it seems to me, that life is a series of stages. you have your childhood, your high school years, some people have college. then general young adulthood. then suddenly, everyone you know is getting married. one year i was in four weddings. i think i hit ten weddings in eighteen months at one point. my guess is some of you are nodding along by now. 

but i am in a new phase now. baby phase. all around me, friends, coworkers and clients seem to be popping up pregnant. in honor of all the lovely ladies who are walking around cooking up a little life, here is a drink that you too can enjoy. and don't worry, it is the perfect base for some vodka, or even a little gin for those of us just cooking up friday night dinner. 

basil lemonade
serves: 5 cups
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 4 cups water. 1.5 cups fresh lemon juice. .75 cups simple syrup. .25 cup fresh basil leaves. 1 cups crushed ice. ice for serving. basil sprig for garnish. strainer. muddler.

in a medium bowl, combine the ice and simple syrup. 

rip up the basil leaves and add it to the ice and syrup. 

use your muddler to smash the basil, ice and syrup mixture together. 

you are trying to bruise the basil to release it's oils into the syrup. 

after your leaves are good and bruised, pour in your lemon juice. 

mix well till everything is combined. 

strain the lemon juice mixture over a large pitcher. 

stir in your water to taste. 

serve over ice with sprig of basil. 

xo, a

basil lemonade 
serves: 5 cups 
prep time: 5 minutes 
active time: 5 minutes 
total time: 10 minutes 
ingredients: 4 cups water. 1.5 cups fresh lemon juice. .75 cups simple syrup. .25 cup fresh basil leaves. 1 cups crushed ice. ice for serving. basil sprig for garnish. strainer. muddler. 
in a medium bowl, combine the ice and simple syrup. rip up the basil leaves and add it to the ice and syrup. use your muddler to smash the basil, ice and syrup mixture together. you are trying to bruise the basil to release it's oils into the syrup. after your leaves are good and bruised, pour in your lemon juice. mix well till everything is combined. strain the lemon juice mixture over a large pitcher. stir in your water to taste. serve over ice with sprig of basil. 

today is st. patrick's day. one of those holidays that pretty much means nothing to you unless you are... 

a. irish
b. a child in school
c. a college student (or those who still drink like college students) who wants an excuse to drink at six in the morning. 

but hey, i'm down for a reason to drink. and i'm definitely down for some jameson in a pretty cocktail glass. not much of a weekend going on over here this week... or the next... or the next... so i'll be getting my sips in where i can fit them in. and i'm starting with an hour or two in the garden tonight with one of my old favorites. 

whiskey smash
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 oz whiskey. two small lemon wedges, plus small slice of lemon for garnish. 1 tsp simple syrup. 1 mint sprig. 2 cups crushed ice. serving glass of your choice. strainer. shaker. muddler.

start by dividing your ice between the shaker and the serving glass. set the serving glass aside. 

in the shaker, combine the simple syrup and the juice of the lemons. 

throw the lemon wedges into the glass as well. 

then, pluck all but the pretty top leaves of the mint sprig and add them to the shaker.

muddle the lemon, syrup, ice and mint together. 

then pour in your whiskey. 

shake until well combined. 

strain into your serving glass. 

garnish with small lemon wedge and the mint sprig and serve. 

xo, a

whiskey smash
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes ingredients: 2.5 oz whiskey. two small lemon wedges, plus small slice of lemon for garnish. 1 tsp simple syrup. 1 mint sprig. 2 cups crushed ice. serving glass of your choice. strainer. shaker. muddler.
start by dividing your ice between the shaker and the serving glass. set the serving glass aside. in the shaker, combine the simple syrup and the juice of the lemons. throw the lemon wedges into the glass as well. then, pluck all but the pretty top leaves of the mint sprig and add them to the shaker. muddle the lemon, syrup, ice and mint together. then pour in your whiskey. shake until well combined. strain into your serving glass. garnish with small lemon wedge and the mint sprig and serve.