#MenuMonday: Red, White and Blue Vanilla Bean Spritzers

#MenuMonday: Red, White and Blue Vanilla Bean Spritzers

Looking for something refreshing to serve your children while they are on school vacation?  Try out these patriotic Red, White and Blue Vanilla Bean Spritzers.  These non-alcoholic beverages are the perfect choice for today, President’s Day and everyone will love them.  If you plan to throw a party during February vacation this is the beverage to serve.  Not only is it colorful, it is also refreshingly delicious.

Directions

To make the simple syrups:

1. Combine the frozen strawberries, sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Mash the berries against the sides of the pan to release as much juice as possible. Strain the simple syrup into a jar and cool completely before use. Can be kept in an airtight jar, such as a mason jar, in the refrigerator for several weeks.
2. Combine the frozen blueberries, sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Mash the berries against the sides of the pan to release their juices. Strain in the same manner as the strawberry syrup and keep cool until use, in refrigerator
3. To make the ice cubes divide the chopped fresh strawberries amongst one ice cube tray, and the sliced fresh blueberries in another. For the strawberry ice cubes add 1 tbsp of the strawberry simple syrup to each cube, and top with water. For the blueberry ice cubes, add 1 tbsp of the blueberry simple syrup and top with water. Freeze until ready to use. At least 6-8 hours.

For the Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup :

1. Pour the cup of sugar in a sauce pan. Slice the vanilla bean pods in half and scrape out the seeds into the sugar. Rub the vanilla beans with the sugar using your fingertips until the sugar is very fragrant and the seeds are dispersed. Add the pods to the pan and the 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, stirring to make sure all the sugar is dissolved. Once dissolved turn off the heat and let cool for an hour or two to let the vanilla bean infuse the syrup. Remove the vanilla bean pods and pour the syrup into a jar and chill until ready to use.

For the spritzers:

1. Place two blueberry ice cubes in a glass, then two regular ice cubes and finally 2 strawberry ones on top. Add in 1 tbsp of the vanilla bean simple syrup and fill the glass with the sparkling water. 

   Note: The simple syrup recipes make more than is what’s needed for this recipe, save for other drinks, ice cubes or even as pancake syrup. You can make several trays of the blueberry and strawberry ice cubes ahead of time and store the cubes in freezer baggies until ready to use. It depends on the size of the ice cube trays you have for how many the recipe will yield.

   Total Time: 6-8 hours

   Original Recipe: http://www.pineappleandcoconut.com/recipes/red-white-and-blue-vanilla-bean-spritzers-for-4th-of-july-holidayfoodparty/

   Make sure to let us know if you enjoyed these refreshing Red, White and Blue Vanilla Bean Spritzers!

   Check back on www.bctent.com/blog every Monday for a #MenuMonday party food or beverage recipe!