The Anti-Green Juice

  Us yogis and foodies are always blabbing about the benefits of green juice and green smoothies, but what about purple juice, orange juice, or pink juice? I made a pretty rockin’ orange juice today….with no actual oranges in it. A little tart, a little sweet, a little bitter, and a little spicy. Here’s the recipe. Ingredients 2 servings. 3 ruby Red Grapefruits, rind removed 2 Nectarines, pitted 1 Sweet Potato 1 inch of ginger 2 carrots Instructions: 1. Rinse and prepare your fruits and vegetables and then juice the hell out of them. I double processed mine to get a little extra juicy goodness….and I like the pulp. 2. Enjoy!!!

Blackberry Bliss

Summer is right around the corner and we’re excited for long sun-filled days full of mountain biking, hiking, SUP and maybe a little day drinking. I love fresh berries and mint is always so refreshing, so I combined the two … Continue reading

Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita

Recipe Serves 1. 2 oz. tequila 1/2 oz. triple sec 2 lemon wedges 2 lime wedges (plus one for garnish) 2 teaspoons sugar 4 slices of cucumber 3 slices jalapeño coarse sea salt Instructions 1. Muddle ice, lemon, lime, sugar, … Continue reading

Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Recipe Serves 1. 2 oz. tequila 1 oz. simple syrup 3/4 oz. triple sec 4-5 chunks of fresh pineapple 2 slices jalapeño (red or green) 2/3 of one lime, cut into wedges Instructions 1. Muddle pineapple, jalapeño, and lime wedges … Continue reading

Oregano Infused Paloma

Hello Tequila!!! Steve and I are emptying our liquor cabinet…we don’t want any booze to go to waste….that would just be alcohol abuse. We’re currently working on making a bottle of Quervo 1800 and a GIANT bottle of Sauza disappear….and … Continue reading

Hot Apple Pie

Recipe 1 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur 3/4 oz. Flor de Caña rum 4 oz. spiced apple cider graham cracker crumbs sweetened whipped cream ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick Instructions 1. In a small sauce pan bring your hot apple … Continue reading

Apple Thyme Cocktail

Recipe Serves 1. 2 oz. bourbon or whiskey 1 1/2 oz. spiced apple cider 1/2 oz. thyme infused simple syrup 1 apple sliced crosswise into 1/4 inch slices, 1 slice cut in to chunks 1 sprig fresh thyme Instructions 1. … Continue reading

The Anti-Green Juice

anti-green-juice

Nothing green about this….

 

Us yogis and foodies are always blabbing about the benefits of green juice and green smoothies, but what about purple juice, orange juice, or pink juice?

I made a pretty rockin’ orange juice today….with no actual oranges in it. A little tart, a little sweet, a little bitter, and a little spicy.

Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients

2 servings.

3 ruby Red Grapefruits, rind removed
2 Nectarines, pitted
1 Sweet Potato
1 inch of ginger
2 carrots

Instructions:

1. Rinse and prepare your fruits and vegetables and then juice the hell out of them. I double processed mine to get a little extra juicy goodness….and I like the pulp.

2. Enjoy!!!

Blackberry Bliss

Summer is right around the corner and we’re excited for long sun-filled days full of mountain biking, hiking, SUP and maybe a little day drinking. I love fresh berries and mint is always so refreshing, so I combined the two into a mojito inspired vodka cocktail and I’m pretty happy with the results!

Blackberry_Bliss_vodka_mojito

Hello Summer fun!!!

Ingredients

Serves 2.

6-8 Blackberries
5 Large mint leaves
1 1/2-2 oz. simple syrup
1 whole lime, cut into 6 wedges
3-4 oz. vodka
club soda
ice

Instructions

1. Using a handheld blender puree the blackberries, mint and simple syrup.

2. Prepare a quart size mason jar by squeezing the juice from the lime wedges into your jar and then toss the wedges in too. Add the vodka, puree and ice. Give it a quick stir and top it with soda water…. if you don’t want to share just divide the ingredients into two pint glasses. This is just as delicious without the vodka too.

3. Enjoy at the park….or on your patio. This recipe is easy to scale up if you’re having a backyard BBQ and want a fun refreshing cocktail that isn’t too sweet.

Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita

Recipe

jalapeno cucumber margarita

Yum!!!

Serves 1.

2 oz. tequila
1/2 oz. triple sec
2 lemon wedges
2 lime wedges (plus one for garnish)
2 teaspoons sugar
4 slices of cucumber
3 slices jalapeño
coarse sea salt

Instructions

1. Muddle ice, lemon, lime, sugar, jalapeño and cucumber in a pint glass.

2. Add tequila and triple sec, shake with a Boston shaker and pour into a salt rimmed glass.

Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Recipe

spicy pineapple margarita

Steve’s favorite!!!

Serves 1.

2 oz. tequila
1 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. triple sec
4-5 chunks of fresh pineapple
2 slices jalapeño (red or green)
2/3 of one lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Muddle pineapple, jalapeño, and lime wedges with ice in a pint glass. Add tequila, triple sec, and simple syrup. Shake briskly and garnish with a chunk of pineapple, jalapeño or lime.

Oregano Infused Paloma

Hello Tequila!!! Steve and I are emptying our liquor cabinet…we don’t want any booze to go to waste….that would just be alcohol abuse. We’re currently working on making a bottle of Quervo 1800 and a GIANT bottle of Sauza disappear….and it’s been slow going. Our herb garden is still going strong….even though it’s January, so I figured why not pretend it’s summer and whip up a boozy summer cocktail.

Recipe

oregano paloma

Not your traditional Paloma

(serves 1-2 depending on the size of your glass)

2 oz. tequila
4 oz. grapefruit juice
1 oz. oregano simple syrup
club soda
coarse sea salt

Instructions

1. Salt rim of a glass.

2. Add ice, tequila, grapefruit, simple syrup and club soda. Stir gently.

Note: this cocktail can be shaken and strained and served up (add club soda AFTER you shake it) or built over ice in a glass…it’s your call.

Oregano Simple Syrup

Oregano Infused Paloma on the rocks

Served on the rocks

1-2 sprigs oregano (more if you want it to really stand out)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar

1. In a small saucepan bring water to boil, add oregano and sugar. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool before adding to cocktail.

Hot Apple Pie

hot apple pie closeup

Tastes just like the real thing….so perfect for sitting in front of the fire on a cold winter night.

Recipe

1 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
3/4 oz. Flor de Caña rum
4 oz. spiced apple cider
graham cracker crumbs
sweetened whipped cream
ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick

Instructions

1. In a small sauce pan bring your hot apple cider to a boil and remove from heat.

2. Put graham cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl. Use a lemon wedge, melted butter, or water to moisten the rim of an Irish coffee mug, then dip the rim of the glass into your graham cracker crumbs.

3. Add the Frangelico, Flor de Caña and hot apple cider.

4. Top with a spoonful of whipped cream and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

hot apple pie

The finished product.

Apple Thyme Cocktail

apple thyme bourbon martini

Apple season is finally here!!! Another whiskey cocktail I thoroughly enjoyed…and will make again and again

Recipe

Serves 1.

2 oz. bourbon or whiskey
1 1/2 oz. spiced apple cider
1/2 oz. thyme infused simple syrup
1 apple sliced crosswise into 1/4 inch slices, 1 slice cut in to chunks
1 sprig fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Chill martini glass with ice and a little water.

2. Muddle thyme and a couple apple chunks together in a pint glass.

2. Add whiskey, spiced apple cider, thyme simple syrup and ice to the pint glass (if you are using a Boston Shaker) or cocktail shaker and shake until frothy.

3. Dump ice water from and fill to the top with your cocktail, garnish with an apple slice.

apple thyme bourbon martini header

Perfect way to drink a little whisky!

Thyme Infused Simple Syrup

Recipe

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
3 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan bring water, sugar and thyme to a simmer. Stir constantly until all sugar is dissolved. If you are using a plain apple cider try adding cinnamon, cloves, and allspice to the simple syrup to add a little fall flavor to your cocktail. Allow to cool before adding to your cocktail.

  

Lavender Infused Prosecco

The other night I was desperately craving some sparkling wine, but was also in the mood for a cocktail, so I came up with this Lavender Infused Prosecco cocktail with lavender “donated” from our neighbors enormous lavender plant. We paired this with a fall salad, an apple-potato soup and baked brie with a baguette.

Recipe

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon lavender (fresh or dried)
dry sparkling wine
lavender sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare a lavender simple syrup by combining the sugar, water, and loose lavender in a small saucepan. Stir continuously until the sugar is dissolved and remove from heat and allow to cool.

2. Pour a glass of sparkling wine, add a teaspoon or two of the simple syrup and garnish with a lavender sprig. Every sip will smell heavenly.

The Cocktail That Changed My Mind About Whiskey

I hated whiskey until I tried Brown Derby, which is a horrible name for a cocktail, by the way. At least the Euros call it a de Rigeur…. which actually sounds just as lame, but it sure is tasty!!! My first encounter with the Brown Derby was at Oven and Shaker in Downtown Portland…they have awesome wood-fired pizzas and even better cocktails.

brown derby cocktail

Yep, here it is…the Brown Derby Cocktail.

Recipe

Serves 1.

2 oz. whiskey
1 oz. grapefruit juice
1 oz. honey simple syrup (ie. dilute your honey with some warm water…easy enough)

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker combine whiskey, grapefruit juice, and honey simple syrup. Give a quick shake and strain into a crystal champagne coupe.

2. Garnish with a grapefruit twist or peel.

  

 

Cucumber Basil Martini

Drinking on the job!!! Woohoo…. just one of the perks of writing a blog. Steve and I came up with this super refreshing, not too sweet martini and I can’t wait to have another.

cucumber basil martini

Yum!!! More vodka please. Here’s a pic of our cucumber basil martinis before they disappear.

Recipe

1 serving.

2 1/2 oz. Crater Lake Vodka
4 slices cucumber
4-5 basil leaves
1 tablespoon sugar (or less depending on how sweet/tart you want it)
1/4 of a lemon
1/2 of a lime
1 handful of ice

In a pint glass or cocktail shaker combine ice, cucumber slices, basil leaves, sugar, lemon and lime and muddle them until the basil is torn. Add vodka, give the cocktail a quick shake, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a cucumber wheel or basil leaf.