drinks

The Best Bloody Mary Recipe (+ Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar)

This Bloody Mary recipe makes a spicy, flavorful vodka cocktail. Add as many toppings as you’d like to get your drink just right!

Give me a loaded Bloody Mary or give me a chardonnay. Because when it comes to brunch, I want more, more, more.

You might say this cocktail looks like a salad in a glass. I definitely wouldn’t disagree.

A loaded Bloody Mary is my dream. Snacking on all of the extra trimmings while I wait for my actual meal to arrive is kind of a necessity. I mean, it’s almost lunch. I didn’t eat breakfast. And this girl is hungry.

Like everything else I eat, I love nothing more than a bite of this and a taste of that.

Bloody Marys are a favorite of most every cocktail imbiber since it’s totally acceptable to sip one or two before noon — just think of the powerhouse of vitamins you’re getting in each fortified sip!

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33 Boozy Frozen Treats to Get You Through the Rest of Summer

As we start to head down the finish line to those final days of summer, we find ourselves constantly coming up with different ways to keep cool.

We crank up the AC, we become regulars at the neighborhood pool, we avoid the oven like the plague, and most importantly we make boozy frozen treats (our preferred method for beating the heat).

And while icy cocktails are definitely an excellent way to combat oppressive temps, why not take things a step further and make a grown up slushy instead?

Don’t be scared.

Add some mezcal to that luscious vanilla bean ice cream and spike that tangy sorbet with some vodka! It’s like killing two birds with one stone — cocktails and refreshing desserts were meant for each other.

You catch our drift. Boozy frozen treats > non-boozy frozen treats. So do yourself a favor and read on for some killer boozy frozen concoctions you need in your life, like, stat.

continue to the recipe… about 33 Boozy Frozen Treats to Get You Through the Rest of Summer

A Healthier Sparkling Elderflower Fizz Cocktail

The warm floral notes of elderflower liqueur pair with sparkling juices to create a lower-calorie but perfectly sweetened bubbly cocktail.

This post is brought to you by KeVita, because healthful changes aren’t made only by what you eat, but also what you drink.

It’s the subtle shifts that make all the difference.

Parking in the farther spot instead of circling the lot five times for the closer one will add another 100 steps to your Fitbit. A little less makeup makes you look younger. Simplifying your wardrobe and paring down what’s in your closet takes the guesswork out of what in the heck are you going to wear today and why doesn’t anything fit?

These little changes all add up to a cause for celebration rather than deprivation.

In 2016 I’m making changes in my life, health, and purpose but with thoughtful intention rather than total deprivation. After all these years, I’ve learned I can still be healthy without skipping special dinners, dessert, or drinks, and that as long as I alter my indulgences, there’s still room to enjoy them.

continue to the recipe… about A Healthier Sparkling Elderflower Fizz Cocktail

Friday Faves

Oh, the birthday cake! Rejoice and let the party continue! Happy Friday friends.

This year I made the strategic move for my Smudge’s birthday to change up her annual request for Birthday Cake Pie to this Admittedly Modern Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing of which I made into a cake (divide the batter into 3 9-inch pans then bake for 20 min.) It’s a favorite and you need to try it.

Tomorrow I’m sharing the main dish we grilled up and served at her family birthday party last weekend as part of my Weekend Eats series, in hopes to inspire your weekend menu. Everyone loved it, so I’m thinking you will too.

The party is continuing this weekend (who doesn’t love birthday week?!?!) where there will be birthday cake pie and tween camping dreams coming true under the moonlit stars with lots of relaxing aka no work on my part.

I can’t wait.

Earlier this week, it was my sweet mama’s turn to host book club so I headed to her house to act as her chef so she could concentrate on her guests, instead of plating dishes and dressing the salad. It’s the only way to entertain.

I tested out a recipe I’ll be sharing next week on those sweet book reviewers. They knew they were my guinea pigs for taste testing, but did they know I was photographing their lunch before it was served—on the floor? Don’t worry mom, it was on a clean piece of wood :). Well, sort of clean. Food blogger problems…

But enough about me, let’s get into this week’s Friday Faves. continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Champagne Mojitos

The addition of sparkly cava and fresh basil lend a fun twist to this easy to drink, refreshing cocktail that makes enough for a crowd.

It’s hard to say goodbye.

Especially when you’re not sure that you really want to go.

Scared of the unknown. Craving the familiar. Comfortable in staying right where you are.

The only way to face change is to face it head on. And clink “cheers” to the new adventures ahead.

continue to the recipe… about Champagne Mojitos

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milkshake

I have to tell you, this wasn’t my idea.

This milkshake is 100% Smudge. I mean, cereal and ice cream? It’s a 10 year old’s dream! At first I scoffed the idea because it’s a pretty simple concept but then what milkshake isn’t? And when I recalled how Momofuko Milk Bar does a cereal milk ice cream, I realized this might be pretty much GENIUS!

Posting a milkshake in the middle of summer isn’t really a novel idea, but it wasn’t until I heard about Milkshake Week hosted by Julie of The Little Kitchen and Lindsay of Love and Olive Oil that I jumped on the chilled bandwagon to join in some serious chilling. And give Smudge a reason to slurp to her little heart’s content.

continue to the recipe… about Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milkshake

Pickle Infused Vodka

I’m a self-confessed pickle head.

Kosher dill. Bread and butter. Garlic spiked. It really makes no difference to me, I love ‘em all.

Summer eats at my house are always accompanied by pickles. Sandwiches, burgers and macaroni salad all require the briny spear and are popular ways for just about everyone to partake. But pickled vodka? That might be a new one for you.

Today I bring you the recipe for Pickle Infused Vodka.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing my recipe for The Best Bloody Mary EVER and how to create a bloody mary bar for summer funning with friends and family.

And you can bet bacon, and Pickled Vodka, will be included.

continue to the recipe… about Pickle Infused Vodka

Mango Margarita with Chile Salt and Lime

Frozen cocktails aren’t really my thing. I save my frozen tendencies drinkable with a straw for milkshakes and smoothies.

My idea of a great margarita is to make it strong and put it on the rocks.

That is, until, it’s a Mango Margarita. Then I say make it fruity, a bit limey and add some spice and bring me another.

The first time I had a mango margarita was on a Mexican vacation in the small beach town of Todos Santos (if you haven’t been, you HAVE to go) with my little family of three and my BFF Kim and her husband. We’d rented our other friend’s vacation house (see it here) where we blew up the pool toys and made the very necessary trip to the Mexican market to stock up on essentials: Chips and salsa, Mexican pancake mix (loaded with sugar and insanely delicious,) Nutella, mangos, lime and tequila.

Bienvenidos! Let’s get this party started.

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Friday Faves and 10 Spirited Eggnog Recipes

Well, we’re here. The final countdown to Santa’s sleigh skidding to a stop on slippery, snow covered rooftops far and wide is mere days away. How did the arrival of Christmas and the jolly old elf happen so fast?

Am I ready? That depends on your idea of ready. Is the house all tidied up? All the presents purchased? Wrapped and under the tree? Ha! No, not yet, but I’m okay with that because this year it’s been about ‘time’. Time with my husband, time with my daughter, time to be together as our little nucleus that more often than not gets pushed to the side when deadlines loom and obligations prey.

Last weekend we scrapped our obligations and shot off to San Francisco to celebrate our wedding anniversary. With Smudge in tow. Word of wisdom: No matter how much you love Christmas, don’t get married at Christmas unless you want the holiday to completely overshadow the yearly celebration.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves and 10 Spirited Eggnog Recipes

The Best Bloody Mary Recipe (+ Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar)

33 Boozy Frozen Treats to Get You Through the Rest of Summer

A Healthier Sparkling Elderflower Fizz Cocktail

Friday Faves

Champagne Mojitos

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milkshake

Pickle Infused Vodka

Mango Margarita with Chile Salt and Lime

Friday Faves and 10 Spirited Eggnog Recipes

How to Make the Best Potato Salad

How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad

How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon

My Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

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