Category: entertaining

Spooky Sips: Weekend Cocktails, Halloween Edition

On By Cultivate WellnessIn cocktails, entertaining, holiday, RecipesLeave a comment

weekend-cocktails

If you have read my blog you know how much I love a good fun cocktail. If you’re new to my blog, you might be thinking “But she’s a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant! How can she also promote drinking cocktails?”. Good question! My approach to wellness is to follow the 80/20 rule. That means 80% of the things I eat and drink promote health. The other 20% is devoted to pure enjoyment. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy the things that fall in the 80%. For instance, I can’t tell you how much I love to bite into a caramelized balsamic glazed Brussels sprout. But the things in the 20%, such as cocktails and the occasional handful of peanut M&Ms fall solely into the treat category.

So, occasionally I will post a cocktail recipe for the weekend. I get a lot of enjoyment out of trying new cocktails. We frequent some restaurants nearby that have a strong cocktail game. It’s always a highlight for me to try them. For instance, the last time I went to one of my favorites, Lake & Irving in Uptown, Minneapolis, I tried something called “I Didn’t Say Banana” which featured house rum blend, coconut water, banana, lime, and Peychaud’s bitters. Delicious!

I’m not capable of making such a fantastic concoction so at home I tend to stick to my old favorites like the Aviation or a simple G+T. However, I think I could easily swing this Monster Mash Margarita. I love blood orange juice and I love a margarita, so I feel like I can’t really lose here.  Since I have most of the ingredients it will be easy to whip up.

For more ideas, try this list of 34 easy fun Halloween inspired cocktails.

I hope you have a Happy Halloween!

close up photo of halloween decors
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Friday Cocktails: The Pimm’s Cup

On By Cultivate WellnessIn cocktails, Cooking, entertaining, Recipes, summer2 Comments
Pimms Cup
The Pimm’s Cup

I think the first time I heard about a Pimm’s Cup was reading about the Royal Family in a magazine, probably featuring Prince William and Kate Middleton at Wimbledon.  Ever since I found out about this refreshing and less boozy cocktail that is so popular in England, I’ve wanted to try one. Last weekend when I was shopping for a new bottle of bourbon for my husband for Father’s Day, I saw that the liquor store carried Pimm’s. At $18 a bottle, I figured I had nothing to lose and that I could check something off my bucket list.

Pimm’s Cup is made with Pimm’s No. 1, a concoction made out of “gin with herbal botanicals, caramelised orange and delicate spices”. Doesn’t it sound just delightful? It’s got an amber color that looks just beautiful in a glass.

Still, I was dubious. I sent my British friend Sally a text from the store that said “Is this gross?” and she immediately responded that it was delicious and then gave me some tips on how to make it authentic (“cucumber and mint a must, and orange slices rather than lemon or lime”). She also said that she likes hers with ginger ale rather than lemon lime soda. Done (except I also opted to use lemon slices too).

I stopped at the market for fresh oranges and cukes, and some Fever-Tree Ginger Ale. I like Fever Tree because it’s made with real ginger and doesn’t have artificial ingredients. The taste is more nuanced than other ginger ales, but any brand will do. I have fresh mint growing in my backyard and there are always lemons in my refrigerator. I eagerly set off for home so I could finally try the cocktail that has piqued my interest for so long.

I was very happy with the result, and can understand why it is so popular. It’s sweet without being cloying, and the delicate bubbles are refreshing. It’s also just a beautiful cocktail to look at. My husband took a sip and promptly said “will you make one for me?” He doesn’t generally like a sweeter cocktail, so I was surprised. I gladly poured him his own Pimm’s Cup and the rest is history.

This cocktail is perfect for your summer BBQ or other gathering, as it is refreshing and light on the booze. It’s celebratory but easy to make. And since it’s British, it feels super fancy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oranges, sliced into rounds 

2 lemons, sliced into rounds 

About six slices of cucumber

2 cups Pimm’s No. 1 

4 cups ginger ale 

6 to 8 large sprigs mint plus more for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a pitcher, add a layer of orange slices, lemon slices, and cucumber slices. Repeat until gone. Pour in the Pimm’s and ginger ale, and mix with a long-handled spoon, making sure to muddle the fruit a bit to release the flavor.  In each individual glass, place a sprig of mint and muddle with the end of a wooden spoon (more or less, depending on how much mint flavor you want).  Add ice and fill with cocktail mixture, placing some of the fruit slices into each cup. Garnish with mint.

 

Enjoy!

You might also like:

Friday Cocktails: The Citrus Rum Punch

Maybe I Want A Friday Cocktail: The Rosemary Greyhound

 

 

Friday Cocktails: The Citrus Rum Punch

On By Cultivate WellnessIn cocktails, entertaining, summer2 Comments
citrus rum punch
Citrus Rum Punch. Photo courtesy of Catherine Ahlin Halverson. Imbibed at our weekly Crappy Dinner Party.

Do you ever wonder why I title these posts “Friday Cocktails” or “Weekend Cocktails”? It’s funny. Last night I was with a new friend and I mentioned that I really only have a cocktail on the weekends, almost never during the week. He said something to the effect of “I just thought you were this total party person who was having fabulous cocktails all the time”. Honestly that sounds like a dream, but the reason why I don’t is for a few reasons:

  1. They are usually quite high in calories and sugar (unless you opt for the Dirty Martini or something like vodka and club soda).
  2. Drinking too much alcohol (more than 7 drinks a week) is associated with higher risks of several kinds of cancer including breast cancer.
  3. If I drank them all the time they would be less special. it’s fun to wait all week for that tasty cocktail on Friday nights.
  4. It’s expensive!
  5. I’m a practicing Health & Wellness Consultant and if I’m going to talk the talk I also need to walk the walk.

So, I like to post new cocktail recipes on Friday or Saturday because that’s when you can usually find me enjoying one!

On that note, this Citrus Rum Punch is an absolutely fantastic new recipe you must try for your next BBQ or gathering. I made it twice last weekend for two different parties, it was that good. It’s adapted from a boozier and more intricate version from Bon Apetit but I fiddled with it to make it more accessible and much less boozy. Trust me, it still packs a wallop so take it easy. Luxardo is one of my favorite liqueurs and I always welcome a new way to use it. It’s a maraschino liqueur from Italy and it’s divine.

CITRUS RUM PUNCH

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups spiced rum
  • 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice, strained (or just buy a high quality version from the store)
  • ¾ cup fresh orange juice, strained (same as above. Co ops and Whole Foods sells freshly juiced OJ)
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice, strained
  • ⅓ cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur
  • 2 cans of all natural grapefruit soda (I bought mine at Whole Foods)
  • ¼ cup simple syrup (easy to make. Click HERE for the recipe. Once I took it off the burner I added a piece of orange and grapefruit rind to infuse it)
  • 1 grapefruit, sliced into rounds
  • 2 blood orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lime, sliced into rounds

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Combine rums,  grapefruit juice, orange juice, lemon juice, liqueur and simple syrup in a large pitcher.
  2. Add citrus slices and stir.
  3. Just before serving, add the grapefruit soda and gently stir to combine.
  4. Do Ahead: Punch can be mixed 3 hours ahead. Chill.
  5. If a less sweet or less boozy version is desired, add a bit of club soda to each glass.

You might also like:

Friday Cocktails: The Aviation

Friday Cocktails: The Great Gatsby