable party from choosing an entertaining theme to preparing the food. If you prepare for the party, it is less stressful than you think. Start early!

Known for throwing a pretty fun St. Patrick’s Day party (hey, that’s what the guests have said:-), I’ve done a better job each year because we remember what worked from year to year. If you’re someone who wants your party to be remembered for years to come, you must keep in mind these essential tips.

  1. Send out an enthusiastic invitation (Facebook Events works best) at least a month in advance. Sure, many of your guests will wait until the week prior to your party to RSVP thanks to your friendly reminder post, but the point is that they’ve been thinking about going since receiving your invite. You’ll get a bigger turn out if you invite friends well in advance if they have a real chance to schedule a sitter. If you create buzz by posting the food menu or last year’s photos on Facebook the weeks prior to your event, the more people are inclined to want to come to the party!
  2. Decorate every room of your house according to your party’s theme and don’t forget the front porch and backyard space (assuming it’s warm enough for your party.) The enthusiasm for your party never waivers if guests continue to see visual reminders of your party even if in the bathroom. Seriously! I even lead my guests downstairs to the photo booth by adding decorations to the stairwell.

    Keeping with the party theme, I added a banner and St. Patrick’s Day coins to the stair’s landing area leading guests to more entertainment options in the basement.
  3. Menu plan delicious food that most people love and do it early. Add in thematic recipes ideas too. Create a list of theme-inspired dishes and cocktails at least two weeks before the party so you can plan your shopping trip. If you walk into the store with a list, you’ll spend less money on impulsive items you think you “need.”
  4. Don’t forget that not everyone drinks alcohol. Provide infused water or ice tea for non-drinkers. Better yet, declare that your party is BYOB and then you have no worries other than filling coolers with ice and some spare koozies. There ya go!
  5. Be a thoughtful host. Don’t forget to shop for and prepare the “little things” that some hosts forget. Do you have enough lined trash cans in high traffic areas of your house? Extra toilet paper and hand soap stocked in the guest bathroom? Enough chairs?
  6. Make sure every guest can eat. Don’t forget that guests with food allergies should know what they’re eating. Is your best friend gluten free? Place small upright cards near each serving plate and crockpot labeling what is in the dish. For example, you should write “Dried apricots with goat cheese, rosemary, and almonds” not “fruit with cheese.”

    Serve prepped small bites or appetizers so guests can grab and go from the kitchen. Keep your guests moving! This appetizer is made of sliced English cucumber topped with horseradish dill cream cheese and smoked salmon.
  7. The food must not run out! Serve enough food that everyone gets to eat and so you’re not stuck in the kitchen refilling dishes. Plan enough food for unexpected guests. Someone will invariably bring someone that wasn’t on the guest list. Oh, and if you don’t want everyone to stick to the kitchen area, place snacks like Chex Mix or chips around your home in decorative dishes. Put the drink station outdoors if the weather is nice.
  8. Provide multiple spaces for entertainment. It’s not okay to simply serve food and hope people will stick around. Even if they are the talkative type, eventually people will run out of things to chat about. People love to do things together at a party! Set the scene. Play music or turn on the TV. It’s unnerving to walk into a quiet house where the host is still prepping food. Make your party a high energy fun zone. Set up outdoor games like bocce ball, ladder ball or a pinata. Place a selfie stick on the living room table. Set up a photo booth in an unused space of your home or in the garage. Don’t forget to provide a heaping basket of photo props and instructions for how to use the camera!
    Set up a backdrop, some makeshift lights, and plenty of photo props and your homemade photo booth is ready. It’s as close to hiring a professional photo booth company as it’s going to get. Ha!

    Your guests will entertain themselves as long as there are activities planned for them to do and set up indoors and outside of your party.
  9. Be a social butterfly. As the host, you should make sure you talk to everyone in attendance at least once or twice. Yep, this task can be tough but no one wants to come to your party and just talk to your uncle John the whole time. Make the effort to keep conversations fun but brief. Just let whomever you’re talking to that you’ve got to “keep making the rounds.”
  10. Don’t forget to be the “hired” photographer. As host, carry your phone in your back pocket. When the time is right, snap photos of friends during candid moments like when you caught them in the middle of a good laugh. Group selfie anyone? Friends often forget to shoot pictures at your party and regret it later.
  11. Expect someone to bring their kids (or their dog) even when it’s an all adults party. Babysitters back out at the last minute. Be ready to provide a doggy water dish on the deck or coloring pages for small children to do. The parents will thank you!
  12. Prepare gifts for your guests for when they arrive and take home gifts for when they leave. Fill small bags with colored candies, a travel bottle of wine or cupcakes and set the gifts near the door. Place a note nearby reminding each guest to “Take One. Thanks for coming to our party!”
  13. Keep the fun going even after the party is over. Upload any photos from your party to social media within 24 hours and tag everyone who appears in them. People look forward to seeing themselves with friends having fun from the night before or from their moment in the photo booth. Remember that hosting a party doesn’t have to feel like work if you follow a plan and execute it well. Heck, it’s supposed to be fun so get in on the action and enjoy yourself too! What tips do you have for the ultimate shin-dig? Post your must-do ideas in the comments section below. Check out ODL Instagram for more photos from my 4th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party.

PS. Don’t forget to invite me to your next party! I bring yummy food and a hostess gift.

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: appetizers, backyard, celebrate, entertaining, entertainment, Facebook, memorable, menu planning, music, outdoors, party, party favors, photo booth, shin dig, yard games

Hauntingly Awesome Cocktails for Your Halloween Bash

October 24, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Once every year I become someone I’m not.

Halloween is my excuse to dress up in costume. I’ve shown up at costume parties as Amy Winehouse, a 20s flapper, zombie prom queen, scarecrow, 80s chick, and queen bee. But you know what? The fang-tastic holiday will remain one of my favorite celebrations dating all the way back to my first clown costume in the kindergarten classroom party. Shout out to mom who set the bar high by sewing or helping me create my costumes from a young age.

Of course, this year’s costume is super secret until Halloween night. We won Best Costumed Couple last year as the beekeeper, queen bear, and baby bee (our dog) so the expectation for our costumes this year is intense.

Since I dress up myself and my house, of course I would dress up my Halloween themed cocktails. What’s great about these drinks is that they are super simple to make for party guests. Some of you are busy this time of year balancing trick or treat night with the kids, classroom Halloween parties, and hey…maybe your own spirited affair just for adults. You don’t have time to prep sangria fruit or brainstorm a punch bowl recipe. No worries! I’ve got you covered.

Boo-rific blood orange cocktail is made even better by adding flavored vodka.
Boo-rific Blood Orange Cocktail is made even better by adding flavored vodka.

Sometimes a holiday inspires my cocktail recipes but other times it’s just the discovery of a flavored water, juice, or soda I haven’t tried yet. Unflavored vodka isn’t sweet and goes well with just about any flavor. Every stocked home bar needs the usual well liquors: vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, and if you’re brave…tequila. My years as a bartender taught me a lesson about what people are willing to drink. Everyone has a liquor they can’t drink anymore and one that serves as their go-to spirit. Be sure to stock them all to appeal to every guest.

Batty Black Cherry Cocktail with Lime
Batty Black Cherry Cocktail with Lime reminds me of a spiked Sonic drink. Yummo! Combine 3 oz. vodka, half a bottle of Sparkling Ice Black Cherry Natural Flavored Water (8 oz), a squeeze of lime over cubed ice. Stir gently and garnish the glass with a lime wedge.

When preparing for your Halloween party guests to arrive, simply line up dozen cocktail glasses on a long table. Station bottled liquors behind them and the mixers (juice, soda, tonic, water) nearby. Introduce theme drinks with a chalkboard menu so they know how to make them and then let them do it. Walk away! Guests don’t mind making their own drinks, which gives you more time to prepare for your costume contest.

Refreshing and not as sweet, Creepy Crisp Apple and Pear Cocktail includes the flavors of fall.
Refreshing and not as sweet, Creepy Crisp Apple and Pear Cocktail includes the flavors of fall. Simply combine 3 oz vodka with about a half a bottle of Fuji Apple Pear Lifewater (10 0z), half a can of Jumex Pear Nectar (6.5 oz) over a cubed ice. Stir gently.

I wish you a freakishly fun Halloween night. May your drink glasses and your trick or treat baskets be full!

Let me know what you think of these cocktail recipes in the comment section below.

Signature ODL 170x70px

onedelightfullife.com

Boo-rific Blood Orange Cocktail

It's scary how delicious this cocktail tastes and the bubbles are fun too!

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 8 oz blood orange soda
  • 3 oz orange vodka
  • squeeze of two orange wedges (optional)
  • garnish with orange slice

Instructions

  1. Fill glass with crushed ice.
  2. Add vodka.
  3. Top with blood orange soda.
  4. Squeeze orange slices into glass.
  5. Stir slowly.
  6. Garnish with an orange slice.
7.8.1.2
59
https://onedelightfullife.com/hauntingly-awesome-cocktails-for-your-halloween-bash/
onedelightfullife.com

Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: apple, apple crisp, autumn, awesome, bash, black cherry, blood orange, cocktails, costume, drinks, fall, fuji apple, Halloween, happy hour, hauntingly, party, pear, pear nectar, soda, spirits, themed cocktails, trick or treat, vodka

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH

Ammar
Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

Archives

Contact Us

  • Email
    info@onedelightfullife.com

Popular Posts

Back to School Brain Breaks12K Total Shares
Going Underground in Historic Ellinwood, KansasGoing Underground in Historic Ellinwood, Kansas7K Total Shares
Weston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend VisitWeston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend Visit2K Total Shares
Cucumber Lime Vodka SplashCucumber Lime Vodka Splash1K Total Shares
Sun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, MexicoSun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, Mexico508 Total Shares
  • About
  • Taste
  • Travel
  • DIY
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

© 2023 · onedelightfullife ·