Posts in soda
friyay happy hour: mint + melon sparkler

over the last week, i've been hunkering down in the kitchen. wes and i have a baby shower we are catering next week and over the last couple weeks we have had an uptick in catering & cake inquiries, so i've been menu testing most days. just me, my tiny kitchen and some tunes. 

so far we have had some real winners, but my favorite is this cooling cocktail for the baby sprinkle (a baby shower for a mother that already has a child or two at home, for those not well versed in the ins and outs of baby parties). watch out, it is one of those dangerous drinks that tastes like there isn't any booze in it. 

not a drinker or have some at your party who aren't? you could easily make this non-alcoholic (we are for the sprinkle) by omitting the vodka. you could even make a batch with out the booze but serve it on the side for those who want to add it in. 

mint + melon sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz vodka. 2 cups chopped honeydew melon. 20 mint leaves, plus 2 long sprigs for garnish. 2 oz lime juice. 12 oz club soda or other sparkling water (i used one that had a hint of lime). food processor. strainer. 2 collins glasses. 2 cups ice. 

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start by combining the mint leaves, melon, lime juice and vodka together in the food processor. 

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blend until completely pureed. 

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over a bowl, strain your blended liquid until you have a bowl full of nice smooth liquid. 

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fill each glass with a cup of ice and a sprig of mint. 

fill each glass 75% of the way with melon juice mixture. 

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top off with sparkling water or club soda. 

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serve and enjoy. 

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xo, a

mint + melon sparkler serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz vodka. 2 cups chopped honeydew melon. 20 mint leaves, plus 2 long sprigs for garnish. 2 oz lime juice. 12 oz club soda or other sparkling water (i used one that had a hint of lime). food processor. strainer. 2 collins glasses. 2 cups ice.
start by combining the mint leaves, melon, lime juice and vodka together in the food processor. blend until completely pureed. over a bowl, strain your blended liquid until you have a bowl full of nice smooth liquid. fill each glass with a cup of ice and a sprig of mint. fill each glass 75% of the way with melon juice mixture.top off with sparkling water or club soda. serve and enjoy. 

friyay happy hour: grape & sage sparkler

it's friyay, but admittedly i've been in a pretty funky mood the last few days. i'm guessing my foul mood is due to a lack of yoga or post vacation blues, but regardless of the reason, i've been feeling pretty funky.

we catered our first ever wedding on tuesday, and come wednesday morning i was feeling pretty deflated. so i gave myself a couple days off to sulk around, but it's time to shed these funky feeling and move on to bigger and better things. 

and there is no better way to change a mood than the perfect cocktail. to me, the perfect cocktail is refreshing and vibrant, with just a hint of sweet and tang. this little sparkler nailed it. 

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great). 

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in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.

muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute. 

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then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker. 

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add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds. 

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fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass. 

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top each half the club soda. 

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garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!

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xo, a

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great).
in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.
muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute.
then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker.
add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds.
fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass.
top each half the club soda. garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!