Beet Lemonade and a Cheese Lover’s Giveaway Plus Friday Faves

Beets. Lemons. Sugar. Combined into one lip-smacking Beet Lemonade. Have I lost my mind? That’s entirely possible, but most likely not due to this drink.

Who came up with this root vegetable meets citrus elixir? It wasn’t me. No, It was the bunch at Wisconsin Cheese who asked me to photograph cocktails and cheese for their latest issue of Grate, Pair, Share.

You thought I just did photo shoots for my own online magazine? Nah, I spread my foodie love around.

But just to be sure, you have read the summer issue of FoodieCrush magazine, right?

I must admit I had my doubts about trying this Beet Lemonade from the get-go. Kind of like my Smudge whenever she spies some foreign looking object on her plate. That would be a new vegetable and you’re going to try it little lady.

I’m a novice juicer on a time schedule so I went the much easier and far less messy route and let my juicer languish in the pantry while I shopped for beet juice at Whole Foods. I  dutifully followed their recipe, still skeptical of this unusual combo and then…I was stunned at the taste.

In a good, very, very, very, very good way. Very.

Did I mention the burrata that gooed alongside? Ahhhhhhgh. It is my favorite cheese of late hands down. Not that you could tell with my spate of recipes for Nectarine and Burrata Bite Crostini, Quinoa and Burrata Caprese Salad and Burrata and Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Salad.

**By the by, check out the new recipe search field over there on the right, in the sidebar, the one that says SEARCH. Type in salad or chicken and see the recipes magically appear. 9,342 times faster. Take that Harry Potter.**

While the Beet Lemonade and Burrata came in at the top of my dance card and was a good thing to start off the morning, the rest of the afternoon turned into a rosy haze by the time I was finished with the Berry Smash and Gorgonzola, Moscow Mule and Cheddar Blue and Peach Sangria and Gouda.

Let’s just say this is a fine way to start, middle and end, a photo shoot. Get the recipes here.

Want to find out for yourself? Let’s do this thing. This thing called a GIVEAWAY!

The peeps at Wisconsin Cheese think you’d like to get a little cheesy yourself and asked me to host a little weekend cheese gifting to get you started.

Here’s the deets:

One winner will receive a Wisconsin Cheese gift basket with each of the Wisconsin cheeses included in the cocktail feature—Gouda, Burrata, Gorgonzola and Cheddar Blue—and three syrups from Madison, Wisconsin’s own Quince & Apple to flavor your own cocktail or mocktail creations in Tart Cherry Grenadine, Lime & Cucumber, and Rhubarb Hops flavors.

To enter to win, follow the directions in the rafflecopter widget below. Hey, it’s good to be cheesy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now, for a few Friday Faves.

One of my favorite places on earth, and now I have a list of 100 things to do there.

It’s all in the ingredients: A life changing cookie comparison for any cookie baker.

The most talented dog you’ll ever see. I wish he’d teach my pups a thing or 543.

I know I pinned a recipe for chocolate toffutti lasagna with chipotle sauce but I can’t find it…Oh here it is. No more sifting through majorly pinned boards. Here’s how I found it.

Just one more reason I love her, because she’s proud to show off her real post-baby-belly.

Click ‘n eat. 15 food instagram accounts you should follow. Any other favorites? Post them in the comments!

How to make money while I shop: discovered thanks to listening to podcast #98.

Step aside Downton Abbey and Mad Men. THIS is the show to watch.

31 amazing things to cook in August.

These rings. Yea or nea? I’m thinking yea.

Attention bloggers: How to navigate the waters of sponsored posts.

‘Roma’ wasn’t built in a day. 25 ways to transform fresh tomatoes.

How to toot your own horn without being totally annoying.

A good gift is one you want for yourself. I sent this to a sweet friend this week.

Just released: The piePhone 5. I’ll take it in apple or lemon meringue.

My virtual weekend menu includes a full day of:
Breakfast Burgers with Maple Aioli and a Fried Egg
Cold Sesame Noodle Salad
Stuffed Peppers with Chipotle Cream
Grilled Chili-Lime Tacos
Root Beer Float Ice Cream Cake
Strawberry Basil Sorbet Bellini

Have a maxed out weekend, good luck on the giveaway and stay cool. Just like you always are.

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