Category Archives: Drinks

Elderflower Collins (and a piece of toast)

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Danguole| Leave a comment

Do you know what day it is?

There are only two correct answers to that query, the first of which is:

(Image from omgarresteddevelopment.tumblr.com)

The second of which is: there are only 8 days until the return of Arrested Development!  Also known as: The Unmaking of a Huge Mistake.

Am I a fan?  YES.  Am I excited?  YES.  What was my first thought when my girl Elizabeth aka the SugarHero brilliantly suggested we come up with some recipes to celebrate this legendary event?  HELL YES.

And that’s what we’re doing here!   A week full of Arrested Development-inspired food from both of us.  Fellow AD fans, this is no illusion: hop on the stair van, because we’re going to the model home.  All.  Week.  Long.  It’ll be more fun than Motherboy.

Everyone else, please pardon the interruption and endless gratuitous references to the show–I hope you still enjoy the recipes.  Also, WHAT are you doing with your life.  (Statement, not a question.)

I’m kicking things off with a nod (and a too-long wink) to Lucille.  The matriarch of the Bluth family enjoys her cocktails–and if it’s before noon, a sensible piece of toast will make it breakfast.

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Posted in Drinks, Entertaining, Spring, Summer

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Strawberry-Tarragon Gimlet

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Danguole| 11 Comments

Meet the cocktail that was inspired by a sandwich…  A sandwich I never even ate.  (Someday I’ll make sense, but that day is not today.)

See, I’m a fan of a local cheese shop/deli.  Somewhat masochistically, I read their Facebook updates on what they’re serving for lunch, even though I cannot get there during the day because of dumb logistic reasons.  Occasionally, their lunch creations involve strawberry-tarragon jam.  (…And brie–ugh, told you.  It’s downright painful and I don’t know why I do it to myself.)

So what’s a girl to do?  Oh, I don’t know.  Let’s try pouring gin on strawberries and tarragon.  It’ll be fun–I promise.

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Posted in Drinks, Entertaining, Spring, Summer

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Amaretto Sour

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Danguole| 9 Comments

Let’s have a look at our liquor cabinet, shall we?  Bourbon is having a serious moment, deservedly so.  Rum is just moping around unshaven in a bathrobe, gazing at the fruit basket.  Your time will be here soon, little guy, no worries.  Gin is taking a nap…  Gin gets grouchy in the winter, too.  It’s tough being away from limes and tonic that long; I get it.

Vodka is…  Good for keeping your ice cream from freezing too hard?

Of course, that’s not everything–not nearly.  If you happen to like alcohol, you REALLY like it.  Like me, you might be a booze hoarder.  Without even looking, I can tell you I have bottles upon bottles of things I’ve used once or twice.  Maraschino!   Creme de violet!  Both kinds of vermouth!

Which leads me to my main point: today in Nice Problems to Have news, I need to drink more.  So let’s make us some drinks.

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Posted in Drinks, Entertaining

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Orange and Cardamom Infused Cold-Brewed Coffee

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Danguole| 7 Comments

Guess who went to a concert 3.5 hours away on a Monday night…  Then came back the same night…  Then went to work Tuesday morning and stayed for almost 12 hours?  Simple math tells us: that is too many hours of traveling and rocking out and working.  And not enough of sleeping.

I don’t know if I’m bragging or telling you that I’m a GIANT IDIOT.

Maybe not that much of an idiot, because this was waiting for me at home.  A pitcher of coffee in your fridge can fix anything.

So, just what is the deal with cold brewing? To recap, it’s making coffee without heat–mix and let it sit, then filter.  I first posted it early last summer, but it’s been a year-round staple for me ever since.  And believe me, I love nothing more than steaming milk for a cappuccino on a winter morning, but that kind of luxury ain’t suited for the M-F of a busy life, baby.

Cold-brewed coffee is an easy, convenient solution, and even the plain-Jane version tastes far superior than hot-brewed and iced coffee.  This time, we’re taking things to a fancy new level: infusing our concoction with orange and cardamom.  Fragrant citrus and warm spice: good morning, sunshine!  It’s so, so very lovely.  I normally drink my cold brew black, but this version, combined with some unsweetened (sweetened would be great too, obviously) vanilla almond milk, is just out of this world.

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Posted in Drinks, fruit, Healthy (?)

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Super Bowl Roundup

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Danguole| 1 Comment

Because everyone agrees the food is the best part of this, right?

Suggestions for party guests:

1) Bacon-Jalapeno Jam. Double the recipe (trust me!), bring a baguette, become an instant hero.

2) Buttermilk ranch, completely from scratch. Also impressive!  Your favorite wings need a sidekick.

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Posted in Appetizer, Brownies, Condiments, Cookies, Dessert, Drinks, Entertaining, Main courses, Meat, Roundups, weekend, Winter

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Thyme Paloma Cocktail

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Danguole| 5 Comments

But wasn’t I whining about the cold a couple of days ago?  Why, yes.  But alcohol is delicious!  Also, I make zero sense.

What does make sense is taking beautiful, in-season, ripe, juicy grapefruit, and putting tequila on it.  Nature’s most tart, refreshing citrus graces us in the winter.  We may not need refreshment from the heat, but we do need refreshment from…  Everything else.  So let’s drink.

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Posted in Drinks, Mexican, Winter

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