Libations at the Lake

Enjoy Some of Our Lake Day Favorites

Summer at the lake is the perfect time to unwind, savor delicious food, and enjoy refreshing cocktails. Whether you’re planning a laid-back day with friends or a festive gathering, we’ve got you covered with delectable recipes and refreshing libations that capture the essence of the season. So, fire up the grill, mix up some drinks, and let’s make this summer unforgettable with our favorite recipes, cocktails, and cigars.

Grilling Up Some Tri-Tip

First up is our succulent Tri-Tip Grill recipe. To prepare this, you’ll need a 2-pound tri-tip roast. You will season it with minced garlic, Celtic salt, and black pepper. Bind it to the tri-tip with olive oil. (side note: when talking about grill recipes a binder is the ingredient that helps the dry seasonings stick to the meat) And no there are no measurements because you measure that with your heart. Don’t let any blogger tell you different when it comes to cooking, you use as much seasoning as you want. Now baking, is a different story and yes you should follow the recipe exactly.  Let the tri-tip absorb all those wonderful flavors while you’re preheating your grill to medium-low heat. Grill with indirect heat until the internal temp of the tri-tip is at about 100 degrees. Then you’re going to ramp the heat up on the grill and sear that beauty for about 5 minutes on each side. This should give the perfect crust while keeping the inside around a medium or medium-rare. After grilling, let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing it against the grain. This dish pairs beautifully with our chimichurri sauce.

Chimichurri

No grilled meat is complete without a flavorful sauce, and our Chimichurri recipe is the perfect companion for the tri-tip. Blend together finely chopped fresh parsley and cilantro, minced garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. This vibrant, zesty sauce can be drizzled over the tri-tip or used as a dipping sauce, adding a fresh and tangy kick to each bite. This is honestly my favorite way to eat tri-tip, and it’s how I always ask Luke to cook it. 

Summer Pasta Salad

To complement the grilled meat and chimichurri, we have a refreshing Summer Pasta Salad. Cook rotini(spirals) or farfalle(bowties) pasta according to the package instructions, then rinse with cold water and toss in olive oil. Combine the pasta with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, crumbled feta cheese, sliced black olives, and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together with Italian dressing and refrigerate for at least an hour to let the flavors meld. This colorful and flavorful pasta salad is the perfect side dish for a summer feast.

Rhoda Jean(Row-duh gee-n)

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Um… what is a Rhoda Jean? Well, one of our favorite people Rhonda, whom you all know and have seen in our dining room, this is her cocktail. Her husband made it for her and it is perfect for summer. You take a big ole’ cup and muddle mint leaves at the bottom with a touch of simple syrup. Then you add either vodka(as Luke likes it) or white rum(as Cassie likes it) If you’re in a yeti(the big boy 32oz) You should probably do around 3-ish ounces, again measure it with your heart. Then you top it off with Fresca. I promise you, it is one of the best drinks ever.

Lakeside Margarita

For tequila lovers, the easy Lakeside Margarita is a must-try. Rim the edge of a glass with lime juice and dip it in salt, then fill the glass with ice. Pour in your choice of tequila, Cassie loves tequila, so her go-to is the Cava de Oro for this drink a silver will do perfectly. Next grab yourself some Simply Limeade or Lemonade or Strawberry Lemonade, and top off that glass. It’s quick and easy and delicious. 

Grilled Lemonade

Now if you’ve never had grilled Lemonade, I can’t express enough how mind-blowing it is. First, you’re going to take some lemons and roll them things back and forth to get the juices flowing. Slice in half, and throw them on the grill until you get them nice pretty grill marks. Once they cool enough for you to touch them, juice them into a pitcher. Add an equal amount of Simply Lemonade, a couple tablespoons of Herb de Provence seasoning, and a couple dashes of simple syrup. Mix together and refrigerate to get it all cooled off. Fill your glass with ice, if you’re under 21 don’t worry you can still enjoy just the lemonade. If you’re over 21, add 2 ounces of your favorite mixing whiskey, we suggest maker’s mark, then top off with your lemonade mix. Even if you aren’t a whiskey person, this drink is so good that it doesn’t matter.

Cigars You Can Smoke When It’s Hotter Than Hades Outside

Now, if you’re a seasoned cigar smoker, you know that when it’s hotter than blue blazes, you can’t smoke the same cigar as you do in the air-conditioning. However, there are some wonderful options that anyone could enjoy on a hot summer lake day. Starting off sweet we got the Tatianna Groovey Blue. It is light and fruity and perfect for those of you out there just starting to smoke or who simply love infused cigars. Next up, we’ve got the Oliva Connecticut. This medium creamy smoke is another excellent option for newcomers and those smokers out there who want to keep it light. Lastly, there is the Macanudo Inspirado. The lightest of these is the White, which will have a similar smoking experience as the Oliva Connecticut. The Green is a bit more full-bodied, but it is one of our favorites. Then if you’re feeling real adventurous you can try a Black. This is probably not a cigar you want to try for a first-time smoker. However if you like heavy and spicy, and you’re craving that. The Inspirado Black is a great choice. 

Life is Better at the Lake

For all of you lake people out there, you know that this saying is true. Lake time does not equate to normal time. It’s a place of relaxation and fun and spending time with the people you want to. We hope that these recipes help you out. If you need help acquiring liquor, visit our location in Ozark, and our team will help you find what you’re looking for. Sip, Smoke, Savor friends! See you soon!