Easy weekend recipes: Cool down with sangria and refreshing cocktails

It’s Friday. You’ve made it. And that means you can celebrate the week’s accomplishments with a refreshing cocktail if you’d like. Each of these ideas comes together in less than an hour, though they may call for additional time to allow the flavors to infuse.

Sangria No. 27: Fresh peaches, blackberries, orange and lime slices, thyme, lavender and mint are combined in a large pitcher, along with vanilla seeds, orange juice, wine, Cognac, Grand Marnier, vermouth and bitters. Serve over lots of ice.

Bloody Mary: Use those fresh tomatoes you’re finding in the market about now to make your own Bloody Mary mix -- try homemade and you may never go back to store-bought again. If you’re feeling extra industrious, pickle your own green beans to add to the finished cocktails as a garnish.

Cool cucumber martini: Fresh cucumber, chervil and limes are muddled to bring out their flavor, then quickly infused with gin and vermouth for this cocktail that comes together in minutes. Serve chilled, garnished with a peeled cucumber strip and sprig of chervil. You can find the recipe below. Cheers!

COOL CUCUMBER MARTINI

Total time: 10 minutes | Serves 1

1 (2-inch) piece cucumber, peeled and chopped, plus 1 (4-inch) thin strip for garnish
2 tablespoons chervil leaves, plus sprig for garnish
1/2 teaspoon Key lime juice
3 ounces Bombay gin
1/2 teaspoon dry white vermouth
1/2 cup ice cubes

1. Muddle the cucumber, chervil leaves and lime juice together in a mortar.

2. Pour the mixture into a glass measuring cup or small pitcher and add the gin and vermouth. Allow to infuse for five minutes.

3. Add the ice cubes and stir until the drink is chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, pressing to extract any juices.

4. Garnish with a sprig of chervil and a peeled cucumber strip on a bamboo skewer.

Each serving: 197 calories; 0 protein; 1 gram carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 0 fat; 0 saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 1 mg sodium.

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