BBQ Party Cocktails and Snacks

June 18, 2019

Warmer weather and backyard cookouts provide the perfect environment for getting to know your neighbors, enjoying alfresco dining, and indulging in some summertime specialties. The sale of lemonade goes up every summer thanks to new blends — and what sounds more refreshing than an ice-cold glass of the sweet-tart drink?

Among the pure non-alcoholic variety for the littles and big-batch boozy lemon punches for the over-21 crowd, we found some great cocktail and snack recipes for a neighborhood block party, family reunion and post-softball game to add a kick to summer celebrations on the nearest patio or park!

The Best BBQ Cocktails

Start with the basics – lemon juice and sugar — and freeze it, blend it, shake it and stir it for one of these creative spins on a classic. Buzz Feed offers 23 of the best combinations from Sparkling Bourbon-Spiked Lemonade and Whiskey-Thyme Lemonade to Sweet Tea Lemonade Slushies with Vodka AND Skinny Lemonade Margaritas. We double-dog dare you NOT to find one that tickles your taste buds. Lots of these will work for kids, too, sans the alcohol.

There are beer and wine drinkers, and there are mixed drink drinkers (is that redundant?), and the Winerist has 10 summer cocktails including one that takes our favorite sweet-and-sour juice to creative new heights. The Lemonade Shandy combines lemonade and beer in a 50/50 mix – which you can modify, depending on your tastes. (Are we the only ones in Southshore who have never thought about pairing these two?!)

Food and Wine offers up 10 somewhat exotic summer cocktails that require a little more determination to secure the ingredients – like the Acgricole-Guava Cooler made with an aromatic rum from the French West Indies derived from sugarcane juice or the Tabernacle Crush, made with dessert wine, one fresh peach and gin.

For big-batch drinks, look at Wide Open Eats which curated nine punches you can tweak to your own liking. Pineapple Rosé Sangria from The Roasted Root — to which you can add champagne, or the Strawberry Wine Punch from Miss in the Kitchen, which some might like better with a dash of simple syrup. Mix that Drink has 29 more awesome big-batch BBQ party drinks that you can whip up in pitchers for self-serving. (And lots of these will work for teetotalers.)

 Appies for Everyone

We almost had to stop writing the blog and go get something to eat after looking at these scrumpdillicious BBQ appetizers, starters and snacks. Look at some of these recipes (photos, really, and lots shot by Ethan Calabrese!) and see if they don’t make your mouth water.

Flank steak strips, wrapped around French fries with fresh rosemary and Dijon mustard could be served with steak sauce or not – this is a meat and potatoes combo that just belongs together. Or the Shrimp Tostada Bites, sautéed protein seasoned with honey, lime juice, garlic and cayenne on a layer of guac atop a tortilla scoop. Either one goes perfectly with one of the above cocktails. These and 48 more summer party appetizers can amp up your BBQ party, compliments of Delish. You’ll find Bun-less Burger Bites, Oven-Fried Pickles and Boozy Melon Balls on a stick.

Not to be outdone, the Food Network comes through with summer party snacks like Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Rachael Ray’s Lettuce Wraps with BarbecuedChinese Chicken and hoisin sauce and Jumbo Shrimp Stuffed with Cilantro and Chiles. 

And while we’re not sure we can manage the technique on our first try, these colorful summer Veggie Rolls and Peanut Dipping Sauce look both pretty and palatable for warm-weather outdoor dining.

Finally, Southern Living’s collection of finger foods for backyard barbecues include some party spreads and dips for chips and sliced veggies (carrots, celery, zucchini and squash), as well as appies like Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers, and Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Summer at Southshore

While residents have summer cookouts and block parties of their own, the HOA and YMCA staff at Southshore are always putting together kid-friendly and adult-oriented special events to make Life at the Lake, fun for the whole family. See what Colorado’s top home builders have to offer: explore the stunning model homes from Century Communities, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers. Homes here are available in ranch and two-story designs and priced between the $400s and the $700s.