drink

Tequila Sunrise Cocktail and Crushing On Latin Twist Cookbook

The vibrant color of this classic Mexican cocktail made with tequila, fresh OJ and grenadine makes for an impressive brunch or evening cocktail.

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t crazy about bloggers’ Vianney Rodriguez and Yvette Marquez’s new book Latin Twist: Traditional and Modern Cocktails. After all, Vianney who blogs at Sweet Life Bakes and Yvette who blogs at Muy Bueno Cooking have devoted entire book devoted to cocktails.

But the love for this book gets personal on my part and goes a few steps deeper than just flipping through it’s pages, because I (Heidi) designed their cookbook.

Latin Twist follows Yvette’s first cookbook collaboration with her mother and sister, Muy Bueno: Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor, in which Yvette designed each page and created every graphic element of the cookbook. Realizing the amount of work that goes into the process, she was ready to have someone take that part over this time around.

That’s when Yvette asked me to design the book for them.

To say I was honored to be considered is an understatement. With Yvette’s keen eye for design and Vianney’s superb flair, I was a little apprehensive about whether I would meet their expectations. But I think I did. And in the end, it was a super fun collaboration to be a part of.

continue to the recipe… about Tequila Sunrise Cocktail and Crushing On Latin Twist Cookbook

Acai, Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie

Acai juice, pomegranate juice and raspberries are full of antioxidants with all sorts of health benefits in this sweet and tart superfood packed smoothie.

Because if you’re like me and my soon to be 6th grade babe who this week declares, “School’s out for summer!” (cue Alice Cooper) you will in short order be seeking anything cool, frothy and delicious to take away the bite of summer’s heat that is about to descend upon us like a triple-woven wool blanket.

Honestly? I’m looking forward to it. Remind me of this come August when I’m walking across the hot grocery store parking lot, sweltering as I peel my tank top from my sweaty skin and seriously debate booking a flight to Alaska.

Until then, let’s just enjoy it, shall we?

One thing that will be making our summer all the more chill is this new cookbook from my friend Deborah of the blog Taste and Tell. It pretty much says it all in the title, Best 100 Smoothies for Kids. But like all good things in life, it’s truly not just for kids. Pass me a straw!

continue to the recipe… about Acai, Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie

Cucumber Delight Cocktail

This cucumber cocktail inspired by Washington DC’s Founding Farmers restaurant will add a bright spot to brunch or dinner, thanks to its refreshing flavors.

This post, brought to you by Pearl Vodka, is inspired by my recent adventure of heading out solo.

Traveling alone isn’t something I’ve ever been totally comfortable with. Seeing new sights but having nobody to share them with.

Being the single soul at the table built for two, head bent down in pretend immersion in that totally engrossing book you just happened to pick up last minute at the airport’s Hudson News.

Taking selfies that are the true definition of selfies. By yourself. Until a yet-to-be-discovered, wanna-be-oh-so-suave boy band photobombs your monumental selfie.

But I’ve discovered traveling solo provides a bigger opportunity to see and hear what’s going on around me.

I’m not immersed in being a tour guide making sure everyone else I’m with is happy. Instead, traveling alone is the opportunity to do exactly what I want to do with no other opinion seekers along for the ride. To see what I want to see.

I’m not absent mindedly running into others, ignoring cues, flashing lights or missing out on the subtle nuances of the heartbeat of a city. Instead I’m in tune. I’m totally aware. And I see others and hear their conversations.

Eavesdropping? I prefer to call it politely observing.

This spring I was in Washington DC where I spoke at the IACP Conference, aka International Association of Culinary Professionals. The day before the conference started I lit out on my own to explore this nation’s Capital. No family. No blogging friends. Just me and my earbuds walking around DC as I listened to the final episodes of this podcast in hopes of a chance sighting of Michelle Obama with her watering can in the garden or a presidential motorcade.

Unfamiliar with the local eats, it only took a quick web search and a survey of Yelp recommends to land me at the counter of Founding Farmers for lunch. Somehow I wiggled my way to the last seat at the counter and avoided the 1 1/2 hour wait for a table. This is one place you are willing to wait.

Being Thirsty Thursday and just a smidge past noon, I promptly perused their cocktail menu and landed on the Cucumber Delight Cocktail.

You are so happy I did.

Founding Fathers totally delivered on the eats with my order of the deviled egg sampler and the most amazingly smokey shrimp and grits I’ve ever tasted. But the cucumber cocktail is what got me going.

I did indeed order all of that food for one and didn’t have to share one measly bite. That is, until I made friends with my fellow counter surfers Brian and Charmaine, a Canadian chef and his wife who were there with the plans of eating their way through DC. Hey, I couldn’t eat ALL of those eggs by myself. Or could I?

Would I have made those lunch counter friends sharing samples of one another’s lunch had I been with my own traveling companion?

If you know me, its a distinct possibility, but not a foregone conclusion.

I committed the cocktail’s bright, light, summery flavor to mouth memory (the sister to muscle memory) and brought it home with the happy anticipation of sipping it with friends as the warmth of summer days seep from our bones. And what do you know? I already have!

I’ve adapted the original recipe to create a simpler version with Pearl Cucumber Flavored Vodka so I could skip the muddling of cucumbers because the cucumber flavor comes ready to pour straight from the imported vodka’s bottle.

A simple syrup of equal parts super fine sugar and boiling water sweeten the cocktail to counter the punch of spice from a high quality ginger ale. If you prefer even more of a bite, ginger beer works well too. It’s just a bit more pungent.

A splash of sparkling water adds another layer of fizzy bubbles with a slice of cucumber and ball of cantaloupe that add color and a little something to much on. It’s an appetizing drink for sure. And one that’s made it’s way to my home to be shared.

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats.

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Cucumber Delight Cocktail

This cucumber cocktail inspired by Washington DC's Founding Farmers restaurant, will add a bright spot to any brunch or cool off a summer evening thanks to its refreshing flavors.

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

2 ounces Pearl Cucumber Flavored Vodka
1 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce quality ginger ale or ginger beer
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce sparkling water
1 slice cucumber
1 cantaloupe ball

Instructions

Add Pearl Cucumber Flavored Vodka, simple syrup, ginger ale and lemon juice to a shaker. Add ice cubes, cover and shake vigorously.  Strain into an old fashion glass, add ice, top with the sparkling water and garnish with a cucumber slice and cantaloupe.

This post is in partnership with Pearl Vodka. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.

The Best Coconut Margarita Recipe

A refreshing combination of coconut cream and coconut milk infuse tropical flavors into my favorite reposado tequila margarita, served on the rocks.

Once upon a time I went on a train ride. Sure, I’d been on trains before, but nothing prepared me for this ride of a lifetime.

This train was owned by self-made billionaire John Paul DeJoria, founder of John Paul Mitchell and Patron Spirits, and was deemed by DeJoria as, “the favorite of my 13 homes.” But unlike those other homes from New York to Hawaii, this one just happened to be powered by an Amtrak steam engine.

How in the heck did I end up there?

Lucky me, I know people who are very generous and invited me and my husband along for the ride. It’s also where my love of tequila was cemented in stone.

On the rocks, of course.

continue to the recipe… about The Best Coconut Margarita Recipe

Pomegranate Martini Recipe

This adaptation of Oprah’s Pomegranate Martini has a hint of rosemary and real pomegranate seeds for an added dose of festive flavor.

Are you a garnish-er, or a garnish-less?

I think it’s pretty evident by the looks of the recipes I post on this old bloggity blog that I’ve become a garnish-more type of gal. You may say YAY!, you may say EW!, but either way, the garnish is my go-to, and not quite shockingly, cocktails have yet to escape my embellishing.

A dip of gold sugar here, a drop or two of fresh pomegranates there and a stir stick that’s fresh and fragrant are what make my seasonal Pomegranate Martini totally festive and bright.

continue to the recipe… about Pomegranate Martini Recipe

Mango Smoothie Plus 11 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

This week the internet exploded. Not because of political scandals, the return of Downtown Abby or even because some guy raised a baby duck in his beard.

No, it’s because with the new year comes new resolutions for better health and a plethora of new smoothies recipes. It’s a cool and refreshing domination of the www. and perfect timing to add mine to the pack with my mango, banana and coconut tropical smoothie.

Back in the day when I would drag myself into the office after my morning torture weight training session with my trainer, I would somehow will my legs one. step. at. a. time. to the community kitchen, meagerly toss a handful of ice into the blender, peel a banana, add a dash of milk and pour in a packet of protein powder. In my post workout trance I’d refuel with a fantastic protein-powered shake that nourished my rebuilding-muscle tissue and keep me full and satisfied til lunch.

Since I don’t work in the office anymore, I can invest a little more time and effort into my smoothie cravings. Sometimes I get a even get a little exotic. Okay maybe more tropical than exotic. Ah hell, who cares. I’m going big, and going with exotic.

continue to the recipe… about Mango Smoothie Plus 11 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

Homemade Irish Cream

The day called for a strong cup of coffee with a little something extra.

I should have been cooking the recipe for stufffed mushrooms that I had bought all of the ingredients for and had now been sitting in the refrigerator for the past week and a half. I should have been sifting through my props, setting up my backgrounds and taking photos of that well-intended-but-now-imaginary recipe. I should have been creating my next post. And the other four I had planned to tackle over my Christmas vacation.

But I couldn’t.

It was like I was frozen—in a completely-opposite, turned-around, frenetic and scattered sort of way. That way when you know you have so many different agendas on your to-do list that you just. can’t. focus.

So what did I do? Oh, I decided that I should de-clutter the closeted cupboards in my laundry room/office. FOR TWO DAYS. Um, why? No, not because anyone else but me sees inside them nor was I looking for something I couldn’t find.

Or was I?

After an insanely intense 9-month period that included working at a full-time job, teaching as an adjunct professor one night a week, creating another start-up business, working on freelance gigs (including my first paid photo shoot), launching the blog, launching the magazine and still trying to be a semi-present mom, wife, daughter and friend, I now realize I was just plain burnt. Burnt out. Rubber on the road. Done.

I thought I could do it all. Afterall, I always had.

continue to the recipe… about Homemade Irish Cream

drink

Tequila Sunrise Cocktail and Crushing On Latin Twist Cookbook

Acai, Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie

Cucumber Delight Cocktail

Cucumber Delight Cocktail

Ingredients

Instructions

The Best Coconut Margarita Recipe

Pomegranate Martini Recipe

Mango Smoothie Plus 11 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

Homemade Irish Cream

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