Friday night has always been my favorite part of the week. Not because it is packed with glamorous plans, impossible reservations, or late-night adventures, but because it usually means the exact opposite: comfortable clothes, dinner at home, a good drink, and a few quiet hours on the couch.
My roommate and I have a Friday routine, and while it may not sound wild to everyone, it is exactly the kind of ritual I look forward to all week. Around 6:30 p.m., I change into my best gray sweatpants and the softest T-shirt I can find. If I am feeling especially put together, I may even match the shirt to the sweatpants and fully commit to the cozy look. Comfort is the dress code, and I take it seriously.
Once the outfit is settled, I turn on a podcast and start making what has become known in our apartment as Friday Pasta. It is simple, satisfying, and just the right kind of meal for the end of a long week.
Sidenote: For anyone curious about the pasta, it is based on the Penne with Spinach Pesto from The Dude Diet. I usually use half the amount of pasta, then add roasted cauliflower florets, diced chicken breast, and a generous sprinkle of goat cheese. Any leftover pesto gets saved for quick meals during the week, which makes the whole thing even more useful.
By about 7:30 p.m., Logan usually gets home, and that is when the evening truly begins. He changes into his own version of Friday-night sweats and joins me in the kitchen. We have a drink, talk about the week, and hang out while I finish dinner. The kitchen is not exactly designed for multiple people while the oven is on, so things can get warm quickly, but that is all part of the charm.
After dinner is ready, we move to the couch with bowls of pasta and cocktails in hand. The plan is always the same: eat something cozy, watch very important television, and allow for intermittent naps whenever necessary. It is low-key, predictable, and genuinely one of my favorite parts of the week.
I will admit that I sometimes feel a little resentful when Friday night requires real clothes and actual plans. At this stage, the couch may be the new club, and I am more than happy to be on the guest list.
October is a busy month for celebrations in our world. There has been wedding excitement, plenty of birthdays, and Logan’s birthday coming up next weekend. But along with the bigger occasions, I am trying to appreciate the smaller celebrations too: cooler weather, bath season, quality time with favorite friends, a return to routine after wedding chaos, and, very importantly, a Friday night on the couch with my new husband.
Our usual Friday cocktails tend to lean toward tequila drinks or Moscow Mules, but tonight I am upgrading the routine with a Bitter Lemon Spritz. This easy lemon cocktail is bright, refreshing, and just bitter enough to feel a little more grown-up than a standard vodka lemonade. It combines fresh muddled lemon, Angostura bitters, vodka, lemonade, and a splash of club soda for a drink that is light, festive, and dangerously easy to sip.
I used Tropicana Premium Lemonade for this cocktail because the flavor is nostalgic, reliable, and makes spontaneous cocktail making very simple. Making homemade lemonade at the end of a busy week is not always realistic, and this keeps the recipe quick without sacrificing taste. If you want to experiment, tangerine lemonade would also work beautifully and add a slightly fruitier note.
A rosemary sprig makes a pretty and fragrant swizzle stick, but thyme would also be lovely. You can also skip the herbs completely if you prefer a cleaner lemon flavor. And if vodka is not your favorite, gin can be used instead for a more botanical version of this bitter lemon spritz.
The recipe below makes one cocktail, but the measurements are very easy to multiply if you are serving friends. For a larger batch, muddle the lemons with bitters, combine the vodka and lemonade, then strain out the lemon pieces before serving. Add club soda just before pouring, and garnish the pitcher or punch bowl with lemon rounds and rosemary sprigs for a simple party-ready presentation.
Whether you are celebrating a major milestone or simply the arrival of the weekend, this Bitter Lemon Spritz is a refreshing cocktail worth adding to your rotation. Happy Friday, friends. Cheers.
Bitter Lemon Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 lemon wedge, seeds removed
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces Tropicana Premium Lemonade
- 1 ounce club soda
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Instructions
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Add the lemon wedge and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker and muddle well.
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Add the vodka, lemonade, and several ice cubes. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is chilled and lightly frothy.
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Pour the contents into a rocks glass and top with club soda. Add a few extra ice cubes if needed.
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Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and serve immediately.
Notes
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This post is sponsored by Tropicana. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep this site fun and delicious. As always, all opinions are my own.