um, where did january go?

i feel like it took me much longer than usual this year to regroup after the holidays. normally, i attack a new year with extreme enthusiasm. but this year, i just couldn’t kick it into gear. but with a new month bringing a fresh perspective and one of my favorite times of the year, i’m finally feeling like i’m getting back in the swing of things. and right in time for happy hour.

citrus season is bringing its best right now. grapefruit, cara cara and blood oranges are offering up some really gorgeous flavors and colors. and nothing pairs better with citrus than herbs.

this lightly sparkling sip will brighten up a cold february day and you will want to keep this cocktail handy all the way through spring.

thyme & grapefruit spritzer

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 3 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + grapefruit twist. .5 oz st. germain. 7 sprigs thyme. 5 oz club soda. 2 cups ice. shaker.

start by filling the base of your shaker with half the ice, 5 of the thyme leaves roughly torn, and the vodka. give it a stir and let the thyme start to infuse into your vodka.

pour in the grapefruit juice and st. germain. cover the shaker and shake well till everything is well combined and the thyme leaves are nice and bruised up. about 30 seconds.

fill your serving glass with ice. pour the contents of your shaker into the serving glass.

top the glass with club soda.

gently stir it up with the remaining thyme sprigs and use them as a garnish. top with your grapefruit twist, serve and enjoy.

xo, a

thyme & grapefruit spritzer

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 3 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + grapefruit twist. .5 oz st. germain. 7 sprigs thyme. 5 oz club soda. 2 cups ice. shaker.

start by filling the base of your shaker with half the ice, 5 of the thyme leaves roughly torn, and the vodka. give it a stir and let the thyme start to infuse into your vodka. pour in the grapefruit juice and st. germain. cover the shaker and shake well till everything is well combined and the thyme leaves are nice and bruised up. about 30 seconds. fill your serving glass with ice. pour the contents of your shaker into the serving glass. top the glass with club soda. gently stir it up with the remaining thyme sprigs and use them as a garnish. top with your grapefruit twist, serve and enjoy.

apple season is raging and the produce stores are packed to the gills with ripe, delicious fruit.

it’s not often these days that i stumble upon a new fruit or vegetable, but i couldn’t help myself from picking up some of these pink pearl apples when i saw them at my local store. they are GORGEOUS. and equally tasty. like a mild, but just as delicious honey crisp apple.

i knew i had to use them for a recipe, but i wanted to get out of the regular apple box. i’m all pied out and i have had enough whiskey lately to last me for a while. so instead, i mixed these stunning apples with some unexpected friends to make a refreshing cocktail that still has a holiday feel.

now, i know that pink pearl apples are not popping up in everyone's produce store, so if you aren’t lucky enough to find some, you can easily sub a pink lady or honey crisp apple in this recipe. and with the holidays in mind, i realize you may need to make more than one cocktail and muddling can be a little tiresome if you are making more than one cocktail. if you need to make a large batch, you could combine the rosemary, apples and vodka in a food processor and then strain the contents to get the tasty infused vodka apple juice if need be.

spiced apple smash

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz lemon juice. 3 tbs chopped pink pearl apples (you can sub pink lady or honey crisp) + 1 wedge for garnish. 10 rosemary leaves + a sprig of rosemary for garnish. a couple of pinches of cinnamon. 4 oz club soda. 1 cup of ice. muddler. shaker.

start by combining the rosemary leaves, vodka and apples in the base of your shaker. use the muddler to smash the apples into little bits, breaking up the rosemary as you go.

once the apples are really mashed, add in the lemon juice, cinnamon and a couple of ice cubes to chill everything. cover your shaker and shake well till everything is well combined.

fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass.

top off with club soda. garnish with rosemary sprig & wedge of apple.

serve and enjoy.

xo, a

spiced apple smash

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz lemon juice. 3 tbs chopped pink pearl apples (you can sub pink lady or honey crisp) + 1 wedge for garnish. 10 rosemary leaves + a sprig of rosemary for garnish. a couple of pinches of cinnamon. 4 oz club soda. 1 cup of ice. muddler. shaker.

start by combining the rosemary leaves, vodka and apples in the base of your shaker. use the muddler to smash the apples into little bits, breaking up the rosemary as you go. once the apples are really mashed, add in the lemon juice, cinnamon and a couple of ice cubes to chill everything. cover your shaker and shake well till everything is well combined. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass. top off with club soda. garnish with rosemary sprig & wedge of apple. serve and enjoy.