Things I Love {April 2020}

Things I Love :: April 2020

Welcome to my April #2020 edition of Things I Love – these are a few of my current objects of #obsession…#food, #wine, #cocktails, #recipes, #cooking gadgets, #restaurants, fav products and ingredients, #props, food styling and #photography inspiration, fun and engaging #videos, movies + TV shows, podcasts, lighting and #camera equipment and tips, #beauty products, #celebs and #influencers to follow, great #books to read, etc…All just simply people, places and things I love that I think are notable and worth a big shout out for their wonderful-ness! And stay tuned for next month on my journey to find new and fun things to share with you all. Enjoy! 

Fav Beauty Products

My fav beauty products 

These are a few of my favorite things for a quick 10-minute beauty routine. Cause who’s got time to spend on all of this, especially when all the salons are closed and you need a quick pick-me-up and beauty fix. 

  1. Beekham 1802 Apricot + Honey Tea hand lotion
  2. Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Spray
  3. Batiste Brilliant Blonde Dry Shampoo
  4. Laura Geller Bronze + Brighten and Balance and Glow Illuminating Foundation
  5. Doll 10 Hydralux lip liner and Hydrabalm Solid Serum lipstick
  6. Aurora Liquid Eye Liner – Espresso
  7. Laura Geller Gel Brow Pencil 
  8. Mally Lift + Curl Mascara
  9. Tetris Block Party Eyeshadow

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

I recently was awarded 2nd place in the JSL Foods Blogger Recipe Challenge..and won a $500 cash prize for my Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon recipe – yay! This recipe features their Chicken Udon Noodles which are organic, pre-cooked and delicious, and sweet and spicy glazed Vietnamese Chicken I made topped with everything bagel seasoning, jalapeños and fresh cilantro. Check out my award-winning recipe here

Spring Veggie Garden Bread

Spring Veggie Garden Bread

I saw these adorable Spring Veggie Garden breads on Facebook a couple weeks ago – I’m not sure who even made them but they are so bright and colorful and pretty! The bread dough has pressed veggies and herbs shaped into flower shapes and then it’s brushed with olive oil before baking to make these gorgeous designs!I found a  recipe like this online from Taste of Home if you want to give your artistic baking skills a whirl – https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/bread-art/

Easy Queso Dip

Easy Queso Dip

This is a super easy queso dip from Bon Appetit – creamy cheesy goodness made with onions, garlic, jalapeños and lots of American ad Monterey Jack cheese – and ready to go in about 15-20 minutes on the stove! Perfect for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and of course to dip tortilla chips in with salsa and margaritas for Cinco de Mayo! get the recipe here

My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend

This is a gorgeous mini-series on HBO that I just started watching and fell in love with instantly. Set in Naples Italy post-World War II, is a story about two best friends (Lila Ferrulo and Elena Greco) along with their struggles and friendship as they go through life together (and apart) trying to survive and get out of a poor neighborhood in the projects of Naples. It has a complex cast of characters that make up all of the Italian families that surround them and are intertwined in their lives. The story is endearing and heartwarming, yet sad and troubling all at the same time. It’s absolutely beautifully written – lovely, haunting and addicting. The books are part of a 4-part series called Neapolitan Novels written by Elena Ferrante which the HBO TV series is based upon.  Must see and read!

Watch the series 
Buy the books

Click here for more hidden gems to watch on Netflix

Whipped Coffee White Russian

Whipped Coffee White Russian

Everyone seems to be making that trendy frothy whipped Dalgona Coffee lately..but have you seen this one by Half Baked Harvest? It’s a fun twist on the original White Russian cocktail topped with whipped coffee, a touch of sugar and hint of vanilla. Delish!

Get the recipe here

Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies

Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies

A favorite recipe by Alison Roman of Bon Appetit – these cookies are a cross between shortbread, chocolate chip and brown sugar cookies. Perfect for a sweet tooth attack in the middle of a pandemic! Described in her words:

“Less chocolate chip cookie, more brown sugar shortbread with chocolate chunks—they just might be the cookie you’ve been looking for.”

Get the recipe here

Girl Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis

Fav Books, E-Books and Cookbooks, Apps

  1. Girl Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis
  2. Keto For Carb Lovers Cookbook, Delish
  3. Quick and Easy Recipes from The NY Times, Mark Bittman
  4. The Sugar Brain Fix, Mike Dow
  5. Shine App – Calm Anxiety and Stress
  6. Quibi

Chrissy Teigen YouTube

Fav Podcasts + Video/YouTube Shows

  1. Inspiring Life by Lewis Howes 
    RISE Podcast by Rachel Hollis
  2. Unlocking Us by Brene Brown
  3. Jay Shetty Podcast
  4. Think Media TV YouTube
  5. Chrissy Teigen YouTube 
  6. The FeedFeed IGTV
  7. The Bite Shot YouTube
  8. NYTimes Cooking YouTube

Motivational Articles and Links

  1. This Pandemic is Our Teacher, by Michael Pietzrak
  2. 16 Ways to Read More Books, by Jamie Friedlander
  3. How to Fight Boredom with Curiosity, Goop.com

A few More Goodies

These are just a few more things I take and use on a daily basis for good health and wellbeing. It’s all about taking care of yourself especially during a stressful time like this. The CBD Hemp Oil, Organic Greens Superfood Drink, Turmeric with Ginger and Black Pepper I take every day..!  I got all of those on Amazon except for the Neutrogena HydroBoost mask (which I LOVE!!) – you can get at any drug store like Walgreens or CVS. Here’s a link to the Stash Tea website – I love this new flavor with apple cider and maple..soooo good and comforting! These FBOMB Nut Butters are amazing too – for a quick dose of tasty and healthy fat these macadamia nut butters come in different flavors like salted chocolate, coconut, sea salt, hazelnut and more. Also, they have a great Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal going on with free shipping – just use code FREEJAR during checkout.

Thai Chicken Salad w/ Peanut Dressing

Chopped Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

Recipe by Pinch of Yum

Taco Bar

A few Cinco de Mayo recipes and ideas 

White Bean Stew

And lastly, here are 44 Spring Recipes from Bon Appetit – yay! Spring is finally here. 

 

Sriracha Mango Grilled Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

Summer is here and almost half way over at that! I love grilling anything and everything during the warm weather months so I’ve created a super delish recipe for Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings with a Ginger-Lime Sour Cream dipping sauce and a Spicy Michelada to pair it with.

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

Once again, I’ve used a fantastic infused balsamic vinegar from Seven Barrels, one of my favorite clients ever. The Sriracha Mango vinegar is delicious on chicken so I made a glaze with fresh mango, sriracha, vinegar, fresh lime zest and orange juice to toss the wings in after I grilled them a bit, then glazed them again for extra flavor at the end.

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

They’re spicy and sweet, and oh so good. And I made a lovely Ginger-Lime Sour Cream dipping sauce to cool off the heat a bit, along with a Spicy Michelada made with Mexican beer (Corona) and a dash of the Sriracha Mango vinegar, a dash of salt, and a fresh squeeze of lime juice.

Sriracha Mango Grilled Chicken Wings

Ingredients

  • Chicken Wings: 
  • 2 pounds chicken wings (24 wing pieces)
  • 1/4 cup Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Vegetable oil or spray, for grill
  • Sriracha Mango Lime Glaze:
  • 1 cup mango, peeled and diced
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup Sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon Seven Barrels Sriracha Mango Vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 small red chile pepper
  • ¼ cup cilantro
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Ginger Lime Sour Cream Dipping Sauce:
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime zest
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • Michelada:
  • 1 (12 ounce) Corona Beer
  • Fresh lime juice from ½ a lime
  • 1 tablespoon Seven Barrels Sriracha Mango Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Dash of hot sauce
  • Lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat (spray or brush pan with a light coat of cooking oil). Toss the chicken wings in 1/4 cup Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil, and season with salt and pepper. Cook wings on the grill for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until no longer pink and skin starts to get charred with grill marks.
  2. To make the glaze, add the mango, orange juice, Sriracha, Seven Barrels Sriracha Mango Vinegar, Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil, honey, soy sauce, garlic, chile pepper and cilantro into a food processor and process until smooth. Place the sauce into a saucepan over medium-low heat and let simmer until warmed through while the wings are cooking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Once the wings are finished cooking, toss them gently in the Sriracha Mango Lime glaze and let them marinate for about 5 minutes or so. Return wings back to the grill for an additional 5 minutes, flipping over once. Remove wings from the grill on to a large platter and let them cool to give them a nice caramelized glaze.
  4. To make the Ginger Lime Sour Cream dipping sauce, stir together the sour cream, Seven Barrels Lime Olive Oil, garlic salt, lime zest and grated ginger in a bowl and serve with the wings with celery and carrot sticks.
  5. NOTE: Alternatively, you can bake the wings for 1 hour at 375 degrees on a large baking sheet covered with foil (and toss them in the sauce at the end).
  6. Makes approximately 24 wings, 1 cup of glaze and ½ cup sour cream sauce.
  7. To make the Michelada: stir all the ingredients into the beer and garnish with a lime wedge.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2017/08/sriracha-mango-grilled-chicken-wings-spicy-micheladas/

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

This really is the quintessential recipe pairing for Summer now, isn’t it?

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

You can also try the glaze on pork chops or even add some grilled shrimp – it’s absolutely delicious and you can always adjust the heat by adding or removing some of the Sriracha hot sauce. Or maybe making it even hotter by adding in a dash of habanero hot sauce to the mix – now, this recipe is on FIRE!

Sriracha Mango Chicken Wings + Spicy Micheladas

Perfect for a lovely evening outside with friends, watching the sun go down…that’s #howisummer 🙂

Things are getting Coco Loco for Summer!

CocoLoco-hero

Captain Morgan Loco Nut

Hey guys, listen up! Summer is almost around the corner and do I have some exciting news for you coconut lovers around the world! CAPTAIN MORGAN just took a bunch of coconuts and turned them into a delicious new shot, CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut. This super delicious shot is made with Caribbean rum, coconut liqueur, spice and natural flavors.

Loco-&-Chill

It comes in a coconut-shaped bottle, smells like a coconut and yes,  tastes like a coconut (and a day on the beach in a glass!) LocoNut is affordable too, just $14.99 for a 750 ml bottle, and it’s coming to a store (and a beach) near you. And, on top of that, CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut is also gluten-free!

Loconut2

It’s simply amazing as a chilled shot, but it’s also great simply on the rocks, and a great base for a variety of tropical cocktails or mixed shots, so get creative! I’d love to hear some of your cocktail ideas using LocoNut in the comments below.

Here’s a few cocktail ideas to get your tastebuds singing and a head start on Summer vacay:

Loco & Coco 

3 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot

4 oz. Coconut Water

Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut with coconut water and serve over ice.

—–

Captain & Loco 

2 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot

0.5 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN Original Spiced Rum

Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut and CAPTAIN MORGAN Original Spiced Rum and serve over ice.

—–

Livin’ Vanilla Loco 

1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot

0.5 oz. CROWN ROYAL Vanilla

Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut and CROWN ROYAL Vanilla into a shaker with ice.

Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice.

LocoNut

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To learn more about CAPTAIN MORGAN follow us on social media on Instagram (@CaptainMorganUSA), Twitter (@CaptainMorganUS) and like us on Facebook (@CaptainMorganUSA).

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About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Follow on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I received a product sample from the client to perform this product review on my site. I was not compensated monetarily and all opinions are my own. #ad #spon

Spice Up your Halloween w/ Spooky & Delicious Cocktails

pumpkin-spiced-rum

pumpkin-spiced-rum

Hey friends, Happy Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday of the year (well, besides Thanksgiving and Christmas) and what better way to celebrate than making some spooky and delicious cocktails for your #Halloween party!

captain-morgan-jack-oblast

I love Captain Morgan Caribbean spiced rum, and they have a new kid in town – Jack-O-Blast! It’s the same delicious rum but has all the seasonal flavors of Fall incorporated like pumpkin spice and cinnamon..yum! I wanted to share a few cocktail recipes with you to try with this delicious elixir that will spice up your #Halloween festivities this year.

jack-oblast

And actually, it’s so darn good, you could sip it on ice all by itself! But pick some up quick because it’s limited edition meaning they only sell it in the Fall. Hope you have a Jack-O-Blast time whatever you’re doing for the holiday! Enjoy 🙂

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT NEAR YOU

apple-jacko

Apple Jack-O

  • 1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
  • 4 oz. chilled apple cider

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and serve.

mutiny-mules

Mutiny Mule

  • 1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
  • 3 oz. ginger beer
  • 0.5 oz. lime juice

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

capts-cauldron

Captain’s Cauldron

  • 1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
  • 2 oz. orange juice
  • 1 oz. cranberry juice
  • Optional: 1 oz. club soda topper
  • Lemon wedge – squeezed

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and garnish with a lemon wedge.

I’d love to hear what fun and spooky cocktail recipes you all are making (or would make!) too..cause, you can never have enough delish cocktails in your life, right? Please comment below! 

Cocktails for National Whiskey Sour Day!

Crown Royal Whiskey Sour

Crown Royal Whiskey Sour

National Whiskey Sour Day is finally here, (August 25th) and I’m celebrating one of my favorite cocktails by sharing a few delicious and easy recipes courtesy of Crown Royal, George Dickel and Bulleit.

whiskey sour

Over a century ago, the Whiskey Sour originated as one of the simplest cocktails, with variations of whiskey, lemon juice, and sweetened with sugar. The mix lost attention after the prohibition era, but it resurged with the heightened interest in craft cocktails. Thanks to whiskey’s newfound status and the use of fresh ingredients, the Whiskey Sour has made a strong comeback.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye_bottle shot

Because sours have a higher ratio of alcohol to mix than your typical cocktail, the “unofficial” holiday appeals to the summer beverage interests of men and women alike.

Bulleit Bourbon

To celebrate the revival of the classic Whiskey Sour, honor the holiday by sipping one of the recipes below – a traditional recipe using George Dickel No. 12, and two modern recipes with a twist using Bulleit Bourbon and Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye.

George Dickel No 12 Whiskey

WHISKEY SOUR RECIPES

George Dickel Whiskey Sour

George Dickel Whiskey Sour

1.3 oz. George Dickel No.12 Whiskey

1.5 oz. lemon juice

0.75 oz. simple syrup

Shake and strain ingredients into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry.

Jeff's Redneck Sour

Jeff’s Redneck Sour

1.25 oz. Bulleit Rye

1 oz. fresh lemon sour

0.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice

2 dashes grapefruit bitters

Shake and strain ingredients into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit half wheel.

Click here for Bulleit Rye Traditional Whiskey Sour recipe

The Harvest Sour

The Harvest Sour

1 oz. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored

.5 oz. lemon juice

.5 oz. simple syrup

1 Dash Pimento Bitters

1 Egg White

Grated Nutmeg (optional)

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Grate nutmeg for garnish (optional).

—————–

More about Bulleit Bourbon: 

Distilled in Kentucky from the highest quality ingredients, this new variant is a barrel strength version of Bulleit Bourbon with the same high-rye mash bill – roughly 2/3 corn and 1/3 rye. In April, Bulleit Barrel Strength received a Gold Medal from the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, continuing Bulleit’s history of sharing award-winning whiskeys.

More about Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye:

With more than 75 years of experience producing quality Canadian Whiskey, Crown Royal introduces its first-ever blended rye whiskey, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. Crafted from 90% rye whiskey, the new blended whiskey from Crown Royal is produced at the brand’s distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, where the distinctive Northern winters create the perfect conditions for a deliciously flavorful, extraordinarily smooth whiskey.

More about George Dickel No. 12:

A 90 proof Dickel whiskey that uses older whiskies to create deeper, more assertive flavors and an incredibly smooth finish. The taste is refined with hints of vanilla and a dry crisp finish– a result of their charcoal mellowing process. Concentrated flavors of rich oak and subtle vanilla lead to a long finish with hints of maple, butter and smoke. It’s a whiskey with enormous depth, range and personality – considered by many to be the gold standard of Tennessee Whiskey.

Celebrate National Pi Day w/ some PIEHOLE Whisky Cocktails

Pi Day

Pi Day, the mathematical holiday, is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.

And even though it’s a less common holiday to be celebrated, it’s simply another great reason to whip up a cocktail. And what better to include in your Pi(e) Day drink than PIEHOLE Whiskey?

Piehole Sweetheart Brooke

In honor of the occasion, I’d like to share three delicious spring cocktails, created by the National PIEHOLE Sweetheart (and New Orleans Bartender) Brooke Flaherty.

Piehole_Lucky_Apple

Lucky Apple

1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Apple Flavored Liqueur

3 oz. Ginger Beer

A splash sour mix

A splash of lemon-lime soda

Garnish with lime wedge

Piehole_Cherry_Punch

Cherry Punch

1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Cherry Flavored Liqueur

4 oz. Ginger Ale

.5 oz. Pineapple Juice

.5 oz. Orange Juice

Juice from half of a lemon

Garnish with a cherry and orange

Piehole_Pecan_Sweet_Tea

Pecan Sweet Tea

1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Pecan Flavored Liqueur

1 oz. Orange Juice

Top with Iced Tea

A dash of bitters

Lemon juice

Garnish with lemon wedge

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Find more fun PIEHOLE cocktail recipes online at https://www.pieholewhiskey.com

Cocktails for Spring!

Bulleit-Smash

springflowers

Now that Spring has officially arrived, I’m looking forward to warmer weather and sunny skies. If only the blizzards would stop in NYC! I’ve rounded up a few great cocktail recipes for Spring that I think you’ll enjoy – perfect for lounging around on the patio with some small bites and a group of friends. The cocktails are made with Bulleit Rye, Crown Royal Regal Apple, and the new Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum. Not a spirits drinker? I also included a wine spritzer recipe with the recently launched Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, an offering for wine lovers that gives back to rescue dogs. How cool is that?

Now, snow snow, go away – come again another day! Enjoy. 🙂

 

Bulleit-Smash

Bulleit Rye Smash

1.25 oz. Bulleit Rye
1 oz. simple syrup
3 wedge(s) lemon(s)
3 piece(s) mint sprig
3 dash(es) bitters

In an ice filled shaker combine all the ingredients. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.

 

Golden-Delicious

Golden Delicious

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 Dash angostura bitters

Add ingredients to high ball. Top with ginger ale and lemon garnish.

 

Palomahola
Palomaloha

1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
Juice of ½ lime
Grapefruit soda to top

Fill tall glass with ice. Pour in Captain Morgan® Grapefruit Rum, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

 

Spritz Tsu

Spritz Tzu

3 oz. Chateau La Paws Chardonnay
1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz. Club Soda
Lemon Twist
Fill rocks glass with ice. Pour in Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, elderflower liqueur and club soda. Garnish with lemon twist.

 

Get more great Spring Cocktail recipes online!

www.bulleit.com
#bulleit

www.crownroyal.com
#regalapple

us.captainmorgan.com
#captainmorgan

www.chateaulapaws.com
#clpwines

Spring is here! Spring Canapes & Cocktails Party with KitchenAid

Spring Canapes & Cocktails!
Spring Canapes & Cocktails!

Spring is here, and there’s nothing better than gathering a few friends together for a casual get together with some canapés and cocktails featuring the fresh produce of the season. Fava Beans, Baby Garden Peas and Strawberries are a few of my favorites that start popping up in April and May with the first bloom of Spring.

I love to use my KitchenAid® 13-Cup Food Processor for making quick and tasty dips and spreads – I simply toss all the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor and give it a few whirls to make easy canapés and appetizers for sharing with friends.

An easy, fun idea is to serve crostini with a spread made of baby garden peas and fava beans, mixed with roasted garlic, mint, greek yogurt, feta cheese, lemon zest and olive oil. The flavors are bright, and it’s a light and healthy appetizer, perfect for spreading on toast and serving with fresh veggies for dipping. I love to serve them with some light Spring cocktails made with vodka, lemonade, fresh strawberries, mint and soda – perfect complement for the bite sized crostini! You can also make crostini with different veggies such as roasted red pepper, artichokes, avocado, olives – whatever you’re in the mood for!

The Pink Confetti product line over at Paper Eskimo makes a wonderful addition to any Spring Party! You can view the entire Pink Confetti Product line by visiting: https://www.papereskimo.com/product-category/shop-by-color/marshmallow-pink/.

Check out my post on KitchenAid’s Kitchenthusiast Blog for recipes, party ideas and how-to’s to get your Spring party started!

Spring Ingredients
Spring Ingredients
Minted-Pea-&-Fava-Bean-Crostini
Minted Pea & Fava Bean Crostini
Strawberry Mint Vodka Lemonade Cocktails
Strawberry Mint Vodka Lemonade Cocktails

Halloween Cocktail Recipes

HalloweenCocktails-hero

It’s that time of year again – Halloween! My favorite holiday of all times. I love the crisp Fall air, the falling colored leaves, pumpkins, apples, fresh cider and glazed doughnuts from the cider mill and the crazy fun goblins, ghost, monsters and whacky costumes creeping around the city at the annual Halloween parade in Greenwich Village in NYC.

Here are some fun Halloween cocktails you can make to celebrate the season, from top mixologists at some of NYC’s best restaurants including Courvoisier, JIMMY at The James, David Burke Kitchen, Bagatelle & more. It’s a selection of great drinks with a little something for any costume party!

Beetle Juice
Beetle Juice

Beetle Juice

Ingredients:

1.50 parts Courvoisier Rosé
.50 parts DeKuyper Crème de Cassis
Orange Juice
Directions:
Build cocktail in an ice filled highball glass. Garnish with a lime squeeze.

 

Graveyard Gruel
Graveyard Gruel

Graveyard Gruel

Ingredients:
1.25 parts Courvoisier VSOP
.75 parts DeKuyper Rootbeer Schnapps
1 part Pineapple Juice
Directions:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Bloody Punch
Bloody Punch

Bloody Punch

Ingredients:
1.25 parts Courvoisier Rosé
.75 parts DeKuyper Red Apple
1.50 parts Fresh Lemon Sour
1.50 parts Pineapple Juice
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Directions:
Build cocktail in an ice filled highball glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge on the rim.

Pumpkin Head
Pumpkin Head

Pumpkin Head

Served at JIMMY at The James NY

Ingredients:
1 oz Tito’s vodka
1 oz Drambuie liquor
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Orange Juice
Bar spoon of Pumpkin Puree

Directions:
Shake with ice, strain into a tall glass
Add ice and stir in hard cider
Garnish with a thyme sprig

Bobbing for Apples
Bobbing for Apples

 

Bobbing for Caramel Apples

Served at David Burke Kitchen

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Stoli Salted Caramel vodka
.75 oz Stirrings Apple Pucker

Directions:
Freeze apple cubes- use as ice
Pour vodka and Apple Pucker over “apple ice”
Top with apple cider

Calico Jack - Bagatelle
Calico Jack – Bagatelle

Calico Jack

Served at Bagatelle

Ingredients:
50ml Bourbon whiskey aged with figs
10ml Capim Santo (Brazilian ingredient similar to lemongrass) infused with lemon
15ml of tonic citrus

Directions:
Pour ingredients in highball glass and serve on skull-shaped ice

Black Devil Martini
Black Devil Martini

Other Halloween Cocktail Recipes you may enjoy:

Food and Wine Halloween Cocktails

Food Network Halloween Cocktails

Real Simple Halloween Cocktails

Cooking Channel Halloween Cocktails

HGTV Halloween Cocktails

Cool off w/ a Stoli Cucumber-Melon Martini & Prosciutto-Melon-Feta Bites

Martini-Bites

Summer is in the air and it’s that time of year to cool down with some refreshing Stoli cocktails and light small bites for the patio or beach. I love melon in the Summer time, especially paired with cucumbers with their light flavors that make a great refreshing cocktail.

I created a Cucumber-Melon Martini that’s made with Stoli vodka, cucumber liqueur, agave cayenne lemonade (or regular lemonade or limeade),  garnished with cucumbers, mint and cubes of honeydew melon. It has a hint of sweetness from the lemonade and a lovely refreshing flavor from the melons and cucumbers and a spike of minty freshness and kick of  heat from the cayenne lemonade.

A great small bite pairing to go with the martinis are Prosciutto, Melon and Feta Bites. They’re super easy to make and just as light and refreshing as the cocktails that go with them.

A little bit sweet, a little bit tangy and a whole lot delicious. Here’s to the lazy days of Summer! ENJOY 🙂

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Martini-Hero

Stoli Cucumber-Melon Martini

1 part Stoli vodka

1 part cucumber liqueur

2 parts lemonade or limeade

Garnish with Cucumber slices, honeydew melon cubes and fresh mint sprigs

Pour vodka and lemon or limeade into a drink shaker over ice. Shake well and strain into martini glasses. Drop cubes of melon into the martini. Garnish with cucumber slices and fresh mint sprigs.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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Prosciutto-Feta-Melon-Bites

Prosciutto-Melon-Feta Bites

1 package of prosciutto, sliced thin and cut in half (about 20 slices)

1 package of feta cheese, sliced into ¼ inch sliced cubes

8 ounces honeydew melon, cubed

8 ounces cantaloupe melon, cubed

Prep all ingredients by cutting the feta cheese and melons into similar size chunks. First layer the melon with the feta, then top with a slice of prosciutto folded into small squares and secure with toothpicks. Serve on a platter along with the Cucumber-Melon Martinis.

Makes approximately 20 small bites.

Note: You can also include watermelon in the mix for some extra flavor or serve the bites over arugula with a cucumber melon vinaigrette. Simply throw the melon and cucumber slices in a blender with some olive oil and vinegar, a dash of salt and pepper; then drizzle over the bites.

Happy Summer!!!