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. 

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.