it's been another productive week over here at newfoodtuesdayz. lot's of teaching and cooking and just getting shit done. if you have some time, check out our new collaboration page to find out how to work with the newfoodtuesdayz team (me and wes). 

this weekend, i am having a little pop up bake sale at one of the studios i teach at. if you live in orange county and are looking to support local businesses and small artisans, please come check out the craft fair at kaya yoga remedy in huntington beach, this saturday from 1-4.
after testing plenty of full flavor, gluten free and vegan treats, i'm spending all #friyay baking. and drinking. duh. 

when you are your only real employee, you get to drink on the job. 

today i wanted something fun and bright to pick me up as i work well into the evening. plus, with all the germs roaming around right now, i need to pump up my vitamin c intake. 

i had these really cool sweet limes i found at my local produce store (there is a bunch of really cool citrus in season at the produce markets right now). they had the sweetness of an orange, but the flavor of a lime. and because the lime is so sweet, much less sugar is necessary to sweeten this tasty cocktail. 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass. 

using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls. 

in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup. 

strain into a glass with the remaining ice.

top with desired amount of club soda. 

garnish with lime twist and enjoy. 

xo, a 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass.
using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls.
in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup.
strain into a glass with the remaining ice.
top with desired amount of club soda.
garnish with lime twist and enjoy. 

after finishing all my thanksgiving shopping, i'm sitting in a blanket of delicious aromas sipping on my first of many vodka sodas this weekend, i'm sure. 

and lucky for you, i'm feeling extra giving. with everything going on in our lives, i've decided it is time to up my blog game. newfoodtuesdayz is quickly approaching it's sixth birthday and it's time for me to get my shit together and step it up.

so from this moment on, you can look forward to tips & tricks thursdays and friyay happy hours in additional to your regularly scheduled newfoodtuesdayz programming. so here is a sneak peak at both. 

tips & tricks: easy cocktail styling

the holidays are stressful enough as it is. there is so much cooking to do that the last thing that you need to stress about is also making fancy cocktails. however, social lubrication at this time of year is a must. so instead of going out of your way to buy a ton of mixers and alcohol for cocktails people will probably never order, come up with one or two easy but pretty cocktails to have on hand for your guests to choose from. i like to go very simple and use a bubbly mixer and one alcohol. there are a bunch of great combinations. you can go classic like vodka + soda or gin + tonic. or go wild. try a sparkling wine + campari. like whiskey? how about a whiskey + ginger ale. you are really only limited by your imagination. 

now to take it to the next level, add a couple of organic elements. i try to pick herbs, fruits or vegetables that go with the colors of my party. you can layer one or two organic elements to really make the cocktail pop. lavender, blood orange or pomegranate ice can always be made in advance and kept in the freezer till party time. small fruits are always beautiful on a sugared or salted rim and herbs always look stunning gently settled into a cocktail. 

for the perfect thanksgiving combo, try this kumquat (in season starting in november) and rosemary vodka soda. you can't go wrong. 

kumquat + rosemary vodka soda
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes ingredients: 2 oz vodka. .25 c club soda. 1 kumquat. 2 rosemary sprigs. 1 tbs sugar for the rim. 1 cup ice or large ice cube. 

gently ice the edge of your glass. dip the rim of the glass into sugar until the entire rim is covered. 

in your glass, combine the vodka, ice and club soda. 

make a little slice in the bottom of the kumquat. 

garnish with kumquat and rosemary and enjoy. 

xo, a

kumquat + rosemary vodka soda
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes ingredients: 2 oz vodka. .25 c club soda. 1 kumquat. 2 rosemary sprigs. 1 tbs sugar for the rim. 1 cup ice or large ice cube.
gently ice the edge of your glass. dip the rim of the glass into sugar until the entire rim is covered.
make a little slice in the bottom of the kumquat.
in your glass, combine the vodka, ice and club soda.
garnish with kumquat and rosemary and enjoy.