Sunday, February 13, 2011
This mid-19th century cocktail is delicious and sure to make your Valentine smile. Show her your sophisticated side this weekend, or enjoy with a couple girls while boycotting this holiday-it’s really good!
I’ve found that Valentine’s Day is a pretty emotional holiday-it either brings about images of roses, chocolate, diamonds and happiness ,or frustration and annoyance. Relationship status can be an indicator-but not always. I, for one, am happily married but have never really liked Valentine’s Day. Celebrating love: AWESOME! Feeling obligated to buy flowers and chocolate to avoid getting put in the dog house...not so much! Valentine’s Day just feels like a lot of pressure for most people. But, I’m just not a gift person. I’m a quality time person. Buy me chocolates-eh, but cook me dinner and rent a movie: AWESOME! Light candles or make it a picnic-even better! So clearly I’m a proponent of guys cooking ladies a meal. The whole “the way to a…
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
This grown up version of hot chocolate will make you almost thankful for the cold weather.
Ballston and Virginia Square, it's cold outside! We've got to feature a couple hot drinks during the cocktails portion of the Holiday Saute! So far, we've made a minty Grasshopper and a fruity, bubbly Poinsettia. Both served cold. Time for something to really warm you up. I found this recipe in Food and Wine Magazine. In my Irish family, whiskey is a must at all holidays. In fact, my family would be more shocked if there was no whiskey than no tree at Christmas. That being said, a sweet, hot drink that tastes great that contains Disaronno (an Amaretto-so not whiskey, but something that they would still consider acceptable) would be a welcomed change. Disclaimer for my family: Not a permanent change-just a little bit of a shake up from …
Saturday, January 1, 2011
This healthy, nutrient packed soup will keep you warm on these cold winter days. The roasted vegetables and kale simmered in a delicious, rich tasting broth will keep you satisfied all season long (and will keep your waistline in check!)
Ballston...Virginia Square...the holidays have been rough on my waistline. I know I can't be alone in this. Mine might be a little extreme: having both the Saturday Saute and the Holiday Saute going on at the same time meant a lot of cooking and a lot of eating (specifically painful was the "cookie week" of the Holiday Saute that lasted about twice as long as it should have. That was a LOT of cookies and a lot of calories). As today is New Year's Day and since one of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight or eat healthier, I thought it right to try to encourage all of you to stick to it! I do not want to be your stumbling block, tempting you all with any non-healthy foods. Therefore, I have dedicated January to healthy eating. The …
Thursday, December 30, 2010
This refreshing cocktail will be a huge hit this holiday season! Guests will love the combination of mint and pomegranate.
I love mint. The smell and taste are just so refreshing. To me, mint completely wakes me up-almost a shock to the system, and makes even the air I breathe seem fresher. This is probably why I love mojitos in the summer so much. But...I want to feature a mojito that can be a winter cocktail as well. This pomegranate mint mojito would be a huge hit at your cocktail party this holiday season. First, pomegranates are very in right now (they're like neon colors were in the 80's). Second-pomegranates are in season and a great source of antioxidants. Third, mint is not only refreshing in the summer, but also a huge deal around December-mint is in everything this time of year, and I love that! Finally, this drink turns out a pretty red color and …
Monday, December 27, 2010
This sophisticated cocktail combines unique flavors, resulting in a refreshing drink. The basil and lime infuse to create a fantastic, wow-worthy beverage that you will love.
I'm all about keeping it simple. I like my meals done in 30 minutes. I like things preassembled. I like electronics that are all hooked up and ready to go. Example: I'm typing this from my brand new iPad. I've never been an Apple fan...but all I had to do was plug this in and it was ready to go! No complicated process, no fuss. It is nice! I think my attitude has changed towards Apple. I am a fan. Sometimes, a little extra work can be totally worth it. A couple extra steps can be the difference between same old, same old and WOW! That's why we spend hours over a turkey on Thanksgiving or days decorating for the Holidays. This Basil Lime Daiquiri is a lot more work than the average cocktail. Many more ingredients, much more time. The result…
Sunday, December 26, 2010
This champagne cocktail is light, fruity, and delicious. Perfect for your Christmas or New Years get together!
Hope you are having a wonderful Holiday season, Ballston and Virginia Square! Hopefully you are enjoying some time with friends, family, and food. We are now venturing into the wild world of cocktails for the Holiday Saute. We started with making a delicious, minty Grasshopper Martini. We're switching gears just a little bit to something a little lighter, a little fruity, and a little bubbly. Today, we drink a Poinsettia. This champagne cocktail is absolutely divine. I know, I said it-divine (and I'm not taking that back. Josh says I'm too corny. But I like being corny!). It tastes light, delicious, and is a very festive red color. Perfect cocktail for your Christmas or New Years Eve party! Poinsettia (found randomly on ask.com) Serves 1 …
Friday, December 24, 2010
This delicious cocktail will be a great hit at your Christmas Party! It's green, minty, and amazing!
Hello and Merry Christmas Ballston and Virginia Square! Hope you all are doing well and finished with any last minute holiday shopping. The Ballston Mall was pretty packed this week. We are wrapping up the Holiday Saute with a feature on cocktails. Having a signature holiday drink at your party is always a great idea-people love that! Many hosts and hostesses want to have some sort of cocktail featured at their holiday party, but are a little intimidated and unsure of what to pick so they default to beer and wine. Which-I love beer and wine! But I want to take the fear out of this and try to work through 8 holiday cocktails leading up to New Years Eve. Now, keep in mind: I've never been a bartender. So what I'm making is really going to …
