Summer Drinks - Mock Sangria

10 (about 6oz) servings

2 cups orange juice, chilled
1 cup unsweetened white grape juice, chilled
1 cup reduced-calorie cranberry juice
1 1liter bottle diet lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled
Ice cubes
2 cups assorted fresh fruit (such as oranges, cut into wedges; thinly sliced and halved lemons
and/or limes; pineapple wedges; seedless red or green grapes; sliced , peeled and pitted
peachers; and halved strawberries).
Mint Sprigs

Directions:

1. In a large bowl or pitcher, stir together chilled orange juice, white grape juice, and cranberry juice.

2. Add the lemon-lime beverage; stir gently. Fill each of 10 glasses about 2/3 full with ice. Divide fruit among glasses. Pour juice mixture into glasses. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

contributed by Sandra Henry

Summer Drinks - Watermelon Strawberry Virgin Margaritas

2 cups lime margarita mix
2 cups lemon lime soda
1 cup watermelon chunks
1 cup strawberries
1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients together until the fruit chunks are smooth. Serve immediately. Salt-rimmed glasses are fun. Reduce the recipe for smaller blenders.

contributed by: Becka Stephensen

Summer Drinks - Cherry Vanilla Milk Shake w/ Root Beer Granita

Serves 6-8

1 bottle (12 ozs) root beer
1 qt. vanilla ice cream
2 cups bottled sour cherries with their juices, cherries drained and juices reserved

1. Pour root beer into a baking pan, and freeze, uncovered, until firm, about 2 1/2 hours. Using a fork, scrape into small shards. Cover, and freeze until ready to use.

2. Puree ice cream and reserved cherry huice in a blender until smooth. Add chereies, and pulse until combined but still chunky. Divide among 6-8 glasses, and top each with 2 tablespoons root beer granita.

contributed by: Megan Kanzler