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.

another wild one in the books folks. exciting things are developing in the minichiello household. i can't go spilling all the beans just yet, but good things are in the works. all will reveal itself in due time. 

in addition to normal food deliveries and fitness classes, we had another styled shoot this week with some awesome new vendors. part of the color scheme this week was blush colors so i was digging deep into the grapefruit ideas to get a pop of color. i experimented with some great things, but the clear winner was this refreshing cocktail. 

paloma
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 4 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila or mescal. 2 oz grapefruit juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 tsp sugar. 3 oz club soda. 1 tsp grapefruit zest. 1 grapefruit slice. 1 tsp kosher salt. 4-5 ice cubes. 

start by combining your salt and grapefruit zest onto a shallow plate. mix till well combined.

rub the edge of your glass with a little bit of lime juice. 

then gently dip the rim of the glass into the salt and grapefruit zest mixture till you have lightly coated the rim of the glass. 

in the bottom of the glass, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice and sugar. 

mix well till the sugar is dissolved. 

pour in the tequila and mix. 

add in the grapefruit slice and ice. 

top with the club soda. 

stir till combined and serve. 

xo, a

paloma
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 4 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila or mescal. 2 oz grapefruit juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 tsp sugar. 3 oz club soda. 1 tsp grapefruit zest. 1 grapefruit slice. 1 tsp kosher salt. 4-5 ice cubes. 
start by combining your salt and grapefruit zest onto a shallow plate. mix till well combined. 
rub the edge of your glass with a little bit of lime juice. then gently dip the rim of the glass into the salt and grapefruit zest mixture till you have lightly coated the rim of the glass. 
in the bottom of the glass, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice and sugar. 
mix well till the sugar is dissolved. 
pour in the tequila and mix. 
add in the grapefruit slice and ice. 
top with the club soda. 
stir till combined and serve.