Poolside This Summer

Summer is here and you are excited about kicking of this sunny season. You have already planned your vacation and some parties with your friends at the poolside. Below is some inspiration on how to spend lazy summer days with some pool games, fun cocktails and easy to make, yummy snacks.

Games by the pool

There are many fun games that you can play at your pool party. Pool games are a great idea as they bring groups of people together. One classic pool games is “Chicken”. This game is best played with 4 players however it can be played with more people as long as it’s an even number. Each of the players needs to stand in the pool with another player on their shoulders. The teams’ objective is to knock the other team over. The last team standing is the winner. This game is pretty simple but it never disappoints.

Summer Cocktails

There is not many drinks that taste as wonderful and refreshing as a perfectly mixed cocktail, especially on a hot sunny day. Two classic cocktails are “Red Sangria” and the “Mojito”. These two cocktails will never fall out of fashion and will always remain top favourites for Summer. If you feel like a yummy Red Sangria, you will need to have the following ingredients:

Red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, sugar, sliced oranges, sliced green apple and seltzer. Once you have all your ingredients: mix the wine, liqueur and sugar in a pitcher. Refrigerate this mix at least for an hour before adding the seltzer.

Then we have the Mojito. To make this cocktail you will need: Bacardi Rum, fresh lime, cubed ice, crushed ice, caster sugar, soda water and fresh mint leaves. Firstly put your lime in a glass and mix it with the sugar, then add the mint leaves. Fill the glass with crashed ice half way and add the Barardi. Stir the mix and then top up with crashed ice and some soda water.

Summertime Snacks

Along with great cocktails you will need to make sure you have mouth-watering snacks. Easily made, yet so delicious is the classic Italian Bruschetta. All you need is a fresh French loaf, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and basil leaves. Boil some water and then place the tomatoes into it for about a minute. Once they become soft, peel them and finely cut them. In a bowl mix olive oil, crashed garlic and finely chopped basil leaves. Slice your French loaf, drizzle with olive oil and grill on 180 degrees for 15 minutes max. Once your French loaf is golden, add a dollop of the tomatoes with the garlic mix and you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!

Another easy and always delicious recipe is spicy chicken sosaties. You will need garlic gloves, ginger, orange zest and juice, spring onions, honey, soy sauce, olive oil, skinless chicken breasts (cubed), mushrooms and mini tomatoes. First mix the garlic, ginger, orange zest and spring onions in a mixer, then add honey, orange juice, soy sauce and olive oil, and blend again. This mix will be your marinade for the chicken which you can marinade a day before your party and leave is in the fridge overnight. Once your chicken is marinated, all you have to do is place a piece of chicken, mini tomato and a mushroom on a wooden sosatie stick, repeat this pattern until you have almost filled your stick. Place your newly made sosaties onto a warm braai to cook. Serve with chopped spring onions.

We hope that after you read our blog, you will feel inspired when throwing your fabulous summer pool party. With our ideas, you will surely throw a party everyone will remember.