Showing posts with label beverages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beverages. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Prosecco & Chambord Cocktail


We had dinner guests last Friday, and I wanted to serve a light, cooling, refreshing, not too sweet cocktail to kick off the night. I had a bottle of Prosecco on hand and a bowl of raspberries in the refrigerator and thought..." this could be a pretty great combo".  So, I combined ice-cold Prosecco in a large pitcher with Chambord (red & black raspberry liqueur) and added a large handful of fresh raspberries. I poured the mixture into large, chilled, ice-filled glasses garnished with fresh mint. The result? Delicious.


I love how easy it is to prepare this cocktail. It pairs well with appetizers, and because it is not too strong, the drink is perfect for brunch, lunch or pre-dinner appetizers.It doesn't hurt that it is absolutely gorgeous too. Give it a try; I have a feeling you will be making this all summer. Enjoy!


Prosecco & Chambord Cocktail 
(4 servings)

 1 750 ML bottle Prosecco, ice cold
1 cup Chambord liqueur
1 cup fresh raspberries
ice
fresh mint leaves for garnish
tall cocktail glasses, chilled

 Pour chilled Prosecco and Chambord into a large pitcher. Stir to combine. Add raspberries.

 Add three ice cubes to each glass. Pour cocktail over ice. Garnish with mint and serve immediately.

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 Other summer cocktails you may enjoy:
Summer means easy, breezy dishes made from fresh, just-picked produce and this week at Food Network's Summer Soiree we are celebrating Summer Cocktails. Do you have a favorite cocktails recipe? Or, if you are not from the state, a favorite summer picnic recipe? Share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one. And be sure to check out the delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network. 

 Feed Me Phoebe: Hibiscus Tea Arnold Palmers, Spiked or Sober
Creative Culinary: Lime Sherbet Float with Strawberries and Prosecco
Virtually Homemade: Strawberry Swirl Pina Colada
Healthy Eats: 5 Classic Cocktails, Slimmed Down
Daisy at Home: Frozen Watermelon-ade
Homemade Delish: Summer Cocktail Delight
Taste with the Eyes: Sublime Franco-Korean Elderflower Soju Martini
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Prosecco & Chambord Cocktail
Red or Green: Fresh Watermelon & Herb Margaritas
The Mom 100: A Peach Cocktail and a Mocktail for Mixed Company
FN Dish: 6 Fruity Riffs on Classic Summer Cocktails

best,
diane

I have started sharing my newest blog "California Girl in Taos."  Please visit and let me know what you think.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Cranberry Margaritas (Perfect for your Holiday Parties)


This is the perfect cocktail for all of your Holiday gatherings. Delicious, easy, can be made ahead of time, and so beautiful...I make these margaritas all December. We had some friends over for drinks before attending the Lighting of Ledoux, a Taos tradition. What did I serve? Cranberry Margaritas. We are having a Holiday Christmas Cocktail party. What will be my "signature" cocktail? You know the answer. And Christmas Eve with family? Perfect! (Would Christmas morning brunch be pushing it?)


I use an organic brand of 100% cranberry juice with no added sugar. The ingredients are simply water, cranberry juice and cranberry juice concentrate. I also do not add any sweeteners to the recipe so the margaritas are a bit tart which I (and my guests) love. The hint of sugar from the sugar-rimmed glasses creates a wonderful balance of sweet and tart. If you are making these for a large party, you may want to provide a bowl of sugar cubes in case you have guests who like their drinks a bit sweeter. My suggestion? Make the recipe as is, taste, and then decide.


Cranberry Margaritas (Perfect for your Holiday Parties)
(makes 6)

 1 3/4 cups cranberry juice
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup good quality tequila
1/2 cup Grand Marnier (orange-flavored cognac liqueur)
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/4 cup coarse sugar, such as Demerara
1 tsp ground allspice powder
1 fresh lime, cut into wedges

 In a large pitcher, add the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, Grand Marnier, and cranberries. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until very cold. (At least 6 hours or overnight).

 Add 1/4 cup water to small bowl. Add coarse sugar and allspice to a small plate and stir to combine. Dip the rims of 6 glasses individually into the water and then the sugar mixture. Set aside

 When ready to serve, fill each glass 1/4 full of crushed ice cubes. Pour the margaritas into the sugar-rimmed glasses ensuring some fresh cranberries are added to each glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

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Other Cocktail Recipes You May Enjoy



It is "Holiday Cocktails" week at Food Network's Fall Fest roundup. Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe? Share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one. Be sure to check out the delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network. 

 Daisy at Home: Spiced Up Eggnog Latte
The Lemon Bowl: Mexican Hot Chocolate
The Cultural Dish: Homemade Adult Eggnog
The Mom 100: Caramel Chocolate Frappe
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Cranberry Margaritas (Perfect for your Holiday Parties)
Red or Green: Spiced Eggnog (Egg and Dairy Free)
Weelicious: Double Chocolatey Hot Cocoa in a Jar
Dishing with Divya: Caribbean Carrot Punch
Taste with the Eyes: Exquisite French Martini for the Holidays, Macaron Garnish
Domesticate Me: Grapefruit-Rosemary Mule
FN Dish: Best Sipped Out of a Mug: Warming Holiday Cocktails

best,
diane

I have started sharing my newest blog "California Girl in Taos."  Please visit and let me know what you think.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Cucumber & Sage Cocktail

Hot summer days scream for a delicious hand crafted cocktail, especially one made with fresh, in season ingredients and best quality spirits.  This recipe is one of my new favorites.
My herb garden is overflowing with sage. I planted a couple of 4-inch pots last year and the herb came back with a vengeance this summer.  I have been experimenting with recipes to use the wonderful bounty. My favorite is gnocchi or pasta in a butter and sage sauce. I often roast chicken stuffed with fresh sage leaves. Sage pairs wonderfully with pork...and apples in fall. Lovely with white beans and loads of olive oil...or fried sage leaves crumbled on roast vegetables. But today's star is a cocktail with the sage muddled with cucumber and then added to a mixture of tequila, Chambord, lemon juice and topped with Prosecco. Light, tangy, refreshing and really, really good!  Man, I love summer.

Cucumber & Sage Cocktail
(This was inspired by the Silver Sage Cocktail at Blue Mesa Grill)
makes 2
4 slices cucumber (about 1 inch thick)
5 sage leaves
2 oz tequila (use a really good one)
1 oz Chambord
juice from 1 lemon
1 tbsp agave nectar
2 cups ice
Prosecco
sage leaves for garnish
Add cucumber and sage to large cocktail shaker. Muddle to combine ingredients. Add tequila, Chambord, lemon juice, agave and ice. Shake vigorously. 
Strain in 2 champagne flutes or other tall glasses.  Top off with prosecco and a sage leaf garnish. Serve immediately.

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It is "Summer Cocktails" week at Food Network's #Summer Soiree roundup. Have a favorite summer cocktail recipe?  Share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one. 

 Feed Me Phoebe: Grilled Strawberry-Mint Bellinis
The Lemon Bowl: Raspberry-Ginger Bellini
Jeanette's Healthy Living: White Peach Sangria
The Heritage Cook: Refreshing Lime Coolers
The Cultural Dish: Pimm's Cup
Virtually Homemade: Frozen Lime Margaritas with a Sangria Swirl 
Weelicious: Strawberry Lemonade 
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Strawberry Gimlets with Homemade Strawberry Vodka
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Cucumber and Sage Cocktail
Red or Green: Frozen Tri-Melon Cocktail
Dishing With Divya: Caipirinha
In Jennie's Kitchen: Cantaloupe Lillet Sparkler
Poet in the Pantry: Pirate's Booty Call
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Watermelon Malibu Surf
Sweet Life Bake: Boozy Affogato
Devour: 5 Boozy Summer Coolers
Domesticate Me: Blueberry Mojito Royale
Haute Apple Pie: Classic Mojito
Daily*Dishin: Blackberry Rum Shrub
Taste With The Eyes: Korean Soju Kimbap Bloody Mary
FN Dish: Sip Your Way Through Summer (Recipes)
best,

I have started sharing my Taos experiences on my newest blog "California Girl in Taos". Please visit and let me know what you think.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Chai Green Tea Popsicles

I stopped drinking coffee a few years ago. A good friend encouraged a bunch of us to follow a cleanse which included eliminating caffeine. I had massive headaches and was nauseated for days and then felt so good that I decided to dramatically reduce my daily caffeine intake. I moved to a couple of cups of green tea in the morning and am now addicted to the taste. I am always on the lookout for recipes using green tea.
7 yr old Zola loves these popsicles. Her comment "These are amazing!"

These popsicles are a wonderful, refreshing, cooling treat on hot summer days. They are delicious, easy to make, and healthy. Primarily made from chai green tea; I add peaches, spices and a bit of creamy unsweetened almond or coconut milk. This combination is sweet enough for me but you could add a sweetener if you want. I suggest using coconut sugar or honey. Don't mess up the "healthy" factor with granulated white sugar!  Happy summer everyone!


Chai Green Tea Popsicles
(makes 10-12 popsicles depending on the size of your molds)

 3 cups boiling water
4 chai green tea bags
2 small peaches, pitted and quartered
3/4 cup almond or coconut milk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
coconut sugar to taste (optional)

 Pour the boiling water into a heat safe bowl and add the tea bags. Steep until the water is cool. Add cooled tea, peaches, nut milk and spices to blender and blend until smooth. Taste and sweeten if desired. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until firm.

 Note, my popsicle molds allow me to insert the stick immediately. If you are using wooden sticks, or your sticks do not clamp onto the mold, freeze the molds for about an hour and then insert the sticks. This will prevent them from sliding to the side. Hint..set a timer for 1 hour...otherwise you may forget about the sticks...I have:)

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It is "Frozen Treats " week at Food Network's #Summer Soiree
roundup. Check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends. Have a favorite frozen treat recipe?  Share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one. 

For a savory frozen treat:

best,
diane
napa farmhouse 1885

I have started sharing my Taos experiences on my newest blog "California Girl in Taos". Please visit and let me know what you think.
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