The brutal truth is that the calendar says, "September." But in many parts of the country, it's still crazy hot, and the potential for continued summer fun is as high as the humidity. And technically, we've still got a few weeks of summer left to go, right?

I've got one last trip to the beach coming up, complete with lobster rolls and soaking up some vitamin D for the dark days ahead. The crowds will have cleared out, and there's something really special about the beach in September. Like going to the movies on a sunny afternoon, it feels like thumbing your nose at the rules. (Plus, at night, I'll slip a sweater over my swim suit and feel like an extra in the J. Crew catalog. Always a bonus).

So for everyone else intent on enjoying every last moment: how will you keep the fun rolling this month?

You're having a big blowout this weekend, right? Or at least a casual get-together to celebrate the end of summer in as many delicious ways possible. Even if you're not the one throwing the party, you don't want this summer to get away from you before trying the most amazing cocktails of all (summer) time. Just like the white clothes, after Labor Day, it may be time to put away these refreshing drinks in favor of the warm-ups that fall and winter require.

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So hit your liquor store, and bring home enough ingredients for these five summer cocktails before it's too late!

1. Raspberry Bourbon Lemonade

My personal favorite, I put this together after having something similar in a Brooklyn restaurant. It will most definitely be on the menu this weekend.

Ingredients:

6 raspberries
1.5 ounces bourbon (equivalent to a shot glass)
6 ounces lemonade (regular or raspberry flavored)

1. Muddle

Master the grill with these easy tips and techniques, plus a chef's secret for keeping steaks hot at the table
A quintessential part of summer grilling, a perfectly cooked steak with that charred, slightly smoky exterior and juicy, tender meat makes any meal complete. The best part is they're easy to cook and are incredibly satisfying. Plus, they can be prepared simply with salt and pepper, topped with salsas, or marinated in a chimichurri sauce or a variety of flavors. Using a good quality piece of meat is a large factor in the outcome of the dish, but even if you have the most beautiful cut of meat, you can completely destroy it by overcooking it. And then all those lovely marinades, salsas, and side dishes will have nothing to pair with.

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Avoid this catastrophe by following these easy steps and tips: Chef Smith of Stephen Starr's Steak 954 in Florida, shares his go-to technique for perfectly grilling a steak.

What should the perfect steak look like? According to Smith, it should taste like beef, have a good texture that's not too firm but

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Muddled, grilled, poached, or fresh off the pit, there's more than one way to enjoy summer's fresh peaches.

Peach Collins
A play on the Tom Collins. We muddle (mash) ripe peaches and shake them with peach-flavored vodka.



Peach Lingo: Peaches are called freestone or clingstone, depending on how strongly the pit is attached. Freestone fruit, which easily separates from the pit, is great for eating fresh, poaching, and grilling. Clingstones typically need to be cut away from the pit and are best puréed or turned into preserves.

Recipe
Yield: Serves 2

Ingredients
1/4 cup simple syrup*
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped ripe peaches, divided
1/2 cup peach-flavored vodka
1/2 cup club soda
2 peach slices

Preparation
1. Mix simple syrup, lemon juice, 1/4 cup peaches, and about 1/2 cup ice in a cocktail shaker or plastic cup. Using the end of a wooden spoon, muddle mixture until peaches start to break up. Pour in vodka, cover shaker with top (or the cup with plastic wrap), and

photo credit: thinkstock.comOver the next few weeks, schools will begin the new academic year. And while parents may be thrilled to have their kids back at school, I'm sure many will also admit they feel that tinge of sadness that summer vacation is over. Lazy mornings, breezy afternoons, relaxed bedtime routines...yes, it's definitely a welcomed change of pace from an often-frenetic school year.

So how should you spend that last week before school starts back up? Sure, wake the kids up a little earlier to get them ready for their new start times. Get their bedtime routines back on track.

But try to savor that last week of summer break as a family:

• Have a picnic dinner. Working parents might not be able to leave their job in the middle of the day, so plan a picnic for dinner. Let the kids help make the meal, or hit your local market and pick up pre-made dishes from the deli counter for extra ease. Grab a blanket, some drinks, and find a pretty park to share some family time over a meal.
• Camp out

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