we are ten days in to parenthood and we are starting to settle in to our new normal.

i was so prepared for chaos, that i have been pleasantly surprised with how mellow things are at the moment. i know it won’t always be this simple, but right now it is pretty much just eat, sleep, repeat.

sweet sage is sleeping hours at a time, so i have had the chance to get back in the kitchen. and more importantly, back to my once a week cocktail consumption.

other parents are talking about the end of summer because their kids are headed back to school, but as far as i am concerned, summer is just hitting its full stride. the produce store is PACKED with gorgeous stone fruit and my garden is pumping out basil. they just happen to make a beautiful marriage of summer flavors. but don’t take my word for it, whip one up for yourself!

summer stonefruit cooler

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minute

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. .5 cup chopped ripe plum (you could sub any of your favorite stone fruit) + plum wedge for garnish. 1.5 oz lemon juice. .5 oz simple syrup. 5 large basil leaves, torn and smashed to release their oils + a sprig of basil for garnish. shaker. strainer. food processor or blender. 2 cups ice.

start by making your plum purée. place your ripe plums or stone fruit in you blender or food processor and purée till as smooth as you can get it.

then in your shaker, combine the plum, vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. add in your torn and smashed basil leaves. add in 1 cup of ice and shake well till frothy and well combined. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice.

strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass. garnish with plum wedge and basil. if you are using them.

serve and enjoy.

xo, a

summer stonefruit cooler

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minute

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. .5 cup chopped ripe plum (you could sub any of your favorite stone fruit) + plum wedge for garnish. 1.5 oz lemon juice. .5 oz simple syrup. 5 large basil leaves, torn and smashed to release their oils + a sprig of basil for garnish. shaker. strainer. food processor or blender. 2 cups ice.

start by making your plum purée. place your ripe plums or stone fruit in you blender or food processor and purée till as smooth as you can get it. then in your shaker, combine the plum, vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. add in your torn and smashed basil leaves. add in 1 cup of ice and shake well till frothy and well combined. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass. garnish with plum wedge and basil. if you are using them. serve and enjoy.

i have said it before and i will say it again. wes is a badass.

sure, he drives me crazy like any good spouse, but he earned insane brownie (see what i did there) points this week when he pulled up all our nasty old carpet and replaced the flooring. for less than the price of a good rug, he was able to transform our living space into a lighter, brighter, cleaner space. right in time for our bun to come out of the oven.

if you ask me, he DESERVES a big, FAT cocktail for all his hard work. he loves a sweet, spicy marg, and this cocktail is exactly that.

el jefé honeydew margarita

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minute

total time: 3 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 oz tequila. .5 oz fresh lime juice. .5 oz triple sec. 1 cup chopped honeydew melon. 3 small slices of jalapeño. here is where you have control over the spice level. if you want it spicy, leave the membrane and seeds in. if you want it more mild, remove the seeds and membrane. 2 cups ice. blender or food processor. shaker. strainer. optional edible flowers and basil leaves for garnish.

start by making your spicy honeydew purée. in the bowl of your blender or food processor, blend up the melon and jalapeño. add half the ice to your shaker along with the tequila, lime juice and triple sec.

pour in 4 oz of your melon purée (you may or may not have a little extra purée left over). s

hake the mixture vigorously until frothy and well combined. fill your serving glass with ice. strain the contents of the shaker into your serving glass.

garnish with basil leaves and edible flowers if you are using them. serve and enjoy.

xo, a

el jefé honeydew margarita

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minute

total time: 3 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 oz tequila. .5 oz fresh lime juice. .5 oz triple sec. 1 cup chopped honeydew melon. 3 small slices of jalapeño. here is where you have control over the spice level. if you want it spicy, leave the membrane and seeds in. if you want it more mild, remove the seeds and membrane. 2 cups ice. blender or food processor. shaker. strainer. optional edible flowers and basil leaves for garnish.

start by making your spicy honeydew purée. in the bowl of your blender or food processor, blend up the melon and jalapeño. add half the ice to your shaker along with the tequila, lime juice and triple sec. pour in 4 oz of your melon purée (you may or may not have a little extra purée left over). shake the mixture vigorously until frothy and well combined. fill your serving glass with ice. strain the contents of the shaker into your serving glass. garnish with basil leaves and edible flowers if you are using them. serve and enjoy.