today is the first day of autumn and it blows my mind how quickly the seasons change. just two weeks ago it was too hot in my apartment to turn on my oven and yesterday we had our first southern california rain. basically our socal equivalent to the first snow in cooler places. but the softer light and cooling temps (i actually had to put a sweatshirt on this week, gasp) have me embracing fall and all its flavors. and boots of course. 

i've had some sparkling apple cider in the fridge left over from a catering job that i've been dying to bust open. and no flavors say fall to me more than apples and cinnamon. and whiskey.

when i whipped up this easy to make cocktail, wes was very skeptical. and then he had me make another. so you know it is a winner. 

spiced whiskey cider
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes
ingredients: 5 oz sparkling apple cider. 2 oz irish whiskey (i used jameson). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 pinch cinnamon (about 1/8th tsp for those not comfortable with their pinch size). two sprigs rosemary. large ice cube or cup of ice. 

in a small glass, combine the cinnamon, jameson and lemon juice. 

stir well to combine. 

smash one of the rosemary sprigs between your palms to release the oils and place it in the bottom of your glass. fill the glass with your ice. 

pour the whiskey mixture over the ice and rosemary. 

pour in the apple cider to top off the glass. 

garnish with the second rosemary sprig and enjoy. 

xo, a 

spiced whiskey cider
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes
ingredients: 5 oz sparkling apple cider. 2 oz irish whiskey (i used jameson). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 pinch cinnamon (about 1/8th tsp for those not comfortable with their pinch size). two sprigs rosemary. large ice cube or cup of ice.
in a small glass, combine the cinnamon, jameson and lemon juice. stir well to combine. smash one of the rosemary sprigs between your palms to release the oils and place it in the bottom of your glass. fill the glass with your ice. pour the whiskey mixture over the ice and rosemary. pour in the apple cider to top off the glass. garnish with the second rosemary sprig and enjoy. 

it is feeling pretty springing over here at la casita costa mesa (yes we named our home, don't you?). it's currently seventy-five and sunny in orange county and change is in the air. wes and i have spent the week digging deep into some spring cleaning. hunkering down and getting prepared for...

wesley's new job!!! that's right. my mr. is under new employment. for the last few years, he has been managing a popular lunch spot at a very busy outdoor shopping center. but now that our own business calendar is filling up, he needs something with more flexibility and more importantly, more moola. and he found the perfect place. not only is it a high end, global restaurant chain, his new employer is opening a brand new restaurant about a mile from our house. he will be a part of the opening team at the new nobu newport beach.

to say we are excited for the amazing learning opportunity would be an understatement. and i have to say, i couldn't be prouder of my man. to celebrate him, i'm whipping up one of his favorite cocktails that now bares his name. 

rosemary westini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes.
ingredients: 2.5 oz your favorite vodka. .5 oz club soda. 1 splash - .5 oz olive juice (depending on how dirty you like it). 1 rosemary sprig & 1 olive for garnish. a few ice cubes. martini glass for serving. start by tearing away most of the rosemary leaves from your sprig so that there is just a bit left at the tip and it is basically a long twig. use the rosemary to skewer your olive and set it aside. 

fill your martini glass with your ice. pour in the vodka. 

then the olive juice. 

finally, pour in the club soda.

use your rosemary olive skewer to stir your martini gently. garnish with the olive rosemary skewer and serve. 

xo, a

rosemary westini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes.
ingredients: 2.5 oz your favorite vodka. .5 oz club soda. 1 splash - .5 oz olive juice (depending on how dirty you like it). 1 rosemary sprig & 1 olive for garnish. a few ice cubes. martini glass for serving.
start by tearing away most of the rosemary leaves from your sprig so that there is just a bit left at the tip and it is basically a long twig. use the rosemary to skewer your olive and set it aside. fill your martini glass with your ice. pour in the vodka. then the olive juice. finally top it off with the club soda. use your rosemary olive skewer to stir your martini gently. garnish with the olive rosemary skewer and serve.