Cyndi Gryte's Blog

Nothing celebrates Memorial Weekend like vintage Americana  

So much to do, so little time…oh wait. I’m supposed to have more time than ever during all of this social distancing, and somehow, I have less. Anyone else losing time?

Something sassy, something sweet, spicy, and seriously special. The Siren Spritz is a strong, sparkling cocktail that you’ll love to love.

Siren Spritz

1 oz Campari

1 oz Vodka
2 dashes Old Fashioned Bitters (or Angostura)
Top with Prosecco
Garnish with Lemon

Add Campari, vodka, and bitters into your shaker with ice. Shake, shake, shake and pour over ice. Top with prosecco, and add a slice of lemon. Squeeze the lemon before dropping into the glass if you prefer a bigger hit of citrus.

I recommend using a beautiful full-bodied wine glass for this cocktail (as pictured). This large glass gives you and your guests the ability to choose how much Prosecco you want to add. Some will fill to the brim to even out the strong flavor of Campari.



New obsession alert! I want to take a moment to highlight my new fave, Dashfire Bitters! This line of bitters is full of powerfully exciting flavors. I highly recommend you try them. In this cocktail I feature their Old Fashioned Bitters, pictured below. Bonus, the bottles are gorgeous, perfect for the discerning home bar 

Here’s what you need to do RIGHT NOW…pour a bottle of your fave rosé (I know you have a bottle) into a 13×9 inch pan, cover it with foil, and pop it into the freezer. Do this, and tomorrow you’ll thank me. See…

Or you’ll thank me on Friday, because Friday’s are for Frosé! That’s when you’ll be ready to relax and feel accomplished about everything you got done during the week…or, you’ll stare at the enormous list of ridiculous things you didn’t get done and want to just forget about it all and Frosé!

Let’s Frosé!

Frou Frou Frosé Rosé

Bottle of Rosé
1/3 Cup Strawberry Simple Syrup

As I mentioned above, pour your favorite rosé into a 13×9 inch pan. (I used one of my fancy dishes because this is frou frou stuff we’re dealing with.) Cover with foil and let freeze overnight. It will be a yummy slushy by morning. (Refrain from spooning into it for breakfast. Or don’t, I won’t tell!) Prepare your homemade strawberry simple syrup a day early, or just be sure it has cooled enough before adding it to the blender with the slushy rosé. Blend and pour into cute cups or wine glasses. I chilled mine for an extra fancy finish! Garnish with Strawberries and #sipaway.

You know what goes perfectly with a cocktail, my book! My Goodreads Giveaway ends at midnight this Friday, so while you’re sipping, sign up here.

More Flashy Summer Cocktails here!

Splish Splash!

Keep your heels, head and standards high and your home a happy one.

My newest cocktail obsession is magenta, magical, and a margarita! You’ll love the surprising flavor and stunning color. It’s a neon dream…

I admit, you’ll need one ingredient that’s a bit extraordinary. The prickly pear!

Note I’ve show a few colors here for contrast. When picking your cactus grown pear, choose the ones that are rich in a reddish-purple color and firm. To prepare, slice both ends and discard. Make a long cut lengthwise down the pear, then peel the skin from the fruit. To create a beautiful simple syrup, I have easy instructions here!

Once you’ve strained and cooled the delicious homemade prickly pear simple syrup, you’re ready to cocktail!

Prickly Pear Magenta Margarita



2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh Lime
1/2 oz Prickly Pear Simple Syrup

Into your shaker add ice, tequila, Cointreau (notice I used a bit more in this recipe than in my normal margarita), fresh lime juice, and prickly pear simple syrup. Shake and pour over ice. It’s a yummy stunner, so #sipaway!

I’ll be heading to the lake this weekend and surprising my friends with magical Magenta Margaritas! What will you be doing…now that you have the perfect cocktail to share? (I suggest making a large batch because this margarita goes fast!)

Want more summer cocktail ideas? Check out my “5 Flashy Summer Cocktails” here! And don’t forget my Goodreads Giveaway ends at midnight this Friday, sign up here or grab it now on Amazon. Sydney Shag & THE SIRENS: Heavy on the Vodka and a Little Bit Dirty is the perfect summer read full of comedic observations, lovable insight, and embarrassing blunders you can only get through with your best friends

Homemade simple syrup not only ups the flavor profile of your cocktails but they make you look like a serious mixologist. And here’s the best part, they’re actually very SIMPLE to make! Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can start creating your own incredible flavors!

Simple Syrup

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Water

Place ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Let cool and voilà!

Now you’re ready to make your favorite flavors. Keep your water to sugar ratio 1:1 and add 1 1/2 cups of your favorite fruit. Try strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, and more!



Follow the same steps with fruit and let it simmer in the saucepan for 20-25 minutes. Be sure to strain. I strain some syrups more than once to make sure it’s perfectly smooth. You can use your favorite herbs and chiles as well. Try ginger root! I made my first ginger simple syrup last week. YUM!
Tip: When making prickly pear simple syrup you’ll want to add a little fresh lemon juice after simmering to enhance the tang. Add to taste.



Simple syrups aren’t just for cocktails. Wow guests by pouring a fresh Strawberry Lemonade! Find the recipe and more summer favorites here.

One more thing! When I was making several of these easy simple syrups I also made homemade sweet & sour mix! Start with the simple syrup recipe above, let it cool then add 1/2 cup each of fresh lemon and lime juice! It’s that easy!

Remember to refrigerate your bounty! They will last up to a month.

Splish Splash!

Keep your heels, head and standards high and your home a happy one.

Full of flavor and super pretty poolside, these five flashy faves are just in time for the height of summer! (Psst…I’ve included a yummy mocktail for those who don’t imbibe but want to sip on something spectacular. And you’re going to swoon when you see what I chose for #5!)

Let’s get shakin’…

The first cocktail I’ve chosen for this summer roundup is a take on the traditional Planter’s Punch!

Ruby Red Planter’s Punch 

2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Gold Rum (or traditionally Dark Rum)
2 oz Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Lime
1/4 oz Grenadine
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Spice up this classic highball cocktail and serve it as a martini! Shake all ingredients vigorously to serve ice cold. The ruby red grapefruit will give it a surprising and even more exciting flavor than the original, which calls for orange juice. I garnished with a beautiful lime leaf. Enjoy!

The second stunner is another delicious rum based cocktail. (Because who can resist rum while sitting in the sun ?!)

Mai Tai-Tini

1 1/2 oz Light Rum
1/2 oz Dark Rum
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/4 Grenadine
1/4 Homemade Sweet & Sour Mix

Shake, shake, shake the light rum, cointreau and homemade sweet & sour mix together with ice and strain into your glass. Then add the grenadine, which will sink beautifully to the bottom. Last, and the trick to this summer-tini, float your dark rum on top! It’s a strong poolside sip so keep your favorite floatie nearby!

The next cocktail is so fresh you’ll take two! And the name is as flashy as it gets…the Skinny Dipper!

Skinny Dipper Margarita



2 oz Tequila
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh Lime
Chile de Arbol

With just a little work you’ll WOW your guests. This delicious, crisp margarita is easily my favorite low calorie cocktail. Muddle fresh lime and Chile de Arbol in your shaker. Add ice, tequila, and Cointreau. Shake it up! Pour over ice, garnish with a “skinny dipper,” and #sipaway.



Now that we brought the heat, let’s bring the sweet! This mocktail is made with homemade simple syrup and sure to bring summer smiles!




Strawberry Lemonade 
 
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon 
1/2 oz Strawberry Simple Syrup 


Fresh squeezed lemons, strawberry simple syrup, water, and a splash of sparkling will create an easy but dramatic summer drink for everyone! Use a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon and flamingos for flair. (You can easily make this mocktail a cocktail by adding Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka.)



And for number 5 on this flashy, fabulous list I’ve chosen a scrumptious summer staple…(drum role)…Rosé Popsicles!




This is one of my favorite recipes ever!

Lavender Rosé Popsicles 
 
Bottle of Rosé
2/3 Cup Lavender & Lemon Simple Syrup
1/2 Cup Water
Fresh Fruit (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, etc.)


Pour, add fruit, freeze, and refresh. Get more tips on this freezer favorite, and my gin popsicle here.

Have fun this #SundayFunday 

Full of flavor and super pretty poolside, these five flashy faves are just in time for the height of summer! (Psst…I’ve included a yummy mocktail for those who don’t imbibe but want to sip on something spectacular. And you’re going to swoon when you see what I chose for #5!)

Let’s get shakin’…

The first cocktail I’ve chosen for this summer roundup is a take on the traditional Planter’s Punch!

Ruby Red Planter’s Punch 

2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Gold Rum (or traditionally Dark Rum)
2 oz Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Lime
1/4 oz Grenadine

Spice up this classic highball cocktail and serve it as a martini! Shake all ingredients vigorously to serve ice cold. The ruby red grapefruit will give it a surprising and even more exciting flavor than the original, which calls for orange juice. I garnished with a beautiful lime leaf. Enjoy!

The second stunner is another delicious rum based cocktail. (Because who can resist rum while sitting in the sun ?!)

Mai Tai-Tini

1 1/2 oz Light Rum
1/2 oz Dark Rum
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/4 Grenadine
1/4 Fresh Sweet & Sour Mix

Shake, shake, shake the light rum, cointreau and homemade sweet & sour mix together with ice and strain into your glass. Then add the grenadine, which will sink beautifully to the bottom. Last, and the trick to this summer-tini, float your dark rum on top! It’s a strong sip so keep your favorite floatie nearby!

My newest cocktail obsession is magenta, magical, and a margarita!

Prickly Pear Magenta Margarita



2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh Lime
1/2 oz Prickly Pear Simple Syrup

With just a little homemade prickly pear simple syrup you’ll WOW your guests. It’s a gorgeous cocktail and delicious too! Into your shaker add ice, tequila, Cointreau (notice I used a bit more in this recipe than in my normal margarita), fresh lime juice, and prickly pear simple syrup. Pour over ice and #sipaway!



Let’s use another homemade simple syrup that’s sure to bring summer smiles! Strawberry Lemonade…



Fresh squeezed lemons, strawberry simple syrup, water, and a splash of sparkling will create an easy but dramatic summer drink for everyone! Use a cocktail glass and garnish with blueberries and flamingos for flair.



And for number 5 a scrumptious summer staple…(drum role)…Rosé Popsicles!




This is one of my favorite recipes ever!

Lavender Rosé Popsicles 
 
Bottle of Rosé
2/3 Cup Lavender & Lemon Simple Syrup
1/2 Cup Water
Fresh Fruit (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, etc.)


Pour, add fruit, freeze, and refresh. Get more tips on this freezer favorite, and my gin popsicle here.

Have fun this #SundayFunday

I’m sweating my face off! Thank you Austin for being gorgeous, but also for making it clear that I need to be poolside everyday to survive your beautiful (read: sweltering), sunny (read: burning), hot (read: omg we are all going to die), weather. Oh, and that I need to make cocktails everyday due to both heat and the fact that we are all going to die of said heat. And if that’s the case, I will stick to my plan that I shall go with a cocktail in hand…

I give you the Watermelon Cucumber Cooler!

It’s fantastically fresh!

Watermelon Cucumber Cooler 

2 oz Gin
Watermelon-Cucumber Ice Cubes
Splash of Soda (or Tonic)


To make the Ice Cubes:
8 Slices Cucumber
6 Mint Leaves
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp Agave (or to taste)
2 Cups Fresh Watermelon Juice





Muddle cucumber, mint, lemon, and agave. Add watermelon juice and strain into ice cube tray. Freeze overnight. (Insert Jeopardy music here.)
Add 5 to 6 cubes into your glass then add Gin and Soda. It will melt into the perfect poolside cocktail. Enjoy!

Here I am poolside enjoying this picture perfect poolside treat…weeeee!

PLUG: This serves fabulously with summer reading: Sydney Shag & THE SIRENS: Heavy on the Vodka and a Little Bit Dirty 

Sydney Shag & THE SIRENS: Heavy on the Vodka and a Little Bit Dirty has hit the Goodreads Giveaway list! (It’s so exciting, it’s causing FIREWORKS!! ) I’m thrilled to give 100 Kindle copies away to lucky summer readers. Sign in to your Goodreads account to enter. (Don’t have an account? It’s easy to sign up!)

Let me get you in the mood, here are a few reviews on Amazon! (THANK YOU, REVIEWERS!)

“Looking for a good beach read or maybe a relaxing evening with a glass of wine? This book is funny from cover to cover!! Can’t wait to see where the adventure leads next.”

“Ok I’m not much of a RomCom book girl. It’s never grabbed my attention until this book. It’s the right amount of romance with a lot of comedy and realness. So many times I pictured myself in this story because let’s be real, we’ve all done something stupid and crazy in our lives. It’s an easy, well written, relatable read that leaves you wanting more. Seriously I need another Sydney Shag story!! Can’t recommend enough!”

“This RomCom will make you laugh hard and relate. A must read so you can vicariously live through these fun, quirky and sexy women. Loved it!”

100 Kindle Copies available! Winners will be chosen at random at the end of the giveaway. Last day to enter is July 26! Can’t wait? Go on, buy one now and sit poolside with a good sip and a seriously fun chick-lit.

Splish Splash!

Keep your heels, head and standards high and your home a happy one.