I just love a good Caprese salad. Fresh, quality Mozzarella, red ripe tomatoes, the pungent flavor of basil a drizzle of Balsamic and a little sprinkle of sea salt on top.
That's your recipe right there. Nothing to it - just simple, quality ingredients that make for an elegant appetizer and great light summer dinner or side dish.
I like to serve this as an appetizer. I assemble them on porcelain Won Ton soup spoons. These are great for one bit appetizers.
For this particular arrangement I drizzled some Balsamic salad dressing (I like Ken's Steakhouse Balsamic vinaigrette) in the bottom of the spoon so that is the last thing to hit your tongue. Top that with some cut up Bocconcini and a cherry tomato sliced in half. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and some small shreds of basil. These are so good.
I finally had to move the tray to a higher point on the table because K swiped a spoon full every time she passed the table.
Celebrating with a mix your own mocktail bar adds a great element of fun to parties, especially parties with young children.
Stock your "bar" with lots of ice, fruit juices, sparkling water, grenadine, sparkling cider and other mixer ingredients. Add garnishes such as maraschino cherries, lemon twists, orange slices and lime wedges. Provide plenty of glasses, a martini shaker and a jigger to measure ounces. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or formal - just fun!
Print your favorite mocktail recipes on cards and place them at the bar for your guests to use. An easy and inexpensive way to add an alcoholic offering is to include champagne on your bar, if you desire.
Even if you decide to offer a traditional cocktail bar, consider a few of these alternate recipes for the non-drinkers or DD's in attendance.
Below are some of my favorite mocktail recipes.
Yellow Bird
1 oz each OJ, pineapple, grapefruit
2 oz sprite
Add ice
Float grenadine on top and let it dribble for effect
Baby Bellini
2 oz peach nectar
Chilled sparkling cider
Pour nectar into champagne flute. Slowly add sparkling cider.
Cinderella
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz OJ
1 oz pineapple juice
2 oz ginger ale
Dash of grenadine
Pour juices into cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a glass and add ginger ale and grenadine.
Cosmo-Not
3 oz peach nectar
2 oz cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 oz grenadine
1 oz Sprite
Mix juices and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into glass. Add Sprite.
Shirley Temple
6 oz Sprite
1 dash of grenadine
Pour soda and grenadine over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Mock Mai Tai
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 Tbsp lime juice
Place ice in bottom of glass. Add ingredients, stir and enjoy.
Cheers everyone!
