i've been off the blog rails. but i'm getting back on track. after baking MANY fourth of july cakes, prepping and cooking for our fourth of july bash and teaching the morning of the fourth, i needed some time to regroup. 

i am working most of the weekend, but i have some beautiful summer strawberries that i need to use, so i made some time to take a cocktail break with my husband before we both ran off to work. wes loves margaritas (who doesn't) and i'm always looking for new ways to spice it up for him. this combo ended up being the perfect mixture of sweet, spicy and summer cool. 

strawberry ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 7 minutes
active time: 3
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz strawberry puree (about 1 strawberry, just blended in the food processor). .5 oz lime juice. 1 tsp grated ginger (and whatever juice comes with it). 10 small basil leaves + a sprig of basil for garnish. 1 small strawberry for garnish. 1 cup ice. boston shaker. strainer. muddler. glass & ice for serving. 1 tsp sugar optional. 

start by combining the lime juice, ginger and basil in the base of the glass part of your shaker. if you like your drink a bit sweeter now would be the time to add in the optional tsp of sugar. 

muddle until the basil leaves are well broken up. 

fill the other side of your shaker with ice, the tequila, triples sec and strawberry juice. pour in the muddled lime juice, basil and ginger. cover and shake until well combined. fill your glass for serving with ice and add your basil and strawberry garnish. 

over the base of your shaker with the strainer and pour it over ice.

 serve and enjoy!

xo, a

strawberry ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 7 minutes
active time: 3
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz strawberry puree (about 1 strawberry, just blended in the food processor). .5 oz lime juice. 1 tsp grated ginger (and whatever juice comes with it). 10 small basil leaves + a sprig of basil for garnish. 1 small strawberry for garnish. 1 cup ice. boston shaker. strainer. muddler. glass & ice for serving. 1 tsp sugar optional.
start by combining the lime juice, ginger and basil in the base of the glass part of your shaker. if you like your drink a bit sweeter now would be the time to add in the optional tsp of sugar. muddle until the basil leaves are well broken up.
fill the other side of your shaker with ice, the tequila, triples sec and strawberry juice. pour in the muddled lime juice, basil and ginger. cover and shake until well combined. fill your glass for serving with ice and add your basil and strawberry garnish. cover the base of your shaker with the strainer and pour it over ice. serve and enjoy!

it is starting to look a lot like summer. kids are getting out of school, the heat in socal is rising and the longest day of the year is less than a week away. and few things feel more like summer than pineapple. 

the problem is, pineapple drinks tend to be much to sweet. i like a cooling, floral cocktail with a hint of fruitiness. and this cocktail delivers. watch out, it's hard to have just one. 

pineapple sunrise
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz pineapple juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz campari. 2-4 oz club soda (to taste). tumbler glass filled with ice. toothpick, lime wedge and pineapple slice for garnish. 

start by combining your pineapple juice and vodka. stir well to combine. 

pour the vodka and pineapple juice into you glass. 

top with the campari (let it settle to the bottom to create that really pretty layer of color). 

top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. use your toothpick to skewer the lime and pineapple piece. 

garnish your drink with the lime and pineapple skewer. enjoy! 

xo, a

pineapple sunrise
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz pineapple juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz campari. 2-4 oz club soda (to taste). tumbler glass filled with ice. toothpick, lime wedge and pineapple slice for garnish. start by combining your pineapple juice and vodka. stir well to combine. pour the vodka and pineapple juice into you glass. top with the campari (let it settle to the bottom to create that really pretty layer of color). top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. use your toothpick to skewer the lime and pineapple piece. garnish your drink with the lime and pineapple skewer. enjoy!