 Strawberry Fields Gin Fizz This is the last one, I promise. But, get ready for another cocktail featuring Beefeater Pink. This is a bastardization of a Ramos Gin Fizz which contains egg whites and cream, not to be confused with a regular Gin Fizz which just has soda water. The upside of this recipe is that you can whip one up in pretty short order as long as you have an egg and some soda water on hand (and gin obviously). The egg whites are raw, but don’t be scared. I recommend using fresh eggs, and the lemon juice and alcohol will do the rest. When you combine the soda with the egg whites it gives the drink nice foamy top. I know that I might have said that I am much too lazy to make my own simple syrup… But, I have recently learned an incredible short cut. Mix equal parts water and sugar and microwave until dissolved. I usually do two table spoons water with two tables spoons sugar and microwave for 30 seconds. Quick, easy, not pots to clean and you don't end up with extra which will eventually go bad in your fridge. You're welcome (I stole this and some what modified it from The Aviary Cocktail Book).  Strawberry Fields Gin Fizz Strawberry Fields Gin Fizz (most original name ever!) 2 oz. Beefeater Pink Gin 3/4 oz. Lemon juice 3/4 oz. Simple syrup 1 Egg white Top with soda water. (I used black cherry waterloo sparkling water, cuz its what I had) Mix the top four ingredients in a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice for the uninitiated) Add ice and shake again, double strain into a tall glass and top with soda water or sparkling water of your choosing. This looks complicated but I promise that it isn’t. Definitely cash in on how pro you will look when you serve this to people, it’s what I do.
Cheers!
2 Comments
 I’m terrible at wearing sunscreen, it's bad i know. This is basic self-care, wear sunscreen everyday. In order to help me do that I’ve added SPF to my skin care and make-up routines. I’ve been using SuperGoops Everyday Sunscreen for years now, but I've just recently added some of their other products to my line up.  I started using the SuperGoop Everyday Moisturizer a couple of weeks ago. I am super picky about what I put on my face. I don't wear a lot of makeup and I can't stand anything greasy or heavy, which makes finding a facial SPF pretty tough. In addition, I have dry skin, which putting a mineral SPF on is like making the problem a thousand times worse. So far, this has been great it’s not drying or greasy. I haven't had any break-outs or allergic reactions to it either. Plus, it has SPF 40 which is way more than most SPF moisturizers on the market. The other product I’m trying is the SuperGoop CC cream with SPF 35. This was even more of a leap of faith for me than the moisturizer because I have a hard time keeping makeup from looking flakey on my super dry skin. This stuff does a nice job of providing a light coverage. It’s not greasy and if anything its bit on the powdery side. They recommend wearing it over a moisturizer or primer and after trying it over my serum I’m much happier with it.  All in all, I’m pretty happy with the moisturizer, but I’m not in love with the CC cream yet. I’ll most likely keep searching for the perfect light coverage with SPF after I finish this CC cream. I would love to hear about any SPF products that you love, let me know in the comments.
 Spring is officially here, time for all of the warm weather cocktails! Call me lazy (cuz I am), but I couldn't resist throwing together a Spanish Gin and Tonic with the same Beefeater Pink that I used in last weeks cocktail. If you are boycotting pink gin because you’re the enemy of fun, don’t worry, you can use regular gin. And, if you’re out of the loop and wondering what a Spanish Gin and Tonic is, not to worry, it’s just a run-of-the-mill G&T with a shit-ton of garnish (shit-ton is a technical term). So proceed with the classic Gin and Tonic, and then throw in any fresh herbs, flowers, citrus and spices that you happen to have on hand. The Beefeater Pink gives the drink just a hint of fruity flavor and a really pretty blush hue that I love. A high quality tonic is always a good choice, and I recommend Fever Tree.  Pretty In Pink Spanish Gin & Tonic 2 oz. Beefeater Pink Gin 4-6 oz. Tonic 1 Sprig of mint 1 Sprig of rosemary 1 Grapefruit wedge 1 Star anise 6 juniper berries Pour gin into glass of your choice (I used a large wine glass because I’m fancy), top with tonic and add ice. Garnish with the fresh herbs, citrus and spices. This feels like such a spring drink to me, botanical and fresh and super easy. Here’s hoping for a sunny weekend so we can all enjoy one of these.
Cheers!  I love trying out new things. Even when something looks like it is going to be horrible, I still want to give it a try. So, when I came across a bottle of Beefeater Pink it was a done deal. Beefeater is one of my favorite gins, even the shocking color and strawberry flavor couldn't dissuade me. Turns out its actually pretty good, and I immediately came up with a drink idea for it. This is my take on a Cosmonaut, or what is some times called a Gin and Jam. Since the gin itself is pretty sweet, I went in a different direction with the jam and used a red pepper jelly for a little heat and tartness. And of course I’m naming it after Valentina Tereshkova, an actual Cosmonaut and the first woman to fly into space. The Valentina 2 oz. Beefeater Pink gin 1/2 oz. lemon juice 1 heaping bar spoon red pepper jelly Combine in a shaker with ice, shake until mixed. Strain into a coupe glass.  This is so easy and tastes way more complex than it is.
Cheers!  Skin care is self care, so let’s talk about eye cream. But first, I would like to admit that I don’t really know what eye cream does. This is something that I do entirely as a preventative measure. I don't have any major issues with my eye area, so I don't feel like I see any positive or negative results. But, maybe that’s because of the eye cream…? Right now I’m using two different brands, one in the morning and one at night.  I use Tatcha’s Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum in the morning. I don't really have an issue with bags or puffiness so I haven't noticed a big difference. I do enjoy the extra hydration for my dry skin and it absorbs pretty quickly. Like every other Tatcha product I’ve tried, I haven't had any problems with allergic reactions or breakouts. I didn't buy this eye cream and it is a bit on the expensive side so I’m not sure I’m going to invest in more once this one is finished.  I use Farmacy's Dew It All Total eye cream during my night time routine. This eye cream is supposed to de-puff, and fight signs of aging and stress. I like that its super moisturizing, and absorbs well. If you haven't heard of Farmacy before, they produce sustainable, cruelty-free clean beauty products, which I love. This is the first Farmacy product that I’ve used so I was a little apprehensive, but I’ve haven't had any bad reactions. At half the price of the Tatcha cream I will probably stick with this one for a while. Do you use an eye cream? Do you see results from the products you use? Let me know in the comments.
Cheers!  I really can’t remember what inspired me to attempt this cocktail. My original idea was a Bloody Caesar (that would be a Bloody Mary with Clamato instead of Tomato juice for the uninitiated), but with beer. It turns out that a Michelada is just Clamato with beer, but that is not this. This is definitely a Caesar with beer, and its for brunch. If you have never had a Bavarian Smokebeer or Rauchbier, it’s a dark ale with an intense almost bacon-y smokiness. Not all smokebeers are the same, and I definitely recommend going with Schlenkerla Smokebeer. This style of beer can be a bit shocking at first, but it grows on you I promise. BLT (Bacon beer, Lim, Tomato) 4oz. Clamato 6oz. Schlenkerla Smokebeer 1oz. vodka 1/4 lime season with salt and pepper to taste (I used a habanero citrus salt for added spice) Rim beer glass with salt. Add the Clamato, vodka, lime and salt to a mixing glass, stir with ice until combined. Add beer and stir briefly to combine. Pour into beer glass, additional ice optional, garnish with lime wedge.  Prefect for brunch or just an early day drinking session. Just be prepared for your dog to follow you around with this one, it smells that good.
Cheers! Six books is a lot to read in 28 days. I did other stuff, I swear…  All In Good Taste by Kate Spade New York I read my coffee table books from cover to cover when I first get them. I figure they are reference material, and I like to have at least a vague idea of whats inside. This book is a compilation of Kate Spade ( the company, not the person) approved tips and tricks for entertaining. It was very interesting, and has some great recommendations for music, books and things that might inspire you to throw a dinner party. An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris by Stephanie LaCava This was a weird one, but not in a bad way… LaCava has a distinctive writing style, and makes for a very complex protagonist. She is a collector of things, and I was entranced by all of the strange factoids, trivia, and historical notes included along side the narrative. Read this if you’ve ever been a stranger in a strange land, a fish out of water or a teenage girl. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon I’m at a loss about this book, I’m not sure I liked it, but I can’t stop thinking about it? This was not an easy read, the writing style is literary and the narrative never follows a straight line. If you’ve read Pynchon before you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you love weird characters, immersive detail and slight delirium, all soaked in sixties surf-rock then this is a book for you. And who doesn't love a hippie private-eye who only hallucinates when he’s not high? I’m Fine… and Other Lies by Whitney Cummings This was not what I was expecting, it turns out that Whitney Cummings has spent the last several years becoming enlightened in her spare time. From psychics to therapy and almost everything in between Cummings lays bare all of her trials and her victories. I’m not sure that I agreed with everything she says, but she also doesn't claim to be right and she’s definitely not afraid to be wrong. A fun quick read that might also make you think about some stuff. Just Kids (Illustrated Edition) by Patti Smith I loved this book, so much that I bought my own copy before I even finished reading the one I had borrowed from the library. Read the Illustrated Edition, it's wonderfully curated and really adds to Smith’s narrative. Even if you’re not into Patti Smith or Mapplethorpe, this is an amazing window into the wonderland that was New York City in the sixties for creatives, artists, musicians and anyone else who didn't fit into the mainstream. Watch out for the end though, it's a tear jerker. The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman I decided to read this book totally based on the fact that it takes place in Quebec, Canada. If I had finished reading the description I might have bailed, but I’m glad that I didn’t. Goodman weaves the real and horrifying history of post WWII French Canada into a story of motherhood spanning three generations. An emotionally difficult, but important reminder of Duplessis orphans. Read this book.  I'm looking for a good title for this series, if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments.
Cheers!  Self-care for me isn't just about buying fancy face creams and over-priced coffee drinks, though I do love that. Some times for me, self-care involves being brutally honest about some things, like my caffeine addiction and not entirely perfect diet. When I started to notice how run down and forgetful I was feeling a couple of months ago I thought maybe I could benefit from a multivitamin (getting rid of the children isn't really an option). I immediately thought of Ritual. Their branding is just so pretty, and I am an Elder Millennial after all (thank you Iliza Shlesinger). But, also because of the transparency of both their ingredients and the science behind them. And their CEO is a woman, which I can totally get behind.  I’ve been using Ritual for four months now and I’m in love. They smell great and have only the slightest aftertaste that I almost never notice. I can take them on a completely empty stomach without any discomfort, which is usually my main complaint about mulit-vitamins. My favorite thing though, is that they remind me when my next bottle is coming and let me delay it to accommodate all of the days I forgot to take it. Actually, that’s a lie. My favorite thing is that when my entire family got horribly sick (children are bastions of contagion), I was left unscathed. It was the vitamins, I’m convinced.
 Let me start by saying that I hate Manhattan’s. Rye? Vermouth? Why? So when my Mom happened to mention that she used to order a SoCo Manhattan. I have some very fond memories of Southern Comfort, and I was intrigued. While it was an improvement on a Manhattan here is what else I’ve learned; I’ve out grown Southern Comfort and you can’t go home again. Just kidding, I don't know where you live. I found several different iterations of this cocktail. It essentially boils down to southern comfort instead of Rye and a Vermouth of your choosing. I tried it with both sweet and dry Vermouth, and I even found a recipe that had both in case you are indecisive. I definitely preferred the dry vermouth, but you do you. SoCo Manhattan 2 oz. Southern Comfort 1 oz. Dry Vermouth 2 dashes Orange Bitters Maraschino cherry for garnish Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake till chilled. Pour into a low bar glass and garnish with cherry.  Tada! Ok, If I’m being totally honest, this didn't really do it for me, but you might like it. I don't judge, much. Does anyone want a slightly used bottle of Southern Comfort?
Cheers! |