Sweet Tea Hot Toddy
One of our favorite local spots start serving hot cocktails during the colder months of the year. I love a good hot toddy. It's the perfect drink to sip and enjoy good company and chilly weather. Sweet Tea Hot Toddy, makes two. Needed: tea of choice (I used a vanilla chamomile. Heat water and when ready steep the tea. Super easy and super comforting.
Fancy Ice Cubes: 3 Ways
As the summer heats up around here we are looking for ways to dress up our iced beverages. Here are three fun ideas for making your own fancy ices cubes; along with serving suggestions. Enjoy! Raspberry Mint ice cubes: to make simply add a fresh min leaf and a raspberry or two to each ice cube before freezing. These are super pretty! Layered ice cubes: to make pour a layer of juice or other colored liquid into your tray, about 1/3 full. Coffee (or tea) ice cubes: to make simply fill your tray with left over coffee or tea. Have fun coming up with your own frozen favorites. xo.
10 Cocktails Inspired by Pop Culture
Have you ever wanted to drink just like your favorite book, TV, movie or video game character, or at least drink a cocktail inspired by them? Well, good news. Thanks to the creativity and goofiness of many amateur mixologists, now you can, and here are some of the best cocktails based exclusively on pop culture icons. Special thanks to The Drunken Moogle, which specializes in pop culture cocktails. 1. While the Harry Potter series might be written for kids and young adults, there are enough references to Butterbeer and Firewhiskey that plenty of adult fans were inspired to create their own versions of the drinks. Little Pink Blog has a whole series of Harry Potter cocktails, including drinks inspired by Hermione, Lord Voldemort, Sirius Black, and The Golden Snitch, but the most visually impressive by far is the Goblet of Fire, which contains vodka, blue Curacao, lemonade, Bacardi 151 and a pinch of cinnamon and is served flaming. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Make Your Own Coffee Syrup
Do you have any coffee lovers on your holiday gift list this year? (If not, feel free to go ahead and put me on your list!) This is a cute little idea for making your own flavored coffee syrups that you can use at home to take your morning cup of joe to the next level. If you are making these as a gift I highly recommend making 2-3 flavors. For the vanilla syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (the clear kind is much preferred here). For the raspberry syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup fresh raspberries. For the caramel syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup caramel (store bought or make your own). You can add decorative labels or ribbons to these when gifting them. Enjoy!
Arnold Palmer Mix Up
Arnold Palmers are my favorite summer drink! These sweet treats are half ice tea and half lemonade. They are named after a famous golfer. First I make sun tea. I add fresh fruit to my Arnold Palmers. Here are a few of my favorite combinations. Peach tea + Lemonade + Fresh grapefruit is my favorite combination. I love raspberry anything, so this combination is another favorite. I hope some of you get to try this recipe for the first time this summer! PS.
Flavored Lemonade Inspiration
Elsie and I are starting to plan some spring/summer back-yard parties for this coming season. It's going to be my first summer in my house (just became a first time home-owner this past autumn). We plan to host a few little get togethers, I may build a small fire pit for s'mores. Who knows! Grapefruit Lemonade- to a large pitcher of lemonade add in 2 cups of grapefruit juice and fresh slices of grapefruit. Strawberry and Basil Lemonade- to a large pitcher of lemonade add 2-3 cups of chopped strawberries and a handful of chopped basil. Cucumber Mint Limeade-to a large pitcher of limeade (or lemonade) add one cucumber, thinly sliced, and a handful of chopped mint leaves. Blackberry Lemonade- to a small pitcher of lemonade add 1 cup of slighlty mashed blackbarries. Happy Monday!
Peppermint White Russian Recipe
In our group of friends everyone loves White Russians. We even served them at our wedding! Here's a fun Holiday spin on an old favorite. We're big fans of peppermint over here! Peppermint White Russian, serves one Fill a glass with ice and then combine- 2 parts peppermint schnapps, 2 part Bailey's (the coffee flavored kind), 1 part half and half. The recipe above is mildly minty. Do you have a favorite Holiday cocktail (or mocktail) recipe? In our group of friends everyone loves White Russians. The recipe above is mildly minty.
Peanut Butter + Hazelnut Smoothie
This week I am going to share a few of my favorite smoothie recipes. First up, this peanut butter and hazelnut smoothie. I would choose this rich, creamy smoothie over a milkshake any day! If you are a fan of peanut butter, you should definitely try this one. Needed: 1.5 cups coconut milk (frozen in ice cubes is helpful), 1 tablespoon hazelnut spread, 2 tablespoons PB2, 1 cup greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon Askinosie chocolate nibs, 1/2 frozen banana, chocolate granola for garnish. Optional: 1 teaspoon Truvia. Directions: In a blender, combine PB2 powder, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup coconut milk. Tips: When preparing to make smoothies it's helpful to freeze everything you can. Top with a handful of chocolate granola.
Very Berry Cosmopolitan
After making a few of these the other day I wondered why we don't make cosmopolitans more? Most cosmos are made from vodka, triple sec, juice and a little lime. What's not to love? This particular recipe highlights pomegranate blueberry juice and a pretty garnish. Verry Berry Cosmopolitan, makes one 1 ounce vodka1/2 ounce Chambord liqueur1/2 ounce Triple Sec1 1/2 ounces Pomegranate Blueberry juice (or any berry juice you prefer)1 generous sqeeze of fresh lime juice Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker (or mason jar) and shake it up. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a few berries and/or an edible flower. Happy cocktail making!
