Orange Crush + Popcorn

For the past couple of years now it's become a tradition for my cousin and I to spend a long weekend with my aunt and uncle at their house in Bethany Beach, DE. Even though it's just the two of us, we call it a girl's weekend.

Each year is pretty similar, we do some shopping at the outlets, hit up the pool or the beach, capture a sunrise or two, visit our favorite restaurant and talk, talk, talk. My husband likes to joke that when my mom's side of the family is together (nearly all women) that we do nothing but talk and the sheer volume we produce from conversations can overpower anything the men are trying to watch on television.

A tradition that my aunt and uncle have is that happy hour is at 7 pm and dinner is at 8 pm. While that may seem like a late dinner to some, it really works out perfectly when you're on vacation and can't bring yourself to get off that pool chair or walk out of that one last store. Happy hour sometimes comes with an appetizer or two, and before we even got there I had a plan of what we would enjoy one evening.

If you're a Maryland local or have visited any of the beaches or surrounding Delaware and Virginia beaches, you've probably come across a drink on the menu called an Orange Crush. The origin of the crush seems to be pretty debatable, with multiple places saying they were the first to create it and even multiple versions of the drink out there, but either way, it's a super tasty and light drink to whip up on those hot summer days. But be careful, it's one of those drinks that goes down just a little too easily and you might not realize it until you go to stand up after dinner. 😉

 

 

If an orange crush isn't your thing and maybe a Moscow Mule is, it also pairs perfectly with their original flavor. Or maybe you're feeling spicy and want to munch on some jalapeno flavored popcorn and what better way to cool down your tongue with a refreshing coconut margarita? The popcorn flavor and drink combinations are endless and I don't know about you, but this really makes me want to have another party and check out all of the pairings they've suggested!

 

Also, in case you are having a few people over and don't want to get stuck making drinks as they arrive, you can easily increase the orange crush recipe ingredients to fill a pitcher and then leave out so your guests can serve themselves! Without ice and covered, the drink will keep in the refrigerator overnight as well.