Happy Hour: Blackcurrant Vodka Lemonade

Normally, looking at my calendar for the week is oddly relaxing.  I like to know exactly what I need to do and where I need to be - but these days, it's just too crowded.

The rest of the month isn't looking any better.  Neither is May.

Actually, I don't have a free day or weekend until our honeymoon at the end May.  At least it will make me appreciate that time off even more...right?

I don't really like to suggest that you need a drink to unwind or to take a break from your hectic, busy life, 'cause you don't.  But a cold, fresh, blackcurrant lemonade with a splash of vodka...well, it can't hurt.

Happy Hour: The Guilty O.J. Cocktail

I don't really like the name of this drink.  I don't feel guilty for putting a little Malibu in my OJ from time to time and I don't like the implication that I should feel guilty.  But that's what it's called, so oh well.

Normally, I'm not much of a rum person, but Malibu falls more into the juice category than the liquor category in taste, so I can make an exception when it's mixed with more juice.

In less than 2 months, Austin and I will be heading off on our honeymoon and we'll hopefully be making our way to the beach at least once.  This drink, warm sand, a floppy sun hat and the crashing waves?  Yeah, that sounds perfect.

I guess we'll have to find some more room for Malibu in the teardrop!

Happy Hour: Blended Mint Margaritas

I don't know anyone who likes a margarita more than Austin.  On the rocks, blended, salt-rimmed, salt-free, from a bottle, fresh squeezed - whatever form it takes, he will order it, drink it and love it.

I, on the other hand, am a little pickier.

I don't like the uber-sweet mixes from the bottles and I don't really like them too tequila-y.  (But yes, I really do love tequila.  And sweets for that matter.)

Anyway, you don't care what I like.  You care what you like, and you'll like these margs made with all fresh ingredients, no added sugar or any other sweeteners, and the perfect blend of tequila and cointreau.  Yes, I know exactly what you like.

Happy Hour: Sweetened Mint Lime Rickey

A few years ago, my family and I went on a safari in Kenya and besides it being the best time of my life.  Besides all of the animals.  Besides the perfectly clear, starry nights.  Besides the insane amount of quality, family time with very minimal bickering.  Besides the sheer bliss of being totally removed from everything.

Besides all of that, there were also 'Sundowners.'

Sitting around a campfire, looking out over the wide open, African sunset with a drink in hand was just the best.  It was the absolute best way to end the day.

What do you say we all adopt the habit of a nightly sundowner?  I know, I'm in.

Happy Hour: Hot 'n Spicy Ginger Cocktail

Next week, Daylight Savings Time starts back up and I could not be happier about it.  Finally, I get to stop chasing the sun home and sneaking outside during my lunch breaks to soak up some vitamin D.

I can deal with the cold days of winter, just not the cold, dark days of winter.

Maybe it's just because this winter has been so overwhelmingly busy for us, or maybe it's just a really severe case of wanderlust that won't go away, but whatever it is, I am feeling anxious.  Anxious for long nights sitting outside around a fire with a drink in my hand.  Anxious for fresh, local produce and barbecues.  Anxious for everything that summer has to offer.

Tonight, I'm going to see Wild though.  I'm sure that's going to make my wanderlust just disappear ;)

Happy Hour: Lemon Ginger Mule

I think you can trace major life changes back to singular events that take up a very small amount of time.  For me, one of those moments was when I discovered Moscow Mules.

If you haven't tried one, believe me, it's life-changing.

I just never knew that a drink could taste so good and refreshing and perfectly satisfying.

If you want to make the traditional one you need vodka, lime juice and ginger beer.  This one has an extra spice kick from the freshly grated ginger and the lemon juice is a nice twist.

It's just perfect.  I wish you could take a sip from your computer (or phone) screen right now so you'd know I wasn't lying to you.  Lucky for you, they're super simple to make so you can mix yourself one.  It's Friday after all.

Piña Colada Smoothie

Today is Hump Day (thank the lawd!), but already it's been one of those weeks.  One of those weeks where you're just over it.  You're over all of it before it's even started.

It's been one of those weeks when I really wished I was my own boss and I worked from home so I could start my day with a Bloody Mary then I could eat my lunch outside with a freshly blended piña colada and just, you know, continue that pattern all day.

So, I guess it's probably a good thing that I do have to go into the office where there are expectations of me.

Maybe someday, but for now I'm resigned to making the non-alcoholic version in the morning before heading off to my 9-5 (or rather 7-4).  It tastes really good and it serves as a pretty good consolation prize, but ya know, not quite the effect I'm after.

Kaleberry Smoothie

Some twenty-somethings really enjoy shopping which is something I just can't relate to.  At all.  I hate shopping.  I get tired and sore and whiny wandering around the store, and the mall is basically my worst nightmare.

I could never even imagine a world where shopping would bring me happiness or relaxation.

All I get from shopping is dread and regret.  And hopefully at least one material item, but oftentimes even that doesn't happen since I get too frustrated and have to leave the store before things get out of hand.

Grocery shopping is a different story.

I love to wander the aisles of a grocery store and look at all of the ingredients I've never tried before.  Especially the produce aisle.

When I see a different color of kale, I'll buy it, I'll be happy about my purchase and I'll even take pictures of it.

So yeah, I guess I am the weird one.

Happy Hour: Pear Vodka Smash

Last time I went to Costco, I was lured in by the pears.  I love pears and since they're really good this time of year, I wanted them.

Of course, the problem is that you can't buy just a few pears at Costco, you have to buy a dozen.  So, naturally, Austin said that I would never be able to finish them all before they went bad.

I'm happy to say that I proved him wrong!

I've been eating at least one every day.  I blended one up in a smoothie.  And my last pear that was starting to get brown, was smashed up then strained into this cocktail.

The result was perhaps my favorite fruity drink ever.

You can barely taste the vodka in this and actually I made it with 1.5 oz of vodka first, but it needed a little extra kick.  So I guess what I'm saying is that these could be dangerous.

Happy Hour: The Bronx

You're probably familiar with the Manhattan, right?  But did you know that there is actually a drink named after each of the boroughs in New York?  Yeah, me neither.

I've been to New York a couple of times, but haven't ventured outside of the very touristy areas of Manhattan.  So basically, I have no idea what the city is really like.

I also have no idea why this drink is associated with the Bronx.  It doesn't exactly fit the image of the Bronx that I have built up in my head, but then again, that's just based on...well, nothing.

It's based on nothing.

So maybe this drink actually is what people in the northern borough sit around drinking all day.  I don't know!  All I know is that this is basically a gin martini with a splash of orange juice that adds only the subtlest of flavors and really I have to assume it was added to the recipe for color.

Happy Hour: New York Sour

For Christmas, I got 3 or 4 new cocktail books which was really exciting.  It made me think that I should do a cocktail a day and document it here.  It would still take me years to get through all of the drinks in these books.

It could definitely be fun...but I decided against it anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would be educational and enjoyable and all of that, but at the same time, some nights I like to just have a beer or something else.  Something like water.

Sometimes I like to go to the gym at night and I don't think I should be lifting weights while intoxicated.

It basically came down to a logistics issue.

Right now, I try to experiment with mixology at least 1x a week.  This week's experiment was very successful.  Easy to drink, but strong and very pretty with the red wine float.

Vegan Raspberry Spinach Smoothie

In the mornings, I have no time.  I swear, every morning I am more rushed than the morning before.  While skipping breakfast is nothing new for me, I've even had to skip my coffee before!  It only took once for me to make sure that never happened again though.

I'd love to get up each day and start it off the 'right way.'  The healthy way.  But then I remember I really love to sleep.  And I really love that snooze button.

That's part of why I love the weekends so much.  Also because: the weekends.

On the weekends I can take my time.  I can drink my coffee out of a real cup instead of a travel mug.  I can make waffles and pancakes and smoothies.  I can feel good all day long because I actually feed my body (what a concept, I know!).

Yeah, I should really set my alarm earlier, but since we all know that's not going to happen, I'll just settle for 2 good days a week.

Happy Hour: Pomegranate Rosemary Vodka Tonic

I always wanted to be one of those people who had a signature drink.  Something I'd get every time I went out to the bar or had a drink with dinner.  That way whenever the waiter or bartender asked for my order, I'd have it at the ready.  

And it'd sound cool when I ordered.  Every early 20-something drinking their rum and coke would be super jealous.  It couldn't be anything frilly.  No soda.  No juice.  No Redbull. 

After years of experimenting, I settled on a vodka tonic with lemon about a year ago.  It's not exactly the most impressive drink, but it's not the most embarrassing one either.  

So, to spruce up my favorite go-to cocktail for Christmas, I added some fresh pomegranate juice (I know, I said no juice, but this is a special circumstance) and rosemary and it is soooo good!  The pomegranate juice is really more for color and festiveness than anything else, but you can really taste the muddled rosemary.  

People will definitely be impressed if you shake some of these up on Christmas Eve!

Happy Hour: Muddled Cranberry Orange Old Fashioned

I like to make cocktails a lot more than I like to drink them.  I understand a lot of people out there are the opposite, and that's great!  I need someone to give my concoctions to.

We have people over quite a bit and when you're a guest at our house, I will gladly mix you up something special and after years of accumulating piece-by-piece, I feel like we are pretty well-equipped in the 'bar' to make you just about anything you want.  The problem arises when I am at someone else's house.

Sometimes it feels like I am the only person that owns a muddler!  I have had to crush herbs with the handle of a wooden spoon and even just squished them between my fingers, which works, but not very well.

It's a whole lot nicer, and easier if you have a real muddler.  One that's made for squishing fruit and bruising herbs.  One that looks cool and fits in your hand well, like the Arctic Chill one is a bonus.

For this cocktail, you're really going to need one.  Other recipes you might be able to get away without, but I don't think there's any way to crush raw cranberries without one (challenge?).

I've never had a wooden muddler, but I've heard that they can start to dry out and flake off which really doesn't sound much better than the wooden spoon option. Sure, they're a little cheaper than the Arctic Chill muddler, but I prefer not to give my guests splinters. This one has a fairly large nylon head with a bunch of little bumps to break down the herbs and fruit and it's easy to push on because of the shape of the handle.  And the most important part: it looks good sitting on your bar!

Now for the festive, easy-to-drink cocktail!

This post was sponsored by Arctic Chill, but the opinions are my own.

Happy Hour: Spiked Ginger Apple Cider

The week following a holiday is always the worst week you'll ever have at work.

Even if nothing bad happens there, you've had a taste of what it'd be like to sleep in, not shower, watch movies all day and generally do nothing for an extended period of time.

So, when you have to go back to work - it's hard.

This week was hard.  Hard to stay motivated.  Hard to wake up at 5:30 each morning.  Hard to get to the gym.  Just hard.  Quite frankly, I had my doubts that Friday was ever going to come.

I don't know if I've truly understood the meaning behind the acronym TGIF, but I get it today.

Happy Hour: Hazelnut Coffee Hot Toddy

It took me a while to get used to hot alcoholic drinks, but I'm coming around. 

I've always really liked hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate and chai, but as soon as you add liquor, I just lose interest.  I know, it doesn't make any sense.

Also, I don't like hazelnut flavored anything.  Yes, that means no Nutella.  So it really doesn't make any sense that I liked this drink.  It's hot, alcoholic and hazelnut flavored.  It defies all logic, because well, it was delicious.  

That being said, one drink will be plenty.  It's petty sweet, so it's more of an aprés ski type of beverage than a drink-a-pitcher cocktail (but who drinks a pitcher of hot toddies anyway?).

13 Holiday Sides, Appetizers, Desserts and Cocktails

I really don't like when people call Thanksgiving 'Turkey Day.'

Part of this is because I think we should just remember that we're supposed to be thankful tomorrow (and every day), but more importantly, it's really not about the turkey. 

It's about the pie.  And the sides.  And the cocktails.

If you're at a loss for what to bring to your in-laws' tomorrow...well, you're quite the procrastinator, but I applaud you for taking the 'it-will-all-work-out' mentality to heart!  Here are some last-minute sides, appetizer, cocktail and dessert ideas for you.*

And remember to have a happy Thanksgiving!

*Click on the pictures for the recipes.

1. Chestnut Mashed Potatoes

2. Sweet Potatoes au Gratin

3. Confetti Quinoa

4. Artichoke w/Lemon Rosemary Butter Sauce

5. Jalapeño Popper Dip

6. Baked Brie

7. Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

8. Apple Cider Moscow Mule

9. Cranberry Margaritas

10. Eggnog

11. Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

*Or try Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie or Sweet Potato Pie.

12. Cranberry Pecan Pie

13. Salted Caramel Apple Pie

*Or try Aunt Betsy's Apple Pie or Dutch Apple Pie.