Nectarine & Thyme Refresher

 Like everyone else living in Los Angeles, I love going to my local farmer’s market and getting seasonal fruits and veggies to inspire my culinary adventures. During my last visit, the scents of sweet nectarines were so enticing that I couldn’t resist buying a few too many.  In sticking with my theme of seasonal living, I made a few summer cocktails to enjoy on the porch with my husband in the summer evening breeze.  Check out a few of my other Nectarine Farmer's Market cocktails at CGC Daily.

Ingredients:  (serves one) 

½ nectarine

Sprigs of fresh thyme

2 oz Gin

½ oz St. Germain

½ lime

Ice

Club soda

Directions: In a shaker, muddle the nectarine slices with one tsp of sugar, a sprig of thyme and a splash of water. Add lime, gin, St. Germain, some ice and shake. Strain and serve in a mason jar with ice, top with a splash of club soda and garnish with a slice of nectarine and sprig of thyme.

Saturday Morning Green Smoothie

Ever since we received our Vitamix for Christmas (thanks mom), we have been experimenting with all different smoothie recipes.  I finally have created one which I have found to be the most refreshing and delicious recipe, like a healthy getaway to the tropics.  It is a green smoothie and is packed with veggies and fruits alike and should be used as a snack (not a meal replacement).  Oh yes, and I always use all organic produce.

Recipe: *    

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup Coconut milk

1 spoonful Coconut Oil (optional)

1 1/2 large handfuls of spinach

1 handful kale

1/2 cucumber

1/2 apple

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/3 cup frozen pineapple

ice

*makes one large smoothie-just double portions for two

What's your favorite smoothie recipe?

Rosewater Lemonade

 I have been obsessed with all things rose lately.  I have a new spring rose scent, have been buying roses to adorn all the mason jars and vases in our home and have been craving anything rose.  Inspired by the warm weather in LA today, I made a batch of rosewater lemonade to enjoy with my husband after his week away.

 Ingredients:
1 cup water/1 cup sugar (boiled) to make simple syrup
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 6-7 lemons)
4 cups water
1 tablespoon rosewater
rose petals for garnish
Mix together and serve over ice.  *Can also add in gin or vodka for a refreshing cocktail 

Summer Cocktails: Infante

After heading back to work this week after almost a month off for summer, I decided to still celebrate the warm evenings with a drink. I first tried the Infante when I went to Son of a Gun for my anniversary dinner.  It was so delicious there: sweet, tart and strong! I decided to replicate it at home and the result was nearly just as great (the one thing I would like to change is to make my own Orgeat from scratch). This is definitely a cocktail you want to have outdoors as the sun is setting so it is already twilight as you sip away.

Recipe: 
2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz Orgeat (Almond syrup)
3/4 oz lime juice
Fresh ground nutmeg (garnish)

This is super simple to make. Just add tequila, orgeat and lime juice in a shaker and shake well! Pour over ice and garnish with nutmeg. Then enjoy!

Farmer's Market Evening Cocktails {Pin}spirations

My summer finally begins today as it is the last day of teaching summer school in what has been a crazy busy month!  Nothing sounds better than walking to the farmer's market and making some fresh summer cocktails to enjoy on the porch with my husband on a warm summer evening!

All images via Pinterest

Perch{ed above the city} with Kat

On Monday my dear friend Kat came to visit me and we had some much needed girl time just catching up with delicious drinks and bites.  She had not yet been to Perch downtown and although I had been there awhile back with another dear friend, it was a good reminder of what a great spot it is and how breathtaking the city can be.

The sun kept peeking out from behind the June gloom which covered Southern California that day and it was just perfect.  They have "Aperitif Hour" M-F 4-6 with a newly expanded bites menu with Charcuterie, Fromage, Truffle Fries, Truffle Mac and Cheese and Sliders (just to name a few items).  We had just eaten but we couldn't resist the Truffle Fries (we are suckers for anything with truffle oil, salt or cheese).  And yes, you guessed it: delicious! We also tried their cocktails, Jacques Collins (like a Tom Collins) and French 76, followed by their Royals (sparkling wine with flavored liqueurs).

Kat just moved up to LA to fully pursue her dream as a photo journalist and she is connecting her new blog to her developing career.  Follow her here (she is so talented)!

Weekend Libations

Happy Friday! Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day which for most people means corned beef and hash, green beers and Irish Car Bombs.  However, if you are having a get together at someones home or just making cocktails, here are some other great options--not everything has to be Irish themed, but there is a little green in all of them to assure you won't get pinched ;)

Moscow Mule
1/2 oz. lime juice
2 oz. vodka
4 oz. ginger beer

Black and Blue Mojito
3 blackberries
10 blueberries
7 mint leaves
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. light rum
top with club soda

Strawberry-Jalapeno Margarita (with a sea salt and chile rim)
2 strawberries
2 slices jalapeño
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. agave nectar
1 1/2 oz. silver tequila of your choice
1 oz. Cointreau

Jameson and Pickle Juice

The last one was taken at Casey' Irish Pub downtown and is a MUST TRY. If not there, try it at home--so good!

Oh, and craving a healthy yet delicious green snack this weekend? Then make this easy recipe of Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with fresh squeezed lemon, ginger and cracked pepper.  

A Bittersweet December

So much has happened within this last month!  Due to crazy hurricane winds and a fallen tree (see post here), we had to leave our place with all of our stuff still in it and sleep on couches in between our parents houses.  It has been an incredibly stressful and difficult time with commuting to LA, working two jobs and the holidays, but I have realized with all the bitter, I needed to taste the sweet.  So here it is...

Living back at home, I have been able to play
my favorite games with my sister and brothers. 

While the commute is hellish (2 hours there and nearly
2 hours back), there are some pretty moments

We were able to housesit for friends in Highland Park
and made the most of it..and made Old Fashioned's

While looking for a new place to live is super stressful,
we are just starting a new adventure sooner
than planned. DOWNTOWN

Singapore Sling

The couple we are housesitting for, is known for making amazing cocktails and they kindly left their very well stocked bar and some personalized recipes for us.  I have been wanting to try a Singapore Sling for quite some time and the husband decided to make them for us.  It did NOT disappoint!!!

The original recipe is nearly 100 years old:
1 oz Gin
0.5 oz Cherry Heering
0.25 oz Cointreau
0.25 oz Benedictine
0.5 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
0.25 oz Grenadine
2 dashes Angostura Bitters