Bloody Mary Bar

Yesterday, I hosted book club at my house and put together a Bloody Mary bar. Everyone brought a little something special (bacon, shrimp) and I provided the basics. It was a lot of fun. 

Booze

• Tito's handmade vodka

Bases

• V8
• Bloody Mary mix
• Clamato

Sauces

• Tabasco
• Sriracha
• Liquid Smoke

Garnishes

• Gerkins
• Garlic-stuffed olives
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cocktail onions
• Lemon wedges
• Cheese cubes
• Bacon
• Shrimp

Salts

• Chipotle
• Smoked paprika
• Grippo's BBQ seasoning

Thanksgiving Recipe: Cranberry Jello Shots

I made these for a potluck friendsgiving-style party that we went to on Friday. It was a fun time. Our friend lives in an apartment building-cum-gallery, and she and some of her artist/art-history-buff friends came up with a game called "Drunk Art History," inspired by the show Drunk History, of course. Everyone picked a piece of famous artwork out of a hat and, after some drinking, we gave 3-minute boozy lectures with the aid of a projector.

I got the recipe here, but I used raspberry Jell-O because I couldn't find cranberry. They were delicious. The cranberry juice combined with the raspberry Jell-O for the perfect cran-raspberry taste.

I wasn't quite sure how to roll the cranberries in honey and sugar, so I just drizzled honey over them in a bowl and stirred, then added a few tablespoons of sugar and stirred again. That method worked well, and I'd recommend it if you give these a try. I was able to get 28 shots out of the recipe, so I only sugared about 40 cranberries, saving the rest of the bag for Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

Looking for a last-minute Thanksgiving contribution or a quick way to get your family drunk? Look no further.

Recipe video: How to make a whole fruit green smoothie

One of my birthday goals this year was to do more video blogging in a serious and artful way. I've done some simple all-in-one-take videos in the past, but I don't want to do any more of those. They feel lazy and they don't stretch my creativity of give me a chance to learn new skills.

I've been thinking about what kinds of subjects might make good videos for the blog, and taking inspiration from really beautifully filmed tutorials like this recipe one (truly a work of art!) and this DIY one (shows so much personality!)

When I saw this skincare advice video made by fellow blogger Alexandra of To Vogue or Bust and read what she shared about wanting to do more video blogging but being a bit scared (a sentiment I echo wholeheartedly), it really gave me the kick in the pants I needed to just take the first step.

Even if my first videos weren't perfect, I would learn along the way, just like I've learned (and continue to learn) everything else I know about blogging. 

So here's my first step. I hope you enjoy it! Feedback is always appreciated. Thanks, loves!

Valentine's Day recipe: cotton-candy champagne cocktail

What could be more playfully romantic than dissolving a puff of pretty, pink cotton candy in a bubbling stream of chilled champagne?

When I saw this idea on the back page of Her Magazine's wedding issue, I knew I had to try it and share the results with you readers.

For me, ideal Valentine's Day foods are either romantic (fondue), punny (artichoke hearts), or visual on point (anything hear-shaped, red, pink, etc.) This easy and delightful cocktail ticks both the first and third box. And if you can think of a punny name for it, you can tick the second box as well. 

And since making it is so fun -- watching the bubbling champagne dissolve the puffs of candy before your eyes -- it makes a great signature cocktail for a party. I suggest creating a make-your-own cocktail bar with puffs of candy artfully displayed alongside individually sized bottles of champagne. Galentine's Day, anyone?

 

To see a quick video I made of the process, click here. Oh, and follow me on Vine!

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Holiday recipe: spiced (and spiked) wassel

This is a super easy recipe that provides something warm and festive for party-goers to drink. At our holiday/engagement party, I served my wassel with rum on the side so people could choose whether or not to spike it (and how spiked they wanted it). You could also provide bourbon, cinnamon schnapps, and other options if you want to get really fancy. 

Ingredients:

1 gallon apple cider

Half a whole nutmeg

4 or 5 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 orange

1 bottle of rum (optional)

You will also need:

A crock pot

A ladle

Somewhere to rest the ladle between dips 

A grater or zester

A vegetable peeler

01. At least three hours prior to the party, pour your cider into the crock pot. Add the cloves and cinnamon sticks. Grate in the nutmeg. 

02. Use the vegetable peeler to peel large chunks off your orange and add them to the pot.

03. Cook for 3-4 hours or until hot. A long cook times gives the spices time to really soak into the liquid.

04. Change the crock pot to its "keep warm" setting and set out a bottle of rum.

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Spring recipe: cucumber melon smoothie

If you follow me on instagram, you are likely aware already of my smoothie obsession. When warm weather comes, I blend up fruit and veg as often as twice a day. I shared my recipe for a strawberry rhubarb smoothie here, and today, I have another offbeat flavor combination to share with you . . . cucumber melon. 

Now, if you're saying to yourself, isn't that a Bath and Bodyworks scent, well, yes it is. But that doesn't mean it's not also delicious in smoothie form.

I have a rule when it comes to flavor combinations. It's called The Rule of Green. The Rule of Green states that anything green will taste great when paired with something else that's also green, and it never fails. Green tea and mint? Yum! Lime and basil? Absolutely! Avocado dill? Why the heck not?!

I'm not sure if The Rule of Green plays to our psychological ideas about food or if there's just a hint of "green flavor" that runs through everything green. All I know is that it works. And I'm here to spread the good word of green.

Ingredients:

About 1/2 cup to 1 cup water

1/3 of a large cucumber, washed but not pealed

8 oz. honeydew melon, cubed and frozen (I like to buy it cut up in a plastic container, and I just pop the container in the freezer when I get it home.)

Step 01. Starting with just 1/2 cup of water, put all ingredients in a blender and blitz until smoothi.

Step 02. Add more water if needed or desired.

Just for fun: an Instagram smoothie roundup . . .

 
 
 
 
 



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Spring recipe: strawberry rhubarb smoothie

I mentioned the strawberry/rhubarb flavor combination in this post, and it's those classic pies that inspired this smoothie. 

I add a bit of honey to balance out the tangy rhubarb. You may want to use more, less, or none depending on your taste. Likewise, if you prefer stevia, agave nectar, or another sweetener, by all means, substitute that.

You may also use more or less of any ingredients to attain your preferred consistancy. By all means, experiment and change things to suit your desires. Customizability is one of the best things about smoothies. 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup frozen strawberries

1 stalk rhubarb (washed)

2 teaspoons honey

1/2 cup water

Step 01. Add all ingredients in a blender and blitz.

Step 02. Enjoy lavishly. 

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