Peonies are one of my favorite flowers, but their blooming season is heartbreakingly quick. We now have a lovely row planted out front and I find myself sniffing the blooms like a weirdo that just can’t get enough. I wanted to find a way to preserve them in some way and decided to create peony petal ice cube molds to look like a blooming flower. After that I started brainstorming… Keep Reading
This cocktail is inspired by and dedicated to one of the funniest, most positive, inspiring gals I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside, Emma. Today is Emma’s 21st birthday (making me feel like a grandma) and now that she can legally taste test my cocktail creations, I had to create one just for her. She loves cookie inspired coffee drinks and after she came in with a Snickerdoodle… Keep Reading
Yesterday we got hit with another lovely blizzard here in Iowa and since I couldn’t make it to work, I made the most of it by crafting a new cocktail, the Rosemary Grapefruit Snowball Margarita! This incredibly fresh and crisp cocktail uses fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruits, lime, and a dash of rosemary simple syrup. If you feel weird about using herbs in your cocktails, don’t. The taste is so… Keep Reading
If you caught my vodka Infusion post you might have seen a little sneak peek to this one, the Spicy Jalapeño Peach Cocktail! It’s sweet, spicy, and simple to make using just 3 ingredients. The spicy peach vodka I made is smooth enough to sip straight, but I added a little honey and some peach flavored sparkling water to bring out the flavors and make it not quite as strong…. Keep Reading
Depending on which state you live in you could be just a few days or a few WEEKS into “quarantine” from COVID-19. At this point you’ve probably plotted to kill your spouse or partner at least a dozen times, consumed your entire wine stockpile that you thought would last for a month, found yourself doing puzzles, organizing closets, and of course binge-watching Tiger King on Netflix. I think I made… Keep Reading
It seems like everyone I’ve been talking to lately has the Winter Blues. It feels like we haven’t seen the sun in weeks, the cold temperatures, snow, and ice are keeping everyone cooped up, and there’s no color outside. Anytime I get that way I look to creating recipes or drinks that involve a lot of bright colors and fresh flavors and this Blood Orange Cinnamon Mai Tai did the… Keep Reading
I love Mules because they’re so simple to throw together, the variations are endless, and they’re always just crisp and refreshing with that bubbly ginger beer finish. I’ve seen a few variations of these Apple Cider Moscow Mules and planned to add pomegranate and all these other flavors, but honestly the plain Jane version is where it’s at. Just 4 ingredients and easy to double or triple the recipe when… Keep Reading
My garden this year was delayed by Spring rains and moving into the house, so here it is mid-September and I’ve got an abundance of green tomatoes still on the vine. I’m incredibly impatient, so I put them to use in this fresh and Spicy Green Tomato Bloody Mary mix! Cooked down with fresh herbs also from the garden and then pureed, this non-traditional concoction is bright with flavor and… Keep Reading
Today might be the official launch of pumpkin spice everything, but I wanted to leave my summer lovers with one last cocktail to enjoy the end of the season with. A mix of fresh pineapple, lime, basil, and mint steeped in white wine and rum for several days makes for a fruity and potent summer sangria. I topped mine off with a little champagne for a nice crisp finish and… Keep Reading
Turmeric has long been revered as a powerful medicinal herb with it’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. So why not mix this wonder ingredient into a potent cocktail so you can get your health benefits while enjoying a drink or two? Not only did the turmeric lend a bright and beautiful hue to this drink, but it provided some bright and bold flavor as well. I started with fresh ginger muddled… Keep Reading
Spring tends to be a little late here in the Midwest, so instead of waiting for all the spring blooms, I added them to my cocktails instead! Suspended in ice, the flower buds and petals add a nice pop of color in this bright and citrusy cocktail I mixed up. I started out with a small batch of homemade lemon and thyme infused vodka, added a bit of simple syrup… Keep Reading
It’s taken me a little bit longer than I thought to get settled and find routine in the new house. My days off are now being consumed with house projects (which you can see more of over on Instagram!) and trying to squeeze in some face time with friends and family. When my plate is full and the juggle struggle is real, a good strong drink at the end of… Keep Reading
I created this cocktail toward the end of summer, but it turned out so pretty and romantic looking that I thought I would save it for February. Not only does it look like Valentine’s Day in cocktail form, but as sweet and pretty as this cocktail looks, it packs a mean punch of heat that’s perfect for staying warm on these chilly February days. I mixed my own habanero infused… Keep Reading
I shared a sneak peek at this Bloody Mary creation via Instagram and the response was mostly a lot of expletives and excitement, which I interpreted as a good thing! I don’t mess around when it comes to Bloody Marys and creating this one was no exception. I switched up my usual homemade Bloody mix by adding balsamic vinegar, olive juice, Italian seasoning, and homemade basil infused vodka, which complemented… Keep Reading
With the wintry weather, I’ve had quite the craving for bright citrus flavors, fresh herbs, and a good strong drink. Heavy emphasis on the “good strong drink” part since I’ve found myself getting towed or pushed out of a ditch twice in the last week. My poor little Corolla that I lovingly refer to as Carol, slid off into a small ditch on our gravel road leaving my tires about… Keep Reading
Every holiday season (okay, really any season) I love making sangria for all of the get togethers with friends and family. This year I threw together a quick and simple one using Red Delicious apples, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. It’s a great make-ahead cocktail that you can do several batches and variations with. I top mine off with champagne for added crispness which makes this perfect for a… Keep Reading
If you haven’t yet heard the folklore of Krampus, you are totally missing out on one of the best Christmas tales of all time. Krampus is a creature bearing horns, fangs, a long tongue and carries with him chains and a bundle of birch sticks to swat naughty children with. He shows up at the beginning of December and then hauls the bad kids back to the underworld. I must… Keep Reading
With gardening season coming to a close I typically spend part of my days off processing the remaining tomatillos, peppers, and tomatoes from the garden into fresh salsa. I couldn’t think of a better complementing drink to all that spicy salsa than an icy cold margarita. I decided to mix in some tasty craft beer and used the Tangerine Express IPA from Stone Brewing. It made for an unexpectedly delicious… Keep Reading
It’s ridiculously hot and swampy feeling here in Iowa and all I want is to sip cocktails while floating in the pool. The reality is that I’m working not floating and I would fry up like the little vampire I am if I spent all day poolside. I can still enjoy a nice cocktail though and this Habanero Watermelon Cooler is the perfect summer drink! Freshly juiced watermelon, mint, and… Keep Reading
I was 8 years old when I watched the movie Twister and became obsessed with the idea of storm chasing. I loved thunderstorms and that eerie feeling right before a tornado would hit. I remember once I was home alone and the sirens went off. I then set about the task of hauling the rabbit cage, the dog in his kennel, and our cat downstairs and setting up a stool… Keep Reading
Our spring was off to a really slow start, but now that everything is slowly budding and turning lovely shades of green I wanted to put together a roundup of some of my favorite spring-inspired recipes from the blog! First up are these scrumptious Spring Fruit and Basil Bruschetta appetizers. Toasted baguette slices, rich goat cheese, sweet fruits, and honey make for a delectable combination. Click here for the full… Keep Reading
I’ll be the first to admit that when I moved to Oregon I turned into a bit of a beer snob. I mean.. it’s hard not to when Portland is dubbed as the beer capital of the world and you’ve got access to over 30 breweries within city limits. Needless to say I always gravitate toward Oregon brews when given the option, Deshutes being a big favorite. As soon as… Keep Reading
I was looking at my last cocktail post and realized it was nearly a month ago! Surely you all need something new to drink by now. I also realized that I had created another cocktail that same day and it’s just been hanging out, unedited on my laptop for the last month. I’m going to go ahead and blame myself for volunteering for a 55 hour work week that left… Keep Reading
The other day I tried to make it into work during a blizzard and realized very quickly that I was more likely to wind up flipped over in a ditch than I would be making it to work. After watching everyone else quickly exit off the highway to turn around and head back home, I decided it was safest to do the same. I didn’t want my day to be… Keep Reading