{"id":396,"date":"2018-04-27T15:19:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T15:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toh.test.rda.net\/check-out-this-genius-way-to-chill-drinks-for-your-next-backyard-party\/"},"modified":"2023-06-07T05:20:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T10:20:39","slug":"check-out-this-genius-way-to-chill-drinks-for-your-next-backyard-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/check-out-this-genius-way-to-chill-drinks-for-your-next-backyard-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Check Out This Genius Way to Chill Drinks for Your Next Backyard Party"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\nOne of summer's best pastimes is a big backyard party<\/a> filled with friends and family, potluck-ready favorites<\/a> and... a dirty cooler<\/a>? Nah. When you want to chill lots of drinks quickly, try this oh-so-cute water balloon hack.\r\n\r\nAll you need is a pack of standard water balloons, a blow-up kiddie pool and the beverages of your choice. Choose soda, beer or, if you're feeling fancy, some wire bail bottles of freshly made lemonade<\/a>.\r\n\r\n \r\nHow It's Done<\/h3>\r\n \r\n\r\nFill up the water balloons with water from a sink or hose. Freeze them on a cookie sheet for at least four hours, or until frozen solid. (Freezing on a sheet helps them keep their shape.) When the party's about to start, get those beverages chilled. Set up a kiddie pool on the deck or yard. Add the frozen balloons and beverages, alternating so no one has to dig around to find their favorite. Voila! You're all set to have the best party on the block.\r\n\r\nIf you want to get even more creative, use balloons in school colors for graduation parties and metal pails or buckets for a backyard wedding.\r\n\r\nOur absolute favorite part: get your kids to help with clean up the next morning by having a water balloon fight using the melted balloons! So get ready to kick back, relax and enjoy your new favorite party trick filled with the best summer drinks<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tServe Up These Iconic Summer Dishes<\/div>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 48<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cola Burgers<\/a>A friend who's an excellent cook shared this hamburger recipe with me, and it has since become a family favorite. The unusual combination of cola and French salad dressing added to the ground beef gives it fabulous flavor. The mixture is also used as a basting sauce on the moist burgers.\r\n-Melva Baumer, Millmont, PennsylvaniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Potato Salad<\/a>Everyone needs a reliable potato salad recipe in their repertoire, and this one is classic in its simplicity. It's quick and versatile, and it will go with just about anything.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chipotle Chili Dogs<\/a>Long live childhood favorites! I created this recipe for the 125th anniversary of a small town in Minnesota. The medium spice level means that people of all ages love the flavors. \u2014Barb Templin, Norwood, MinnesotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Sugar Cookies<\/a>This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they'll become yours as well. \u2014Helen Wallis, Vancouver, WashingtonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Teriyaki Shish Kabobs<\/a>When I was a teenager, my father worked for an airline, and my family lived on the island of Guam in the South Pacific. A friend of my mother gave her this tangy-sweet recipe, and we enjoyed it often. Now I make it for my family, and they're big fans as well. \u2014Suzanne Pelegrin, Ocala, FloridaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Creamy Macaroni Salad<\/a>This creamy macaroni salad recipe is a classic cold noodle dish with oodles of crowd appeal. It features tender macaroni and crisp, colorful veggies tossed with an ultra-creamy, sweet-and-tangy dressing.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Baked Beans with Bacon<\/a>These baked beans with bacon will round out any meal, but they're particularly good served alongside cornbread. Canned pork and beans make the preparation easy.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Green Tomato BLT<\/a>I absolutely love tomatoes, any kind, any size. Being from the South, that includes fried green tomatoes. I created a special summer sandwich to show them off. \u2014Hillian Holmgren, Del Rio, TexasGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Key West Flank Steak<\/a>My husband, Jason, is the cook in our family. This is his recipe, inspired by his Colombian roots and our visits to Key West. Sometimes we grill extra lime and onion slices alongside. Serve with sides of rice and fried plantains. \u2014Gretchen Ospina, Columbia Heights, MinnesotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Caprese Salad<\/a>A Caprese salad is the tastiest way to make use of all those tomatoes and basil that seem to multiply in your garden overnight. Just add fresh mozzarella and a homemade vinaigrette, and you're set!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Applesauce Barbecue Chicken<\/a>You only need a few ingredients to create this sweet and peppery chicken. The subtle flavor of apple makes this tender barbecue dish stand out from the rest. \u2014Darla Andrews, Farmers Branch, Texas\r\nGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Grilled Corn in Husks<\/a>If you're new to grilled corn in the husk, season the ears with butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. It's especially good! Be sure to give the corn a long soak before putting it on the grill. Hot off the grate, the kernels are moist and tender with a wonderful, sweet flavor. \u2014<\/span>Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New JerseyGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Strawberry Ice Cream Cake<\/a>We turned an iconic ice cream truck treat into a whole cake that you can make right at home. Learn how to make our strawberry ice cream cake that's nothing short of nostalgic.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Grilled Potato Fans with Onions<\/a>Looking for the ultimate grilled potato? These seasoned potato \u201cfans\u201d are filled with tender onions, roasted garlic cloves and savory Parmesan cheese. \u2014Sharon Crabtree, Graham, WashingtonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Brats and Sauerkraut<\/a>Brats and sauerkraut are a match made in food heaven. And this dish is highly flexible, so you can go with plain, smoked or cheese-flavored bratwurst and serve it whole or sliced, with a bun or without.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Key Lime Cream Pie<\/a>I am very proud of this luscious no-bake beauty. It's so cool and refreshing\u2014perfect for any summer potluck or get-together. Wherever I take this pie, it quickly disappears, and everyone asks for the recipe. \u2014Shirley Rickis, Lady Lake, FloridaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate<\/a>Here's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Smash Burger Recipes<\/a>Now is not the time to cut calories or skimp on salt. Go for ground chuck that is at least 80\/20. If you can find a blend with ground brisket or short rib, all the better. The best burger comes with being liberal with kosher salt\u2014it is beef's best friend. \u2014James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Lime and Dill Chimichurri Shrimp<\/a>Chimichurri is a very popular condiment in Argentina and Uruguay and is most often used as a dipping sauce or a marinade for meats. My chimichurri shrimp version incorporates dill and lime, which give it a brighter flavor, making it ideal for spring and summer entertaining. \u2014Bonnie Landy, Castro Valley, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Creamy Coleslaw<\/a>This creamy coleslaw recipe is rich, tangy and sweet. It\u2019s the perfect partner for barbecue, but it tastes just as good as a topping for tacos or a meaty sandwich.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Contest-Winning Fresh Blueberry Pie<\/a>I've been making this blueberry pie recipe for decades since the ingredients for the filling are readily available in Michigan. Nothing says summer like a piece of fresh blueberry pie! \u2014Linda Kernan, Mason, MichiganGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>How to Grill Ribs<\/a>Grilling ribs soon? Learn how to grill ribs as we share our step-by-step recipe and secret to grilling the best-ever baby back ribs.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Custard Ice Cream<\/a>We'll show you how to make vanilla custard ice cream that is so good, you'll fall in love after the first scoop!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Fried Chicken<\/a>This crispy fried chicken recipe uses a batter instead of a flour coating. That helps the flour adhere to the chicken so it won\u2019t fall off after cooking!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Lemony Zucchini Bread<\/a>Flecks of zucchini give a third dimension to the popular lemon and poppy seed combination in this moist quick bread. My family loves this lemon zucchini bread at all times of the year.\u2014Field Editor Carol Funk, Richard, Saskatchewan.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Crab Louie Lettuce Wraps<\/a>Party guests can mingle and enjoy these tasty portable lettuce wraps without having to juggle plates and forks. \u2014 Michael Watz, Normal, IllinoisGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Easy Peach Cobbler<\/a>This easy peach cobbler is put together with canned peaches and a few staple ingredients\u2014you likely already have everything on hand to make it!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Quick Watermelon Salsa<\/a>On hot days, this sweet combo of watermelon, pineapple and fresh cilantro has everything you want. The flavors blend beautifully, it\u2019s pretty, and it comes together in no time. \u2014Betsy Hanson, Tiverton, Rhode IslandGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Grilled Catfish<\/a>Grilled catfish boasts a delicious flavor, especially when it's infused with spices and served with lemon and parsley.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Fresh Lime Margaritas<\/a>This basic fresh margarita recipe is easy to modify to your tastes. Try it frozen or with strawberries. \u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Deep-Fried Cookies<\/a>My kids love this delicious, indulgent treat. I like to give the batter a kick by adding a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. \u2014 Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto RicoGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>The Best Veggie Burger<\/a>There's a new burger in town! Our Test Kitchen shares their very best veggie burger recipe.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Classic Crab Boil<\/a>Dig in to Dungeness crab boiled in a special mix of spices. \u2014Matthew Hass, Franklin, Wisconsin Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Shredded Chicken Gyros<\/a>Our family always has such a wonderful time at the annual Salt Lake City Greek Festival. One of my favorite parts is all the awesome food. This meal is a good way to mix up our menu, and my kids are big fans. \u2014Camille Beckstrand, Layton, UtahGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Eggplant Fries<\/a>My kids love this snack\u2014and I like that it's healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these veggie sticks are broiled, not fried, so there's no guilt when you crunch into them. \u2014Mary Murphy, Atwater, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Lobster Roll Recipe<\/a>There is only one recipe that fully captures the flavors of the East Coast\u2014and it is easy to make, too.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea<\/a>Sweet tea and cherry limeade are two of my favorite summer libations. So I decided to combine them\u2014the result is wonderful. \u2014Renee Page, Rochelle, IllinoisGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>No-Bake Cheesecake<\/a>Learn how to make this super easy no-bake cheesecake. We have got you covered\u2014every step of the way!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Barbecue Pork Cobb Salad<\/a>My lunchtime salad gets way more interesting topped with barbecue pork, cheddar cheese and creamy avocado. It's as satisfying as it is scrumptious. \u2014Shawn Carleton, San Diego, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Grilled Vegetable Platter<\/a>This recipe is the best of summer in one dish! These pretty veggies are perfect for entertaining. Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, and the easy marinade really perks up the flavor. \u2014Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, MinnesotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t