Cucumber Cooler with a Twist: A Refreshing and Easy Spring Drink Recipe

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a refreshing drink, and if you're looking for something with a little kick, a cucumber cooler with a splash of vodka is the way to go. This drink is perfect for sipping poolside or at a backyard barbecue.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized cucumber, peeled and chopped

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 cup cold water

• A handful of fresh mint leaves

• 1/2 cup gin or vodka

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In a blender, add the chopped cucumber, lemon juice, honey, mint leaves, and your choice of gin or vodka. Blend until smooth.

2. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large glass pitcher or container.

3. Add cold water to the pitcher and stir well.

4. Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness and tartness to your liking by adding more honey or lemon juice.

5. Add ice cubes to the pitcher and stir again.

6. Serve chilled with cucumber slices and fresh mint leaves for garnish.

This cucumber cooler recipe can be customized to your preference. You can try using different types of alcohol or adding other fruits or herbs to make it your own. So go ahead and mix up a batch of this delicious and refreshing drink to enjoy all summer long!

Welcome May in The Hamptons with a Refreshing Strawberry Basil Margarita

May is the perfect time to enjoy The Hamptons, as the weather is just starting to warm up and the spring blooms are in full swing. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or just enjoying a day trip, there's plenty to see and do in the area during this time of year.

To make your visit even more enjoyable, why not try a refreshing strawberry basil margarita? This delicious cocktail combines the sweetness of fresh strawberries with the herbal notes of basil and the tanginess of lime, making it the perfect drink to sip on while soaking up the sun.

Here's how to make a strawberry basil margarita:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 fresh strawberries

• A few basil leaves

• 2 ounces of tequila

• 1 ounce of lime juice

• 1 ounce of simple syrup

• Salt for rimming the glass

Instructions:

1. Muddle the strawberries and basil leaves in a shaker.

2. Add the tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.

3. Shake well with ice.

4. Rim a glass with salt.

5. Strain the cocktail into the glass over ice.

6. Garnish with a strawberry or basil leaf, if desired.

The strawberry basil margarita is the perfect drink for a day out in The Hamptons, whether you're enjoying a picnic at the beach or lounging on a porch with friends. The sweetness of the strawberries, the herbaceous flavor of the basil, and the tartness of the lime come together to create a perfectly balanced cocktail that's sure to please.

So, next time you're in The Hamptons during the month of May, be sure to give this delicious drink a try. It's the perfect way to welcome the warmer weather and savor the taste of spring in this beautiful destination.

Lavender Lemonade Spritzer: A Refreshing Mocktail for Spring in the Hamptons

Spring is here, and with it comes a desire for light, refreshing beverages that celebrate the new season. In the Hamptons, where the sun is shining and the beaches are calling, there's nothing better than a delicious mocktail to quench your thirst.

One such mocktail that is perfect for spring in the Hamptons is the Lavender Lemonade Spritzer. This refreshing drink combines the tartness of fresh lemon juice with the floral sweetness of homemade lavender syrup, all topped off with sparkling water for a little bit of fizz. The result is a drink that is both delicious and thirst-quenching.

You'll need fresh lemon juice, lavender syrup, sparkling water, ice cubes, and fresh lavender sprigs and lemon slices for garnish. To make the lavender syrup, you'll need water, granulated sugar, and dried lavender buds.

To make the lavender syrup, simply combine the water, sugar, and lavender buds in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 10-15 minutes before straining out the lavender buds. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To make the Lavender Lemonade Spritzer, combine the fresh lemon juice and lavender syrup in a large pitcher, stirring well to combine. Slowly pour in the sparkling water and stir gently. Add ice cubes to the pitcher or individual glasses, and garnish with fresh lavender sprigs and lemon slices.

This mocktail is perfect for enjoying on a warm spring day in the Hamptons. The floral notes of the lavender syrup and the tartness of the lemon juice perfectly capture the essence of springtime on the East End. Whether you're lounging on the beach, enjoying a picnic, or relaxing on your porch, this Lavender Lemonade Spritzer is the perfect beverage to accompany you.

The Lavender Lemonade Spritzer is a refreshing and delicious mocktail that is perfect for spring in the Hamptons. The floral sweetness of the lavender syrup and the tartness of the lemon juice combine to create a drink that is both refreshing and thirst-quenching. So the next time you're in the Hamptons, be sure to try this delicious mocktail and celebrate the arrival of spring in style!

THe Paperplane Cocktail

The Paperplane Cocktail:

The ideal aperitivo: simple to make, easy to drink.

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If you’re like us, you are probably trying to make the most of August with friends and family—and likely doing a little entertaining in the coming weeks to celebrate.

I recently tried my first Paper Plane Cocktail and was surprised how much I like it because bourbon would not be my first choice. But, since it was made by Matt Merlino, one of the owners of the Hamptons newest private bartending business Paper Plane Cocktail Club— I knew the signature drink would be delicious. Not only was it delicious, but very beautiful too.

Paperplane Cocktail Club is the partnership of local hospitality professionals Matthew Merlino and Sebastian Zuleta. They provide private bartending for small gatherings (up to 50 people) with a large selection of craft cocktails available to choose from. They work closely with clients to set menus for each event.

So for your upcoming party, I recommend giving the paperplane cocktail a try—and if you don’t want to be slinging drinks yourself, reach out to Matt! Not only is he an awesome bartender, but he’s a cool guy to have at a party.

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The Paper Plane Cocktail

The Paper Plane

Ingredients

MAKES 2 SERVING

1½ ounces Amaro Nonino

1½ ounces Aperol

1½ ounces Bourbon

1½ ounces Fresh lemon juice, strained

Preparation

Combine amaro, Aperol, bourbon, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain into 2 coupe glasses

Easiest Chocolate Covered Matzo

When Joe and I were just starting to get serious, he invited me to Passover Seder with his extended family in Greenwich. I was working on the Upper West Side at the time and we’d planned to take the train there for the occasion. My co-worker (who grew up Christian and married a Jewish guy) told me I HAD to bring Jaques Torres Chocolate Covered Matzo. I’ll never forget walking into the chocolate shop— totally clueless as to what Matzo even was and trying to purchase the tastiest version to impress Joe’s family.

I’ve come to realize over the years that us gentiles often try much harder at the holidays than our Jewish soulmates & relatives. I’m usually the one to go all out with the slow cook brisket and perfecting our latke recipe year over year. One time, I even brought a bunch of pomegranates to Rosh Hashanah and everyone was very confused why I did that (it’s symbolic!). Joe loves it, but I don’t think the effort would be half as much if I didn’t step in. (You’re welcome, Joe!)

With Passover this weekend, I thought it would be fun to DIY some chocolate covered Matzos. FULL CONFESSION— I tried to make caramel & chocolate covered first, but very quickly learned I have no business making candy from scratch when my caramel started to burn and I had to run a boiling, bubbling, smoking pot outside.

So I present to you, truly, the EASIEST chocolate covered Matzos. (No burnt caramel or oven required).

Easiest Chocolate Covered Matzo

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Ingredients:

• Two 10 oz bags of chocolate chips

  • These can be dairy free, dark chocolate, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate. It’s 100% up to you and your preferences

• 8-10 plain matzos

• Toppings: slices almonds, sprinkles, flaky salt— whatever you prefer

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Step by Step:

1. Melt Chocolate

   I like to do one cup of chocolate at a time so I can take my time decorating without stressing over the chocolate cooling. To melt the chocolate the EASIEST way (which is what we’re going for here) is in the microwave. Place the chocolate in a microwave safe mixing bowl and start with 30 second increments. Stir between. Once the chocolate really starts to melt, drop down to 15 second increments until the chocolate is smooth.

2. Make sure all the chips have melted before decorating.

3. Get creative!

   Using a spatula or back of spoon, you can decorate your matzos to your own preference. I did some full covered (uses a lot of chocolate), some I covered half, others I Jackson Pollocked.

4. Add Toppings

   Before the chocolate cools, make sure to add any toppings. (this is why I work with one cup at a time). You can sprinkle sliced almonds, sprinkles or even more chocolate chips. Get the kids involved and just have fun.

5. Cool.

   I cover a few sheet pans with parchment paper and lay the matzos in a single row. Then place the pans in the fridge for at least 20 minutes until the chocolate is totally solid. Once the chocolate is solid, you can condense into a stack of matzos. Best to store in a cool place, fridge if you can manage.

Enjoy!

We hope you have a beautiful holiday filled with connection, expansiveness, hope & renewal. Please leave a comment if you DIY your own chocolate matzos!

Metabolism Boosting Juice Recipe

I’m not one for strict diets, cleanses or detoxes. I firmly believe our bodies are smart and work best when we treat them with kindness. So this juice isn’t meant to be a fix-all, a meal replacer or anything of the sort— but rather an energy shifter!

I’m starting to feel the spring energy with the sunshine peeking out and snow melting away. This recipe gives me energy mid-day and gets my cells buzzing. Added bonus, some of the ingredients are known to bump up metabolism and leave you hydrated.

So break out your juicer and give this tart recipe a whirl!

Metabolism Boosting Juice

Makes enough for 2

• 1 lemon

• 1/2 beet

• 1/2 celery stalk

• 1 small ginger knob

• 1 Granny Smith apple

• 1/2 English cucumber

• 1/4 watermelon radish

• 4 kale leaves

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What do you think? Leave us a comment if you give it a try!