Picnic or Garden Party, serve this drink from The Picnic, Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket (Artisan Books, April 2015) by Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker, Jen Stevenson...

Elderflower Pimm’s Cup

Serves 1

Is there anything better than a summer sipper that contains a sizeable snack? You’ll like this light spirit just as much as its pretty accompaniments. Pack your cooler with individual cocktails for a delicious, cheerful refreshment.

2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

1 ounce St. Germain liqueur

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon Lemon Simple Syrup

1 strawberry, hulled and quartered

1 thin slice orange, quartered

3 thin slices cucumber

Club soda

1 mint sprig

11⁄2 strips lemon peel, from Lemon Simple Syrup

In the Basket:

Mint sprigs

Paper straws

Ice

Club soda

1. Combine the booze, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a Mason jar. Add the strawberry, orange, and cucumber. Replace the lid and pack in a cooler filled with ice. At the picnic, add ice, top with club soda, garnish with a mint sprig and lemon peel strip, add a straw, and serve.

Lemon Simple Syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 small lemon, zested with a peeler into ½ inch strips

1. Bring sugar and water to a gentle simmer in a small pot. Stir frequently until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is clear. Remove from the heat and add the lemon peel. Let the syrup steep for 1 hour. Strain the syrup into a jar. Reserve the lemon peel for garnish.

(*Excerpted with permission from The Picnic by (Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker, and Jen Stevenson -Artisan Books- Copyright (c) 2015. Illustrations by Emily Isabella)