wes is going through some work transitions (i know i've alluded, don't worry details to come soon) so he has been home with me a lot more in the evenings. last night, we were watching the marathon of top chef episodes they were playing leading up to the new episode. about three episodes deep we had the epiphany. we no longer watched cooking shows in awe of what was going on. now we watch as if they are coworkers in our kitchen. instead of wondering how they could possibly come up with these crazy dishes, i'm checking which ingredients they are using, watching their technique, looking for my own tips and tricks anywhere i can find them. 

when the new episode finally came, the challenge was a tequila cocktail and dish paring. right up my alley. i was antsy on the couch thinking about what i would have made. so today, i attacked.

and i'm pretty sure my cocktail would have been a winner! 

passion fruit + lavender margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 4 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila blanco. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz orange liquor. .5 oz simple syrup. 1 sprig lavender. 1 passion fruit. 1 tbs each of salt & chili powder for garnish. shaker. stainer. 1 cup ice. ice for serving. 

start by combining the salt and chili powder together on a plate.

before you fill your serving glass with ice, gently brush the rim with a bit of the lime juice. 

gently brush the edges of the rim into the chili powder and salt mixture till lightly coated. 

fill with ice and set aside. fill your shaker with ice.

scoop out the passion fruit pulp and add it to the ice.

pour in the tequila, liquor, lime juice and simple syrup.

pull some of the flowers off the lavender sprig and add them to the shaker. 

reserve the rest for garnish.

shake your cocktail well till nicely combined and a bit frothy. 

strain over ice. 

garnish with lavender sprig and serve. 

xo, a

passion fruit + lavender margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 4 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila blanco. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz orange liquor. .5 oz simple syrup. 1 sprig lavender. 1 passion fruit. 1 tbs each of salt & chili powder for garnish. shaker. stainer. 1 cup ice. ice for serving.
start by combining the salt and chili powder together on a plate. before you fill your serving glass with ice, gently brush the rim with a bit of the lime juice. gently brush the edges of the rim into the chili powder and salt mixture till lightly coated. fill with ice and set aside. fill your shaker with ice. scoop out the passion fruit pulp and add it to the ice. pour in the tequila, liquor, lime juice and simple syrup. pull some of the flowers off the lavender sprig and add them to the shaker. reserve the rest for garnish. shake your cocktail well till nicely combined and a bit frothy. strain over ice. garnish with lavender sprig and serve.

happy friyay friends! you made it!!! i still have some work to do tonight and tomorrow for a charity event we are catering, but i'm feeling extra grateful today. 

wes has some changes and transitions happening, so he was home three days in a row this week. it is always a sweet treat to get a glimpse into what working with him every day will be like. we even got to spend some time with my brother and parents at a delicious sushi dinner at our favorite local spot. we had a bomb evening full of tasty fresh fish, japanese bar snacks and smooth sake. by some miracle, we had a little of our sake bottle left to take home. so it was a natural ingredient for today's friyay cocktail. 

honey lemon saketini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 3 oz sake. 1.5 oz lemon juice. .5 tsp honey. 2 sage leaves, finally chopped. 1 cup ice. 1 pretty ice cube for garnish. 3 mandarine slices for garnish. martini glass for serving. shaker. strainer. 

fill your shaker with ice.

over the ice, combine the sake, lemon juice, sage and honey.

shake well to combine.

place your pretty ice cube in the martini glass with the mandarine slices.

strain the liquid into the martini glass.

serve and enjoy!

xo, a

honey lemon saketini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 3 oz sake. 1.5 oz lemon juice. .5 tsp honey. 2 sage leaves, finally chopped. 1 cup ice. 1 pretty ice cube for garnish. 3 mandarine slices for garnish. martini glass for serving. shaker. strainer.
fill your shaker with ice.
over the ice, combine the sake, lemon juice, sage and honey.
shake well to combine.
place your pretty ice cube in the martini glass with the mandarine slices.
strain the liquid into the martini glass. serve and enjoy!