Food and Drink for the Beach

Whether it's on the sandy beaches of the Caribbean or the rocky shores of the Great Lakes, everyone loves a party on the beach. With these quick and easy to transport dishes and cocktails, you can host a party where the weather won't be the only thing your friends leave raving about.

With homemade chips, salsa, and guacamole and some refreshing sangria and strip-and-go-nakeds to go along, your beach party will be the best your friends have seen.

For starters, let's look at the food.

Homemade Tortilla Chips

These are easy to make and much more budget friendly than buying the bags.

All you need is a package of small tortillas, some salt, and a lime. My personal favorite are the white corn tortillas, but you can also use yellow corn of flour tortillas depending on your tastes, or mix it up.

First, preheat the oven to about 350 degrees.

Next, cut the whole stack of tortillas into quarters.

Now spread the tortilla triangles out on a cookie sheet. Squeeze a bit of lime juice and sprinkle some salt over the whole sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the tortillas are crispy. Let them cool off and you have some great tortilla chips!

Homemade Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo is a great fresh and refreshing salsa choice and super easy to make.

Start with a bunch of cilantro, 4 large, ripe tomatoes, 2 white onions, 1 clove of garlic, a lime, and a jalapeno pepper, if you like a bit of a kick.

Dice the tomato and onion to equal sizes. Seed the jalapeno (if desired).

Mince the garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno (if desired) and add to the onion and tomato. Add the juice from the lime and you're all set.

Quick and Easy Corn and Black Bean Salsa

This salsa is easy to make, colorful and so tasty your friends won't believe it's not homemade.

Start with a jar of chunky salsa, a can of corn, and a can of cooked black beans.

Now drain the beans and the corn, and combine all three ingredients and you have an easy crowd pleaser.

Homemade Guacamole

Start with 10 avocados, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 large red onion, 2 tomatoes, 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, 3 limes, and a bunch of cilantro.

First, slice all of the avocados in half lengthwise. Now take your knife and chop into the center of the pit, and twist. You've just pitted an avocado! Once all the pits are removed, use a spoon to scoop the avocados into a large bowl.

Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to mash the avocados.

Now skin the tomatoes. Set aside the thick skins and mince the inner, pulpy part which has the seeds.

Also mince the onion, tomatoes, seeded pepper, garlic, and cilantro. Add all of these ingredients, along with the juice from the limes, and mix thoroughly with the avocados.

Now dice the tomato skins and spread on top of the bowl to garnish. Now, when you wrap your guacamole, start by pressing one piece of saran wrap down all the way until it touches the top of the guacamole. This will prevent air from reaching your guac and turning it brown.

Sangria

Now onto the fun part. What party is complete without a cocktail or two? Sangria is the perfect refreshing cocktail for a hot summer day. And we know some beaches don't allow glass, and Sangria is perfect to make the day before and pack in a plastic pitcher.

Start with two bottles of inexpensive (but drinkable) red or white wine, 1/2 bottle of triple sec, and a small bottle each of cherry and pineapple juices.

You'll also want a nice selection of fresh, seasonal fruits. My favorites for red sangria are oranges, cherries, watermelon, berries and grapes. For white I also like to add pears or apples and some other melons.

Combine everything right in the pitcher (including the fruit) and allow to sit over night before you take it to the beach.

Strip-and-Go-Nakeds

This easy cocktail is stiffer than it looks, tastes great and is another make-ahead option.

All you need is an equal number of cans of frozen pink lemonade and beer, and a decent vodka.

Put the beer and the lemonade in a pitcher. Now fill the empty lemonade cans (however many you used) with vodka and add to the mix. Mix it all together, and you're ready for the beach!