as requested…

After putting up the cocktail recipe on Sunday, then posting it on the LPG Facebook fan page, I found that my “followers” want and need more cocktail recipes. I am here to serve!

We have a built-in 50-bottle wine refrigerator in the kitchen. It is generally stocked about half full with every day, drinkable, and reasonably priced bottles. My favorite summer wine is rosé. I find it to be the perfect “cool me down” hot-weather choice. For some unknown reason, my dad figures that if I like rosé, I must love Riesling and Gewürztraminer. I despise both! In fact, I find them so cloyingly sweet that I can not bring myself to serve them to others either. So what to do with the three bottles I have? Yup, that’s right, it took me three weeks to tell my dad, that I do not like these wines – and yes, it hurt his feelings. A girl’s gotta do what a girl has gotta do to stop receiving bad “gifts”! What I’ve decided to do is make lemonade out of lemons, or in this case, sour up overly sweet wine with a bit of acid.

German Raspberry Wine Cooler

16-ounce bag frozen raspberries, thawed
1 750 ml bottle Riesling or Gewürztraminer
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/4 limoncello liqueur
Ice
Lemon slices, garnish

In a blender or food processor, purée the raspberries and their accumulated juices. Place a strainer over a bowl and allow the liquids to flow through. Do not use a wooden spoon or spatula to press the raspberry purée in the strainer, this will only push the tiny seeds into the strainer holes, clogging the strainer. Instead, use the handle of the spoon or spatula to lightly tap on the side of the strainer. This allows the seeds to “jump” around as the liquids easily flow into the bowl.

(When I demonstrate this tip in cooking classes, there are “oohs and aahs” and at least one person will pipe up and say, “That tip was worth the price of the class!”  You will understand when you give it a try.) Makes about 1 1/4 cups of raspberry purée.

Pour the raspberry purée, wine, lemon juice, and limoncello into a pitcher and stir. Serve in tall wine glasses filled with ice, garnish with lemon slices, and enjoy. Or in my case, enjoy getting rid of the German wine!

Makes about 4 cups