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Over the past few years I’ve become enamored with making my own delicious cocktails and other drinks.  From a super simple gimlet to a slightly more complex punch (or even a sour or fizz with frothy egg whites), I’ve learned to love experimenting with different flavors and spirits and have started a pretty impressive list of cocktail recipes (particularly featuring gin and whiskey).

But let’s not forget mocktails and even more importantly other types of non-alcoholic drinks…especially delicious coffee drink recipes.  From my best iced coffee ever to healthy smoothies to trying out different simple syrup flavor combinations, I’ll admit that quite a bit of my caloric intake is liquid!

Not sure where to start??  Here are a few of my fave cocktail recipes to begin with…

  • Basil Gin Gimlet Cocktail
  • A Classic “Army and Navy” Gin Cocktail
  • Bourbon Milk Punch Cocktail
  • Orange Amaretto White Russian Cocktail
  • Rye Port Manhattan Cocktail

You can see the full list in my recipe index or a more visual index here, or you can browse through the archives below.

Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup

July 22, 2022

I’ve got the perfect example of “takes zero time but feels fancy” for you today…this strawberry mint simple syrup takes advantage of the tail-end of strawberry season, and immediately levels-up your cocktail game.

Easy Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup | This super easy strawberry mint syrup is a unique summer cocktail addition, & a great way to use up strawberries. It only takes a few minutes to make...level up your cocktail game! Summer drink ideas, drink recipes, simple syrup recipes. #simplesyrup #cocktailrecipe #drinkrecipe

I’ve said it before, but I don’t think people realize how insanely easy it is to make flavored simple syrups, and how it can take your cocktail (or mocktail, or other stuff) game to the next level.  It literally takes like 2 minutes.

This strawberry mint syrup is a great way to use up all that late-summer super-ripe sweet juicy strawberry goodness.  It kind of gives me a “twist on a Pimms Cup vibe” (the non-cucumber kind because BLECH).

Easy Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup | This super easy strawberry mint syrup is a unique summer cocktail addition, & a great way to use up strawberries. It only takes a few minutes to make...level up your cocktail game! Summer drink ideas, drink recipes, simple syrup recipes. #simplesyrup #cocktailrecipe #drinkrecipe

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear ByREAD THE POST

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Summer Nostalgia: Cherry Limeade for Grown-Ups

July 4, 2022

Cherry limeade immediately takes me back to high school, and the very rare (for me) treat of getting to stop at Sonic and get some cheddar poppers and a cherry limeade when the school bus made a stop on the way home from a softball game.  So this grown-up version of cherry limeade is the best kind of nostalgia.

A Grown-Up Take on Cherry Limeade | This "hard" cherry limeade is the summer cocktail you need, made with gin & cherry liqueur, so refreshing! How to make an easy cherry lime cocktail. Gin cocktail for summer with Luxardo Sangue Morlacco. #luxardo #gin #cocktail #drinkrecipe #cherrylimeade

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

There’s a secret ingredient that makes this amazing.  I have found the perfect liqueur companion in Luxardo’s Sangue Morlacco, and am deeply obsessed with its dark, sweet cherry flavor.

It’s made by fermenting the juice of marasca cherries, and the taste is what I’ve previously described as “the most intense cherry punch in the mouth you can imagine”.  You can learn more at their website, the history and process is really interesting.

A Grown-Up Take on Cherry Limeade | This "hard" cherry limeade is the summer cocktail you need, made with gin & cherry liqueur, so refreshing! How to make an easy cherry lime cocktail. Gin cocktail for summer with Luxardo Sangue Morlacco. #luxardo #gin #cocktail #drinkrecipe #cherrylimeade

It’s also very versatile…no one-trick-pony here.  It can make lots of delicious cocktails, so the bottle won’t just sit on the shelf (I recommend starting with a cherry lemonade).  

A Grown-Up Take on Cherry Limeade | This "hard" cherry limeade is the summer cocktail you need, made with gin & cherry liqueur, so refreshing! How to make an easy cherry lime cocktail. Gin cocktail for summer with Luxardo Sangue Morlacco. READ THE POST

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A Refreshing Basil Gin Smash

June 11, 2022

This basil gin smash is EXACTLY what we need to take us into the brutally hot “spring to summer” transition that’s imminently upon us.

Basil Gin Smash Cocktail | This refreshing gin smash cocktail is perfect for summer, with a delicious basil & lemon flavor combo. An easy summer cocktail or spring drink recipe, The gin basil smash is an easy drink recipe any time of year! #basil #cocktail #gin #drinkrecipe

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

I love summer.  Seriously.  But we barely got a spring this year, have had a few weeks of delightful 80s, and now it’s going to be 97 this week with a heat index around 120.  TOO SOON.

So I’m trying to cling to some late-spring vibes, and couldn’t resist these stunning tulips when I saw them at the store…there’s such a narrow window for really good tulips, and these colors just make me HAPPY. 

Other things making me happy right now??  This delish gin basil smash.  

Beautiful vibrant spring tulips

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What is a smash cocktail?

Honestly, it’s a pretty loose definition.  A smash is a subset of julep (which is also loosely alcohol, sugar, water, and shaved ice).  So a smash falls along this line with (typically) a spirit, simple syrup, ice, and some kind of fruit…served in a shorter glass than the traditional julep. 

It’s seasonally flexible, incorporating both fruit and herbs as needed, and sometimes people top it with seltzer to water it down a bit.  It’s refreshing and perfect for summer.

Basil Gin Smash Cocktail | This refreshing gin smash cocktail is perfect for summer, with a delicious basil & lemon flavor combo. An easy summer cocktail or spring drink recipe, The gin basil smash is an easy drink recipe any time of year! READ THE POST

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Cherry & Lemon Gin Cocktail…a.k.a. Cherry Lemonade for Grown-Ups

May 15, 2022

My deep and abiding love for cherries is well-documented on this blog, and as I (im)patiently await sweet cherry season this year, I grabbed something on a whim that I’m now completely obsessed with.  That “something” is Luxardo’s Sangue Morlacco liqueur, and it is the secret to this delicious hard cherry lemonade.

Cherry & Lemon Gin Cocktail a.k.a. Grown-Up Cherry Lemonade | This delicious take on hard cherry lemonade is delicious & refreshing, made with a secret ingredient (Luxardo Sangue Morlacco...I'm obsessed!). An easy summer cocktail, easy cocktail recipe, how to make cherry lemonade for adults. #cocktailrecipe #cherry #lemonade #hardlemonade

I found this grown-up take on a cherry lemonade in Food + Wine, and loved that it used the Sangue Morlacco.  It’s super simple, using the cherry liqueur and some fresh lemon juice, and then I obvs substituted gin for the vodka it called for…

One of my mantras in life is “why have vodka when you can have gin???”

Cherry & Lemon Gin Cocktail a.k.a. Grown-Up Cherry Lemonade | This delicious take on hard cherry lemonade is delicious & refreshing, made with a secret ingredient (Luxardo Sangue Morlacco...I'm obsessed!). An easy summer cocktail, easy cocktail recipe, how to make cherry lemonade for adults. #cocktailrecipe #cherry #lemonade #hardlemonade

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

Now, you may be wondering what Sangue Morlacco is…I’d never heard of it til I saw it on the shelf next to the Luxardo Maraschino liqueur that I’d been looking for.  After reading the bottle I was like UM YES PLEASE.

It’s a liqueur made by fermenting the juice of marasca cherries, and the resulting liqueur is truly like the most intense cherry punch in the mouth you can imagine.  You can learn more at their website, the history and process is really interesting.

A delicious cherry lemonade for grown-ups...made with Sangue Morlacco cherry liqueurREAD THE POST

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A Perfect Amaretto Sour Cocktail (with Bourbon)

April 3, 2022

So, y’all know I love me a cocktail (see: evidence here).  But somehow I’d never had an amaretto sour until last fall…and in Jamaica of all places.  

The very first cocktail I had at the resort was truly terrible, and I was stymied on what to order.  The waiter suggested an amaretto sour, I accepted, and it (weirdly) ended up being my signature cocktail for the next 8 days.  So it’s time I figured out making this for myself!

The Best Amaretto Sour | How to make an amaretto sour cocktail (with bourbon!)...a modern take on this classic cocktail, the best amaretto sour recipe. An easy cocktail that's perfect for any occasion. What to make with amaretto, easy drink recipe! #amaretto #cocktail #drinkrecipe

Amaretto is an Italian almond-flavored liqueur that’s used as an ingredient in many cocktails.  It balances sweetness and a bit of bitterness, and it’s crazy I hadn’t owned a bottle until recently because I LOVE almond flavor.  It’s a running family joke that I manage to put almond extract in any baked good 🙂

So a few things to know about this amaretto sour recipe…first, it’s not light on the calories or sugar, just due to the amaretto.  I feel like we have to get that out of the way.

I’ve also made a few tweaks to make it (to my mind) perfect.  First, BOURBON.  I strongly believe an amaretto sour needs bourbon to punch it up and balance out the sweetness and low alcohol of amaretto.  I also backed off the simple syrup a bit, because I don’t feel it needs to be sweeter.

Easy recipe for how to make an amaretto sour cocktail (including bourbon)

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

And I do really believe it’s better with the egg white!  I’ve provided the technique below, it’s really not scary, but if you really want to leave it out you can.

As you can see, I tried this in a couple different glasses (a traditional large coupe, and a small cut-crystal rocks glass).  Both work great, though I think I slightly preferred drinking this out of the rocks glass. 

I loved using my adorable cocktail sticks to skewer the Amarena cherry.  (None of this maraschino cherry nonsense here.)

How to froth egg whites for your amaretto sour cocktail

Great classic cocktail recipe, how to make an amaretto sourREAD THE POST

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Orange Amaretto White Russian Cocktail

February 5, 2022

Confession: I got busted for having Kahlua in my dorm fridge in college.  Yes, I was HARDCORE.  And once upon a time my 21-year-old self was a big fan of white russians and mudslides…and then I got into wine and moved on. 

It’s been like 15+ years since I last had a white russian until just now.  Hadn’t really given them a big thought.  Wasn’t really a big vodka drinker.  And then I saw this orange amaretto white russian and literally said UMM YESSSSS out loud.  I’ve been obsessed ever since.

Orange Amaretto White Russian Cocktail | This delicious drink recipe is a unique twist on the classic cocktail, with a boozy, rich, bitter, sweet, & bright balance. Perfect winter cocktail or cold weather drink recipe, & easy to make on your own! #whiterussian #kahlua #amaretto #cocktails #drinkrecipe

Follow along on Instagram & Facebook for recipe videos, kitchen hacks, & more!

This orange amaretto white russian has SO much going on!  Not in a bad way, though, where the flavors might all be trying to out-shout each other.  It’s super balanced, quite boozy, and the richness of the coffee, sweet bitterness of the almond liqueur, and brightness of the fresh orange really elevate it. 

And while it might look like a lot of ingredients, the actual recipe/technique couldn’t be simpler.  You can see my Instagram Reel of the recipe here (first time I’ve done one, quite fun but I have some learning to do!).

Orange Amaretto White Russian Cocktail | This delicious drink recipe is a unique twist on the classic cocktail, with a boozy, rich, bitter, sweet, & bright balance. Perfect winter cocktail or cold weather drink recipe, & easy to make on your own! #whiterussian #kahlua #amaretto #cocktails #drinkrecipe

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

This is mostly using the original recipe from Yes to Yolks, but I backed off the cream just a bit because I prefer the flavors of the coffee and almond liqueurs and orange oils to punch through a bit more (and cream tends to deaden that).  I sometimes put a tiiiiiny bit more amaretto in too, as I love that flavor.

I couldn't resist bringing this orange amaretto white russian out into the snow for a photoshoot!READ THE POST

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Warm Spiked Apple Cider with Port & Cranberries

January 22, 2022

I’m strongly on the record as not being into hot alcohol.  But for whatever reason, this spiked apple cider is an exception…probably in part because the alcohol doesn’t come through really heavily, but also because the combination of port and cranberries intrigued me.

Warm Spiked Apple Cider with Port & Cranberries | This unique cozy cocktail is perfect for cold weather, super easy to make, and low-ABV. A great winter cocktail option. If you're looking for a hot cocktail that's low alcohol, look no further! Also a great way to use up frozen or fresh cranberries, as well as ruby port. #lowabv #spikedcider #hotdrink #applecider #port #cranberries #drinkrecipe

This is a really great low-ABV option, as the only alcohol is coming from the port (which isn’t all that high-proof to begin with).  I’ll admit that I’m intrigued by the idea of adding some bourbon for more of a boozy punch.  

The original recipe from Floating Kitchen is for four people, but I’ve adjusted this for two (or one, if you’re me and don’t feel share-y).  I mean, who’s going to have just one?!

Spiked Apple Cider with Port & Cranberries - Simmering apple cider, cranberries, star anise, cinnamon, oranges, & portREAD THE POST

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Spiced Pear Bourbon Cocktail

December 19, 2021

Autumn in a glass.  That’s what this delightful (yet easy) spiced pear bourbon cocktail gives you.  With subtle notes of juicy pear and warm cinnamon, a boozy hit of bourbon, and just a hint of lemon to bring everything together, it manages to be both refreshing and cozy at the same time.

Spiced Pear Bourbon Cocktail | This is basically somewhere between a spiced pear old fashioned and whiskey sour, a twist on the classics. Made with an easy homemade spiced pear syrup and good bourbon (with a squeeze of lemon, instead of bitters), this is the perfect fall cocktail or winter cocktail recipe. Refreshing and cozy! A great holiday cocktail option as well. #drinkrecipe #cocktail #pear #bourbon

This cocktail pairs my spiced pear simple syrup with a quality bourbon and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a super easy 3-ingredient drink that feels SO fancy.  

(Okay, I realize that the simple syrup technically takes a few ingredients, but make a batch and keep it on hand!)

If you’re feeling really “extra”, I feel like what this spiced pear bourbon cocktail really DESERVES is a cinnamon-sugar rim (like so).

Spiced pear bourbon cocktail, perfect for fall or winter!

You might also like:  The At-Home Cocktail Tools I Swear By

As you can see from the ingredients and proportions, this is basically somewhere between a spiced pear old fashioned and whiskey sour…a slight twist on the classic cocktails.

For that reason I do recommend a quality bourbon for this, and a slightly higher-proof one…90-proof or more should do it (Woodford is around 90, but my fave is the Old Forester 100-proof).  I just find that the bourbons in the 80-90 range get a little lost…you want it to punch through a bit!

If you don’t have the brandy or liqueur, you can also substitute more bourbon (and possibly increase the simple syrup just a tad to balance it).

Spiced Pear Bourbon Cocktail | This is basically somewhere between a spiced pear old fashioned and whiskey sour, a twist on the classics. Made with an easy homemade spiced pear syrup and good bourbon (with a squeeze of lemon, instead of bitters), this is the perfect fall cocktail or winter cocktail recipe. Refreshing and cozy! A great holiday cocktail option as well. #drinkrecipe #cocktail #pear #bourbonREAD THE POST

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Easy Spiced Pear Simple Syrup

December 11, 2021

This spiced pear simple syrup is the epitome of “cozy”, and I’ve been having a blast experimenting with it in different cocktails.  It captures the juicy sweetness of ripe pears, warmth from the cinnamon, and just a hint of vanilla. 

Easy Spiced Pear Simple Syrup | This delicious spiced pear syrup is a wonderful addition to many cocktails, pairing nicely with bourbon, gin, rum, and even tequila. Just a few ingredients to up your cocktail game! Perfect for fall cocktails and winter drinks. #pear #simplesyrup #cocktails #drinkrecipe

Don’t be daunted by the 30-minute time on this spiced pear syrup, it’s entirely hands-off…something you can have on the stove while you make dinner or putter around with chores.  

This is the star in a simple spiced pear bourbon cocktail, and plays an amazing supporting role in an amaretto spiced pear gin sour.  It’s incredibly versatile, and I’d even play around with it in baked good glazes.

You want really ripe, juicy pears for your spiced pear syrupREAD THE POST

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Porto Tonico: Why the White Port & Tonic Needs To Be Your Next Cocktail

November 20, 2021

Yes, yes, I realize we’re in fall and careening wildly into winter.  And the refreshing porto tonico cocktail screams summer.  But I’m just over here clinging onto warm weather vibes like my life depends on it.

The thing is, I’ve loved port for years!  I realize that is very on-brand for my personal “inside I’m 80 years old” schtick.  I might be the only person under 40 with multiple bottles of port in their liquor cabinet.  But I’d never heard of white port.

Porto Tonico: Why White Port & Tonic Should Be Your New Favorite Cocktail | A white port & tonic (a.k.a. porto tonio or portonica) is the refreshing and complex cocktail you didn't know you needed. Perfect for sipping any time of year, and super easy, it's Portugal's answer to the aperol spritz or gin & tonic. #whiteport #port #tonic #cocktail

What is white port?  And what is port, for that matter?  Port is a fortified wine, where brandy is added partway through the fermentation to stop it fermenting.  Most people have seen red port, typically the ruby variety (though sometimes “late bottle vintage” or fancy vintage).  

This article on Wine Mag gives a good overview on white port, which I learned about while visiting the Douro Valley and city of Porto in Portugal last month. 

While the aromatic range is wide, young white ports will often show notes of toffee, caramel, orange, lemon, apple, apricot, and/or honey.

Drinking a porto tonico in Portugal's Douro Valley

The porto tonico—also called Portônica or white port and tonic—is kind of Portugal’s answer to an aperol spritz.  It offers a balance of sweetness and bitterness, and is a little bit more complex tasting than most gin & tonics. 

It’s super refreshing, and also a great low ABV option.  READ THE POST

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“New York” Sour, A Perfect Fall Whiskey Cocktail (with Optional Egg White Foam)

October 2, 2021

I’ll admit, I am a fall denier.  I just…REFUSE to accept when summer is slipping away from me and autumn is careening in.  But this New York sour cocktail is helping soften the blow this year, with its lovely fall vibes.  And it’s so pretty!!

New York Sour: A Perfect Whiskey Sour Cocktail for Fall | A regular whiskey sour is delicious, but take it to the next level with a red wine float, such an easy fall or winter cocktail but looks so pretty. Easy whiskey cocktail, how to make a New York sour. #whiskey #cocktail #whiskeysour #drinkrecipe

I love me a whiskey sour.  It was my gateway cocktail in learning to love bourbon, and still one of my go-to drinks (which reminds me, I still owe you guys a batch whiskey sour recipe).

What is a New York sour? 

The New York sour is a traditional whiskey sour with a red wine float on top, and to me feels like a perfect way to ease into fall.  The splash of dry red wine balances the lightly-sweet and tart whiskey sour and adds a little extra depth of flavor.

And now the question…to egg foam or not to egg foam???

I do STRONGLY prefer whiskey sours with the traditional egg white foam, but I hadn’t had much success getting it right at home.  I didn’t get as much foam as I wanted, and I somehow always ended up with a glob of egg white in my mouth, which, YUCK. 

But I think I’ve cracked it now!  The key is in three separate shakes.  Stick with me, it’s not hard or time-consuming, and does make all the difference. 

You start with a “dry” shake (no ice) with the egg white, then a dry shake with the liquids (minus the wine) added, and finally a shake with ice cubes to cool it down and really emulsify it.

This New York sour cocktail is a perfect transition to fallREAD THE POST

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Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Cinnamon Vanilla Latte

September 12, 2021

When I first saw a post about a shaken iced brown sugar latte, I thought “COLOR ME INTRIGUED”.  I’m known to make my own iced lattes from time to time, but had never thought to shake the mixture.  And yet, it makes perfect sense and I knew I had to try it.

Delicious Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latte, super easy homemade, healthier, and obviously cheaper. Using only a few ingredients including good espresso, shaking it makes the flavors come out more and chills without watering down. Try it today! #latte #homemadelatte #copycatstarbucks #icedcoffee

Why should you shake espresso or coffee?  There are a few answers to that, and it’s very similar to why you shake certain types of cocktails (but not others). 

First, it blends and emulsifies the ingredients so they are truly mixed and take on a kind of creamy mouthfeel even without any dairy.  The shaking also aerates the mixture, which releases flavor compounds (esters??) and really highlights the different flavor notes in the coffee. 

And it chills it quickly, preventing it from getting watered down—CLUTCH.

I believe without milk this would be called a “shakerato“…and it achieves a similar effect to using or “pressing” my Aeropress directly over ice cubes to make my favorite iced coffee ever (releasing flavor!).

Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latte

And apparently this is a copycat recipe of Starbucks’ iced brown sugar oat milk latte (which I’ve never tried), but I feel confident that this homemade version is healthier, it’s definitely cheaper, and I’d personally hazard a guess to say it’s yummier too.

One key is to shake all the ingredients EXCEPT the milk.  I tried shaking it with the milk as well, but it deadens the strong flavors of the espresso and brown sugar syrup—I was not a fan.  Simply pour your shaken, foamy mixture into the milk and stir a bit instead.

Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latteREAD THE POST

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Berry-Basil Smash (A Refreshing Gin Cocktail)

September 6, 2021

This berry-basil smash ended up being my Labor Day weekend cocktail.  Basically, like me, it was clinging onto summer vibes for dear life.  

Berry-Basil Smash, a Refreshing Gin Cocktail | This delicious gin cocktail with Chambord, lemon juice, and fresh basil is a perfect spring drink or summer cocktail when fresh basil is plentiful, but is wonderful all year. Easy gin cocktail, easy cocktail with basil. #drinkrecipe #cocktail #basil #gin #smashcocktail

As my struggling basil plants show definite signs of giving up the fight, I am trying to squeeze in all the recipes I’ve bookmarked that call for fresh basil. 

While I’ve made cocktails with a basil simple syrup (like one of my all-time faves, a basil gin gimlet), I’ve actually never used my muddler tool before.  This recipes calls for muddling basil leaves in the cocktail shaker, which releases the most amazing scent!!

(You don’t have to have a special muddler tool, I just bought a few different cocktail/bartender tools so was excited to use mine)

The “berry” in this berry-basil smash comes not from fresh fruit, but rather a small amount of Chambord.  It’s a black raspberry liqueur, quite concentrated and sweet, so a little goes a long way. 

Its sweetness is balanced out by fresh lemon juice (yes, FRESH only), and the whole thing is lightened up by some sparkling water.

Berry-Basil Smash, a Refreshing Gin Cocktail | Delicious gin cocktail with Chambord, lemon juice, and fresh basil | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

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The Verdant Lady (Gin & Green Chartreuse Cocktail)

August 19, 2021

I bought a bottle of green chartreuse over a year ago, and kept forgetting to try it.  Finally this summer I got my act together, and gin was my first go-to…not only because it’s my true love, but because I knew the botanicals would be a great fit for the chartreuse’s herbal punch. 

Finally I stumbled upon a gin and green chartreuse cocktail called the Verdant Lady, and knew it was the one.  Super simple—basically a take on the gimlet—but with a great blend of flavors.

"Verdant Lady", an Easy Gin & Green Chartreuse Cocktail | This delicious, refreshing cocktail is basically a gin gimlet with a few small additions...a few mint leaves & a small splash of green chartreuse makes this a boozy, tart, herbal cocktail perfect for warm weather! A great summer cocktail. What to make with green chartreuse. #gin #cocktailrecipe #cocktail #drinkrecipe #chartreuse

We made it when my sister and brother-in-law were over, and my bro-in-law asked what the name of the drink was.  She said “Verdant Lady”.  “What lady?” “Verdant.”  “What?”  

Both of us said at the exact same time, “Verdant, like pastures…”  Lol, when bible language is your best reference….

Verdant means “of a bright green color like lush grass”.  The green chartreuse definitely is that bright green, and it does bring a lushness in this cocktail—cut by the icy mint and tart lime, overlaid with herbal notes.

"Verdant Lady", an Easy Gin & Green Chartreuse Cocktail | This delicious, refreshing cocktail is basically a gin gimlet with a few small additions...a few mint leaves & a small splash of green chartreuse makes this a boozy, tart, herbal cocktail perfect for warm weather! A great summer cocktail. What to make with green chartreuse. #gin #cocktailrecipe #cocktail #drinkrecipe #chartreuse

What is green chartreuse?  It’s a French liqueur made with 130 herbs by monks in France, with a fascinating natural green color.  Some describe it as having a “licorice bite”, others find “citrus and fresh garden herbs” when it’s icy cold (I’m in this camp).

It can take on a slightly medicinal taste if overused or warm, but when deployed with a light hand it adds amazing depth to a number of different spirit and ingredient pairings.READ THE POST

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Easy Cardamom Simple Syrup

July 29, 2021

People underestimate how simple (HA!) it is to make an infused simple syrup.  Seriously, like 5 minutes.  And while I often gravitate toward herbs such as basil or rosemary, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of making a green cardamom simple syrup for a while.

Easy Cardamom Simple Syrup | This super simple, fragrant cardamom syrup only takes a few minutes to make, and is great in cocktails (especially gin), iced coffee, and many other things (like baked goods glazes). #greencardamom #cardamom #simplesyrup

I saw a recipe for a grapefruit cardamom gin cocktail that really got me thinking, though it required me to infuse the gin with cardamom which…that’s a bigger commitment.

So I went the simple syrup route instead, and I think you’ll love it!

I love adding a splash of this to my best ever iced coffee, including a little of it in glazes for baked goods, and it elevates a number of amazing gin cocktails.

cardamom simple syrup can make iced coffee special

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A Classic Gin Rickey Cocktail (Low-Carb, No Sugar)

July 25, 2021

I’d been about to finally post this recipe when I stumbled across this recent article from New York Magazine declaring the gin rickey this summer’s official drink.  And they’re not wrong…

And while it’s true that the gin and tonic is my one true love any time of year, there is something so simple and refreshing about the way that sparkling water lets the flavor of the gin and lime shine.

An Easy Classic Gin Rickey Cocktail (No Sugar, Low-Carb) | This super simple 3-ingredient gin cocktail is perfect any time of year, but especially summer. A sugar-free, naturally low-carb cocktail (like for keto) that is delicious, tart, and refreshing (also perfect for day drinking). #gin #cocktail #keto #lowcarb #lime

This classic cocktail is one of those drinks that you can sip all afternoon by the pool, and still feel good in the evening…very light and clean-feeling.  

It’s naturally sugar-free and about as much of a low-carb as is humanly possible (about 1-2 total carbs, from the lime juice).

Just 3 ingredients make this clean, refreshing gin rickey cocktail perfect for a low-carb dietREAD THE POST

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Peanut Butter & Jelly Whiskey Cocktail

June 7, 2021

Is there a more classic combo than PB&J??  I’ve really been on a kick with this flavor combination, making everything from babka to ice cream. And while it’s great for baked goods, I wouldn’t necessarily think of it when I’m making a cocktail.

But ever since I heard of a “pb&j shot” that was gaining popularity, I was intrigued, and decided to try and make that into a more sippable peanut butter and jelly cocktail. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cocktail | This nostalgic pb&j flavor combo is a fun, indulgent dessert cocktail using Chambord liqueur and Skrewball peanut butter whiskey. Unique cocktail recipe ideas. #cocktail #peanutbutter #jelly #drinkrecipe

Both the shot and this cocktail use Chambord black raspberry liqueur and Skrewball peanut butter whiskey to recreate that beautiful pb&j flavor in a cocktail. 

Chambord is a key ingredient in so many other lovely cocktails (like this poinsettia punch and black raspberry Irish coffee) that having a bottle on-hand is a must in my opinion.

PB&J whiskey cocktail, how to make a peanut butter and jelly cocktail

I shook with ice the first time, and did NOT love it…muddied the flavors and just was meh.  So this one is not shaken or even stirred.  Instead it’s carefully layered, with both liquids poured over a giant round ball of ice.

That ice ball is pretty important to this cocktail in my opinion.  

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cocktail | This nostalgic pb&j flavor combo is a fun, indulgent dessert cocktail using Chambord liqueur and Skrewball peanut butter whiskey. Unique cocktail recipe ideas. #cocktail #peanutbutter #jelly #drinkrecipeREAD THE POST

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Simple 3-Ingredient Classic Gin Gimlet Cocktail

April 25, 2021

I have a couple beloved variations of a gin gimlet on this site, but realized the other day that I’d never actually posted the O.G.  And since the gin gimlet is one of the great classic cocktails, I need to rectify that.

An Easy 3-Ingredient Gin Gimlet Cocktail | The classic gin gimlet cocktail is a must-have in your recipe repertoire. An easy gin cocktail recipe, just lime juice, gin, and simple syrup, and two minutes is all you need. Best cocktail recipes ever! #gin #gimlet #cocktail #drinkrecipe

I was doing some digging into the history of the gin gimlet and stumbled across this Chilled article that I loved…as someone who loves classic films, learning that gimlet was associated with Philip Marlowe was pretty cool. 

But also wasn’t surprised to find that it somewhat ties back to the British navy and scurvy prevention (like another of my favorite gin cocktails, the “Army and Navy”).READ THE POST

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“43 Flip”: Creamy Whiskey Cocktail with Licor 43

March 11, 2021

Today we’re playing around with two different things that are pretty unique on their own…a traditional flip cocktail, and the vanilla-flavored liqueur, Licor 43.

Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur, named after the 43 different flavoring ingredients (not just vanilla, but citrus and other fruits, spices, etc).  I was first introduced to it by a bartender in Chicago who made us coffee cocktails with it (delish!).

"43 Flip": A Licor 43 Cocktail with Bourbon | This twist on a flip cocktail with bourbon and a whole egg is creamy and indulgent without any heavy cream. This bourbon cocktail has got warm vanilla and spice notes and a boozy kick. A much better alternative to eggnog, drink recipe ideas. What to make with Licor 43 liqueur. #licor43 #flipcocktail #drinkrecipe #cocktails

What is a flip cocktail?

So I’d actually had one before (in Scotland), and didn’t realize that it was a classification rather than what the bartender had named that particular cocktail.  Today it’s a basically just a combination of spirit (or fortified wine), a form of sugar, and a whole egg shaken together with ice.

The much longer history is kind of weird, involving sailors, hot alcohol, ale, molasses, and egg…a heated iron rod, multiple pitchers, and…honestly, you have to read it yourself. 

I’ll definitely take today’s version.  Like eggnog without the cream (or my delicious milk punch minus the sweetened condensed milk), this is a rich and indulgent dairy-free creamy bourbon (in this case) cocktail.

You might also like:  Gifts for the Cocktail Lover & At-Home Mixologist

With its vanilla flavor and warm spices, Licor 43 pairs nicely with whiskey and the rich “oomph” of a flip cocktail.  It’s like a less thick version of eggnog, without the cream that deadens the flavor.  It’s indulgent but not heavy. 

The sweet aromatics in a good bourbon pair nicely with the vanilla and spices as well…this cocktail is definitely a winner.

What to make with Licor 43 - cocktail ideas READ THE POST

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Black Raspberry Irish Coffee Cocktail

February 18, 2021

I have issues with alcohol + hot.  Seemingly-insurmountable issues.  You can keep you hot toddies and your mulled wine.  But I keep hearing about how amazing authentic Irish coffees are and felt like I had to truly give them a fair shot.  

Then I ran across this black raspberry Irish coffee cocktail and was INTRIGUED.

Black Raspberry Irish Coffee | This delicious twist on a classic Irish coffee cocktail uses Chambord syrup and Chambord whipped cream along with the Irish whiskey. It's really easy to make on your own, and perfect for St. Patrick's Day, National Irish Coffee Day, and more...a great hot cocktail to warm up with! #irishcoffee #chambord #whiskey #cocktail

What makes it different than a regular Irish coffee??  Mostly it’s the addition of Chambord liqueur, in a couple guises.

Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur made in France, aged in old cognac barrels.  It’s super delish and you can use it in an easy Chambord Royale (with champagne).  But this is a more unique application, bringing something special to a traditional cocktail like the Irish coffee.

This recipe comes from Slane Irish Whiskey, and the addition of Chambord’s rich black raspberry flavor highlights the fruity and vanilla notes in the whiskey (to me at least).  

How to make a black raspberry Irish coffee...super easy cocktail

The pictures aren’t much (it’s hard to make this cocktail look sexy), but there is a lot to love about this interesting take on the Irish coffee.  I’m still not necessarily a “hot cocktail” fan, but this drink could maybe convert me! 

Though I kept thinking…hmm, would this be delicious as an cold coffee cocktail??

Black Raspberry Irish Coffee | This delicious twist on a classic Irish coffee cocktail uses Chambord syrup and Chambord whipped cream along with the Irish whiskey. It's really easy to make on your own, and perfect for St. Patrick's Day, National Irish Coffee Day, and more...a great hot cocktail to warm up with! #irishcoffee #chambord #whiskey #cocktailREAD THE POST

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A Different Take on Poinsettia Punch (Berry, Lemon, & Spice Gin Cocktail)

January 1, 2021

Doesn’t that just look lovely??  I was recently introduced to this poinsettia punch cocktail by a coworker, and immediately fell in love with it. 

The flavor combo of berry, lemon, and warm spices is right up my alley, and the substitution of gin made it a no-brainer for me. 

Poinsettia Punch cocktail with gin, lemon, Chambord, & spices

I hadn’t heard of poinsettia punch before, though in doing some digging apparently the more traditional version has an orange and cranberry flavor profile, and often champagne. 

It’s a fairly common cocktail around the holidays (hence the name)…and honestly this recipe is entirely different.  So much so, I’m not sure how it has the same name!  

A Different Take on Poinsettia Punch | This delicious gin cocktail with Chambord (berry), lemon, and allspice is perfect for any occasion, very different than the traditional poinsettia punch recipe. #cocktail #gin #punch #chambord #lemon #allspice #drinkrecipeREAD THE POST

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Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist

December 8, 2020

It’s no secret that I’ve been in love with learning how to mix up delicious cocktails and exploring different mixology flavors and techniques.  And I’ve amassed quite a few different gadgets and pretty things that make it easier and more fun. 

So if you have a budding home bartender in your life, here are some of the best cocktail gifts and fun gift ideas to inspire, enable, and make them smile!

Best Cocktail Gifts...for the Home Bartender in Your Life | As someone who's obsessed with delicious drinks at home, here are useful and fun gift ideas for the at-home bartender, DIY mixologists, and even just casual drinkers. Cocktail gift ideas, how to make cocktails at home, cocktail-themed gifts, gift ideas for men, holiday gifts for women...something for everyone! #giftideas #cocktails #drinkrecipes

Make it happen

Every at-home mixologist needs good tools, so if you’re starting with the best cocktail gifts you have to start here.

Cocktail shaker – It seems weirdly hard to find one I like, but this one is practical and beautiful, and has become my go-to shaker.  Bonus, it’s a bit bigger than most so it can very easily make 2-4 drinks at a time (DON’T JUDGE). 

An all-in-one kit for the beginner – Never a bad thing, if you’re really dealing with a less experienced home bartender then this has everything they’ll need to get started!

Cocktail mixing glass – I got this several months ago for those cocktails that you don’t shake, and I think it’s so pretty.  Whip yourself up some of my Rye Port Manhattans and enjoy!

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The Best Thanksgiving Recipes: 20+ Of My Family’s Favorites

November 8, 2020

Thanksgiving is a BIG deal in my family.  And that includes the food…which is why I feel like I have some of the best Thanksgiving recipes around.  You know, the tried-and-true ones that the family requests over and over. 

See, I have a big extended family, and we spend the day before baking, cooking, and prepping.  The morning of Thanksgiving is always insane—my mom’s up super early with the turkey, then leaves around 10:30 to get down to my grandma’s.  I get up a little later, go for a run, finish up all the remaining dishes, and head down around noon.

We eat a huge lunch, then graze all afternoon and have leftovers for dinner.  We play football, watch football, play cards, and talk.  Chase the kids around.  

When you’re cooking for a big crowd (anywhere from 25 to 50 in past years; usually around 25-30 these days), there are some realities in the kinds of dishes that make sense.  Anything super time-intensive that doesn’t yield a lot of servings is automatically out.  

So these are some of my favorite relatively easy Thanksgiving recipes that I’ve contributed over the years, and it’s all about the sides, breads, desserts, and cocktails.  Turkey just…exists.  Hope you enjoy and everyone has a safe, happy (American) Thanksgiving with family and friends!

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A Whiskey Cocktail for Fall: Preservation Punch

November 2, 2020

First of all, the look of this cocktail is just dreamy.  Second, it’s absolutely delish and you need it in your life immediately.

What we have here is “preservation punch”, a lovely whiskey cocktail where sweet berry preserves are offset with acidic lemon juice and balsamic vinegar.  The result is a balanced drink that makes me think of the transition between seasons.  

Preservation Punch: A Lovely Fruity Whiskey Cocktail | I tried this Slane cocktail from a bartender in Oakland via @thirsty, and loved the balance of sweet and acidic. A perfect fall cocktail using whiskey, jam, lemon juice, and a bit of balsamic vinegar. #cocktail #fallcocktail #drinkrecipes #whiskey

Beyond how pretty it is, this is a flavor profile that really works for me.  Partly because I’m a well-known lover of jam.  But also just because it doesn’t *taste* like jam. 

Once shaken with the other ingredients, the jam ends up providing texture and body without adding much sweetness. 

Preservation Punch whiskey cocktail for fall

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The Best Iced Coffee Ever…Using An Aeropress

September 29, 2020

I have a deep and abiding love for great coffee.  But historically I haven’t had a lot of iced coffee.  One here or there, but it wasn’t a habit.  Until the last six months of being at home due to coronavirus, when all the sudden I became a total master at making iced coffee at home using my Aeropress.

How to Make the Best Iced Coffee at Home | Making an iced coffee with the Aeropress is easy & delicious | finding time for cooking

And I somewhat accidentally discovered my hack for the best iced coffee ever…using sweetened condensed milk.  Now it’s not like I’m the first person to ever think of that (in fact, it’s a staple of Thai and Vietnamese coffee and iced tea).  

But I had some sweetened condensed milk sitting in my fridge from making a delicious bourbon milk punch cocktail, and wasn’t sure what to do with it.  On a whim I decided to use it instead of simple syrup, and realized that it added a lovely rich velvety quality, enough sweetness, and didn’t water down the end result like milk does.

Aeropress iced coffee, best and easiest at home

A long, long time ago I posted about the Pioneer Woman’s cold brew iced coffee recipe, and hadn’t really tried anything else until this Aeropress style.  It tasted fine enough but not amazing, and was kind of a pain to make, so I just never ended up doing it often. 

Just as I was about the publish this post, I found this article on Epicurious that explains why cold brew *doesn’t* give you the best tasting iced coffee, and it finally made sense to me.  It creates a more deadened, kind of stale flavor, uses way more coffee beans, and gets oxidized over time. READ THE POST

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Basil Gin Gimlet Cocktail

September 18, 2020

Apparently I’m not the only one with a basil gin gimlet on the brain.  I hadn’t even heard of them until a couple weeks ago, when I saw an article about them that intrigued me.  I created a blog post draft because I have a stupid amount of fresh basil to use.

Then I tried out an awesome new restaurant last weekend and they just so happened to have a basil gimlet on their menu.  Serendipity for sure.  I tried out my own recipe the next day and I have to say that I AM IN LOVE.

Basil Gin Gimlet Cocktail | This easy basil gin cocktail recipe is tart, herby, and refreshing. A twist on a gimlet cocktail made with gin, it's a great way to use up basil, perfect for late summer's abundance of basil. It only takes a couple ingredients and is an amazing easy cocktail recipe. Gin, lime, basil, and simple syrup! #cocktail #gimlet #basil

A delicious basil gin cocktail, this twist on a gimlet

I’ve already talked a little bit about the classic gimlet cocktail in my French gimlet post…this is an herbaceous twist on the tart and boozy classic and it’s perfect for this time of year. READ THE POST

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Bohemian Cocktail (Gin, Elderflower, & Grapefruit)

August 30, 2020

As someone who has a gin and tonic with grapefruit garnish as my go-to drink, I always end up with peel-less grapefruits that need thrown away.  But it’s a shame to throw away all that delicious juice, so I keep my eyes out for a good recipe to use it in…ENTER THE BOHEMIAN COCKTAIL.

What is that, you might ask?  I honestly hadn’t heard of it either until recently.  It’s a simple gin, elderflower, and grapefruit cocktail that is totally delicious.  And that you need to make STAT.

I’ve adjusted the proportions slightly, to amp up the grapefruit a bit and back off the elderflower…to me it balances out the tart and sweet better and keeps it from being too sickly sweet. 

bohemian cocktail from above with a fun gin coasterREAD THE POST

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A French Gimlet Cocktail With Gin

August 8, 2020

I distinctly remember the first time I ever had a French gimlet.  I’d been visiting my BFF in L.A. for a pre-bachelorette weekend just the two of us. 

A French Gimlet Cocktail with Gin...easy 3-ingredient cocktail | This easy drink recipe is sweet, tart, and boozy. Just good gin, fresh lime juice, and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. A perfect cocktail for summer, cocktail with lime juice, how to use St. Germain. #gimlet #gincocktail #gin #cocktail #drinkrecipe #summercocktail #limejuice #stgermain

We’d been shopping all day for honeymoon necessities, and her (now) husband made us homemade pizzas while we rested our weary feet.

We scarfed pizza and she made us French gimlets…strong, tart, sweet.  We had one, then another, then a third.

And then she gave me a steely-eyed long look over the top of her glass, paused for a second, and said, “I can’t drive you to the airport.”  Thus began my $60 Uber to LAX…they pack a boozy punch.

A beautiful French gimlet cocktail with a sunset

What is a French gimlet?  It’s basically a regular gimlet, but with the addition of St. Germain liqueur…the elderflower adding a “je ne sais quoi” to the traditional gin and lime juice combo.

I can’t find an exact origin of the cocktail, but the regular gimlet is said to originate from the Royal Navy in the late 1800s or early 1900s as a way to get sailors to take their lime rations and avoid scurvy.  SIGN. ME. UP.READ THE POST

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A Classic “Army and Navy” Gin Cocktail

July 3, 2020

I’m obsessed with how pretty this drink is.  Though I’m a gin lover, I still haven’t tried out all the classic gin cocktails.  I haven’t even *heard* of all of them.  But as soon as I saw a recipe for a classic “Army and Navy” cocktail, it jumped to the top of the list.

And somehow it feels appropriately patriotic for a 4th of July posting.

A Classic Gin "Army & Navy" Cocktail | This simple classic gin cocktail is crisp, boozy, & perfect for summer. An Army & Navy drink recipe that's easy to make, and will wow guests. A perfect summer cocktail recipe, using only a few ingredients. #gin #cocktail #drinkrecipe #lemon #orgeat

What is an Army and Navy cocktail?

As with many classic cocktails, there are a few conflicting stories. 

It’s said that this cocktail recipe was created to honor the Army & Navy college football rivalry.  The rivalry’s tradition dates back to 1890, though from what I can tell the cocktail dates back to World War II, first appearing in a cocktail book in 1948.  Or conversely, that it got its name from the famous Washington D.C. Army and Navy Club.  I prefer the first option.

It’s traditionally made with gin, and is a twist on a gin sour recipe.  I like to think that the gin and lemon are a nod to sailors in some way, but that’s completely made up on my part 🙂

A Classic Gin "Army & Navy" Cocktail | finding time for cooking blog

Most of the ingredients are completely run-of-the-mill, except the orgeat syrup.  You can buy it on Amazon or make yourself.  Not sure if liquor stores would have it, but you could look.

A Classic Gin "Army & Navy" Cocktail | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

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“If Egg Nog Was Good” Bourbon Milk Punch Cocktail

May 14, 2020

A few months ago, if anyone had told me I’d be obsessed with a cocktail that includes bourbon and dairy (with the exception of a boozy milkshake), I’d have thought they were crazy.

But here we are…

Bourbon Milk Punch Cocktail | This delicious twist on a classic milk punch uses bourbon and sweetened condensed milk for a boozy, velvety drink. If you're looking for an easy pantry cocktail, this is it! #bourbon #milkpunch #cocktail #classiccocktail

What is a milk punch?  

So apparently “punch” is from the Sanskrit word pañc, which means “five”…five ingredients, in this case.  I can neither confirm nor deny but that sounds pretty cool.  A milk punch is a classic but flexible cocktail formula:  generally including liquor, sweetener, milk and/or cream, and vanilla, usually with a nutmeg garnish.  There’s more fascinating milk punch history here.

Apparently we’re in the midst of a milk punch revival.  I’d never really heard of them until recently, and then all of the sudden started to notice them on menus.  I first tried a clarified milk punch (having a major moment) at George’s Bar in Louisville, and it was amazing!  I am, however, too lazy to clarify milk myself…

You might also like:  Gifts for the Cocktail Lover & At-Home Mixologist

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A Classic “Brown Derby” Cocktail

April 27, 2020

I was first introduced to the Brown Derby cocktail over a decade ago at an amazing little secret speakeasy called Prohibition. 

Hidden behind a red London-style phone booth, I was transported to a time of jazz, silent movies, and delicious boozy drinks.  I’d never really been around cocktails, but I was a convert.

A Classic Brown Derby Cocktail | A delicious bourbon grapefruit cocktail with a great history. This tart and easy cocktail is perfect for spring, with fresh grapefruit juice, honey syrup, and boozy bourbon. #cocktail #easycocktail #easydrinkrecipe #grapefruit #bourbon

Last weekend (for work reasons) I had Derby on the mind.  The Kentucky Derby, that is.  It’s the time of year when all of Louisville would have normally horse fever.  Except it isn’t. 

The horses won’t run on the first Saturday in May for the first time since World War II, and a lot of folks here are feeling the void of that spring rite.  So the other night I decided to try whipping up a Brown Derby cocktail in honor of the Derby.  

No, they’re not technically related, but that’s how my brain works 🙂  

The Brown Derby is a delicious bourbon grapefruit cocktailREAD THE POST

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Rye Port Manhattan Cocktail

April 19, 2020

Given the gloomy, chilly spring weather we’ve been having here, my cocktail game has had more of a fall vibe, and it seemed time for me to finally tackle one of the great classic cocktails, the Manhattan.  Since I can’t ever just do the thing straightforward, I’m going with a rye port Manhattan.

Because, here’s the thing—I don’t like Manhattans.  I think it’s because of the sweet vermouth that provides the distinctive flavor, which I don’t like.  So I went looking for a Manhattan without vermouth, something that maintains that iconic flavor but that I actually *like*.  Enter delicious ruby port…

What is a Manhattan cocktail?

The standard Manhattan has remained remarkably consistent over the nearly 150 years it’s been around.  A basic Manattan is two parts rye whiskey, one part sweet vermouth, two dashes of bitters, and served “up” (chilled but no ice) with a cherry or twist (lemon peel). 

The original might have actually been equal parts rye and vermouth, which for someone like me who does NOT like vermouth or sweet vermouth sounds especially gross.READ THE POST

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River Boyne Fizz: An Irish Whiskey Cocktail

April 5, 2020

With the warm weather FINALLY making an appearance, I thought it might be time to share a refreshing spring-y cocktail to keep you company.  Sound like a plan??

This Irish whiskey cocktail uses bright and tart lemon juice, some sweet honey, and the bite of tonic water for something you could sip on all day.  The River Boyne Fizz is perfect for a day by the pool, chillin’ on your deck, or for me reading in my sunroom with the kitties.

River Boyne Fizz...Irish Whiskey Cocktail with Lemon, Honey, & Tonic | This easy and refreshing whiskey cocktail uses complex Slane Irish Whiskey with fresh lemon juice, honey, and tonic water for something perfect for spring and summer. Sip this all day on your patio or by the pool! #cocktail #springcocktail #summercocktail #irishwhiskeyREAD THE POST

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Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail

March 17, 2019

I just recently realized that I’ve never purchased blood oranges, despite being kind of obsessed with the idea of them (along with Meyer lemons).  They feel like…fancy citrus?  Citrus fruit for wealthy folks??

Regardless, I literally never see them at my grocery store, but magically stumbled upon a few recently and so snatched them up with absolutely zero idea of what I was going to make.  After poring through tons of recipes, I ended up coming back to the idea of a kind of souped-up gin & tonic.  A refreshing blood orange cocktail for spring!

This recipe feels like an adaptation of the French gimlet, which I *also* love.  But while the original version of this recipe calls for ginger ale, I’ve substituted tonic water as I am firmly NOT a ginger fan.  UGH.  And the tonic water lengthens the drink (makes it less potent) so you can enjoy it for longer.

One of the keys here is to make sure you’re using fresh lime juice.  Trust me when I say that the bottled lime juice you keep in your fridge will not work in this drink.  I’ve tried.  It’s terrible.  If you don’t have fresh limes then either omit it or save this recipe for another day.  *shudders*

blood orange & st. germain gin cocktailREAD THE POST

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Fizzy Rosemary Gimlet

January 26, 2019

About a year ago—after over a decade as a die-hard wine drinker—I fell in love with gin.  

I KNOW.  But hear me out.  I’ve noticed that gin is a very polarizing subject.  I’ve met tons of people who absolutely love it, and a similar amount of people who tell me I’m insane and gin is the grossest thing ever. 

I haven’t really found anyone who’s like, “yeah, it’s cool sometimes”.  Apparently gin is an all-or-nothing 🙂  But I kind of think that’s because people maybe haven’t had a great gin cocktail.  In my experience over the last year, gin mixes so well with so many different flavors, and so that’s what led to today’s adventure.

Fizzy Rosemary Gimlet (Gin Cocktail) | This delicious gin cocktail pairs gin, fresh lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup with some tonic water for a refreshing and complex drink. And it's so easy to make!

I was first introduced to the idea of a gimlet via my Cheese, my bff in Los Angeles…and actually before I became a gin drinker.  We capped off an awesome girls’ weekend with homemade pizza (courtesy of her now-hubby) and French gimlets. 

A French gimlet basically adds elderflower liqueur like St. Germain to a regular gimlet, which is gin and lime juice.  I fell in love…and three drinks later she told me I’d have to Uber to LAX because there was no way she was taking me now 🙂

Ahhh, girls’ night…

Fizzy Rosemary Gimlet (Gin Cocktail) | finding time for cooking blog

You might also like:Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail

So today I bring you a lovely twist on a regular gimlet, where we take the bright botanical gin and fresh lime juice combo, and add to it a delicious herby rosemary simple syrup. 

It takes like 5 minutes to make the simple syrup yourself and you’ll feel pretty badass.  Then top it off with some tonic water to lighten it up and provide fun fizz.  Behold—the fizzy rosemary gimlet!

Fizzy Rosemary Gimlet (Gin Cocktail) | This delicious gin cocktail pairs gin, fresh lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup with some tonic water for a refreshing and complex drink. And it's so easy to make! READ THE POST

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Rosemary Simple Syrup For Cocktails

January 12, 2019

Friends, we are now venturing into a new realm of foodie-ism.  The world where we think of delicious flavors to add to cocktails and then MAKE IT HAPPEN.  

Not a bad world, amirite???

Easy Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup | this rosemary simple syrup makes a great addition to many cocktails, from a rosemary old fashioned to sprucing up a gin & tonic.  And you can add it to baked goods as well!

Ever since moving to Louisville for my new job and working on spirit brands like Woodford Reserve, Tequila Herradura, and Old Forester, I’ve been introduced to a much wider world of awesome cocktails…new flavors, types of ingredients, ways of preparing, and so much more. 

I’m fascinated by all the new combinations that are out there.  And now that I’ve dipped my toe in by making old fashioneds at home (using pre-made syrup that’s amazing), I feel like I can try and branch out more on my own. 

So when I saw this recipe for rosemary simple syrup, I was intrigued.  I happened to have some rosemary sitting in my fridge, so on a whim I got up off the couch and put the saucepan on the stove. 

And five minutes later (plus 20 minutes of steeping on its own), I had my own homemade rosemary simple syrup.  I felt like a magician.

Easy Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

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It’s actually way better than it sounds… (Spinach Pineapple Smoothie)

July 20, 2012

I’ve been feeling the need to detox a little. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doing any of that crazy stuff like drinking only lemon juice and cayenne pepper or anything. It’s just that between the long work hours, lack of sleep, some weekend trips, and general meh-ness, I’ve been feeling pretty blah lately.

I was browsing Pinterest for recipes and found a bunch of different smoothies, which just struck my fancy for some reason. This spinach pineapple smoothie in particular jumped out at me, which is weird because I’ve never had a green smoothie. And I know the spinach makes it looks so weird, but it’s actually really good. The pineapple and banana are plenty sweet and you don’t taste the spinach at all. So I’ve been drinking it every day for over a week, and am loving it.

healthy spinach pineapple smoothie

And now for the good news:

When blended really well, the combination of low calorie foods mixed with fiber and antioxidant-rich ingredients means your body doesn’t need to work as much because the food is already broken down. This allows key nutrients to flood the body better than if the food were eaten whole and separately.  Additionally, spinach is a nutritional powerhouse full of vitamins A and K, as well as iron, folate, calcium, and lutein. The pineapple is a vitamin C star, which helps the body absorb the iron in the spinach—which for someone like me who is always low on iron & vitamin C, it’s a 1-2 punch of awesome. Sign me up!

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5 Comments CATEGORIES // Breakfast Goodies, Drinks: Cocktails & More, Super Healthy

Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Cold Brew Coffee

April 26, 2012

I’m fairly new to cold brew coffee. Actually, by most people’s standards I’m fairly new to coffee altogether. My parents drink gallons but it never appealed to me (beyond the smell, which is awesome mixed with amazing)—that is until a visit in Italy in ’08. We had church every morning at 10:00 a.m. and between jet lag and staying up late, we were desperate for a pick-me-up at breakfast. Enter Lewlo, our awesome waiter/concierge, who hooked us up with as much free delicious cappuccino as we could put in our bellies. And I’ve been in love ever since.

I normally drink the Nespresso at work (with a raw sugar packet, in case you care), but we also have Keurig machines so I’d tried making iced coffee a few times when the hot brew wasn’t doing it for me. Unfortunately, it was super watered down and just…OFF. Then I read about the Pioneer Woman’s cold brew coffee recipe and it made perfect sense. I’ve tried it a couple times now and overall it’s awesome, plus I’ve found a couple twists that work for me.

cold brew coffee with cold cream

The best part? For the price of a venti Starbucks iced latte, you can make 2-3 weeks’ worth of cold brew coffee for yourself—$4 or so for the coffee, a tiny bit for milk & sugar, and you’re good to go with iced coffee for dayyyyyyyys.

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Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Breakfast Goodies, Drinks: Cocktails & More

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

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Recent IG Adventures!

I honestly feel bad not having shared this with yo I honestly feel bad not having shared this with you sooner, because I am addicted to this intense & indulgent dark chocolate "nice cream" right now. 

Made using frozen bananas and dutch-process cocoa powder, it feels rich, complex, & satisfies any sweet craving I have, but is naturally free of gluten, dairy, and processed sugars. It takes like 3 minutes and 3 ingredients to make--wins all around!

To get the recipe/technique, tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) and tap on this photo! 

#darkchocolate #nicecream #healthydesserts #dairyfreedessert
This easy strawberry mint syrup is a perfect way t This easy strawberry mint syrup is a perfect way to "level up" your summer cocktail game...and use up the mid-summer strawberry bounty. Making your own simple syrup is crazy easy, and only takes a few minutes! 🍓

To get the recipe, tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) and click on this photo! #simplesyrup #strawberrymint #summercocktails #strawberries
Be still my heart! This traditional Irish brown br Be still my heart! This traditional Irish brown bread is so easy to make, packed with whole grains, & instantly transports me back to breakfasting in a cozy B&B in Ireland 😍

See how to make it yourself by tapping on the link in my IG bio & picking this photo —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#irishbrownbread #irishfood #breadbaking #bakingfromscratch
I’ve got the 10-minute side dish you need in you I’ve got the 10-minute side dish you need in your life…air fryer green beans a.k.a green bean fries!! I don’t even like green beans but this dish makes me a believer…and has been a lifesaver recently when I don’t want to turn my oven on in this brutal heat 🙄

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#greenbeans #greenbeanfries #airfryer #healthyrecipes
This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the pe This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the perfect summer nostalgia…now all I need is some cheddar poppers from Sonic ☀️😜

Tap the link in my IG banner to get the (super easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#cherryliqueur #cherrylimeade #summercocktails #sanguemorlacco
Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocol Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocolate shortbread cookie was QUITE the journey...but I absolutely love this final version.  Even better, the dough log keeps in the freezer so you can slice off a few cookies any time a craving strikes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#peanutbuttercookies #cookies #bakingfromscratch #sliceandbake
An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is full of flavor (I *always* accidentally make it too spicy), versatile, and a great plant-based lunch option. For me on a gut health/candida diet, this has become a go-to recipe when I need something fast!

Check out the recipe by clicking on the link in my IG bio & tapping this photo! 

#chickpeas #veganrecipes #plantbased #candidadiet
This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NE This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NEED! It’s delicious, ultra refreshing, & so easy…just a couple ingredients (critically, good fresh basil), 1 minute to shake, & you’ll be sipping tart herbaceous goodness.

Click the link in my IG bio & tap this pic to see the (crazy easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking  #summercocktails #ginsmash #freshbasil #gincocktail
I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya today, and who doesn’t love that?! A really good authentic focaccia requires at least 18-24 hours to make, but this "quick" Rosemary & caramelized onion version can be done in around 4 hours and is SO good!

See the recipe by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing these pics! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#focaccia #easyfocaccia #breadrecipe #bakingfromscratch
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