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. 

it's been another productive week over here at newfoodtuesdayz. lot's of teaching and cooking and just getting shit done. if you have some time, check out our new collaboration page to find out how to work with the newfoodtuesdayz team (me and wes). 

this weekend, i am having a little pop up bake sale at one of the studios i teach at. if you live in orange county and are looking to support local businesses and small artisans, please come check out the craft fair at kaya yoga remedy in huntington beach, this saturday from 1-4.
after testing plenty of full flavor, gluten free and vegan treats, i'm spending all #friyay baking. and drinking. duh. 

when you are your only real employee, you get to drink on the job. 

today i wanted something fun and bright to pick me up as i work well into the evening. plus, with all the germs roaming around right now, i need to pump up my vitamin c intake. 

i had these really cool sweet limes i found at my local produce store (there is a bunch of really cool citrus in season at the produce markets right now). they had the sweetness of an orange, but the flavor of a lime. and because the lime is so sweet, much less sugar is necessary to sweeten this tasty cocktail. 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass. 

using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls. 

in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup. 

strain into a glass with the remaining ice.

top with desired amount of club soda. 

garnish with lime twist and enjoy. 

xo, a 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass.
using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls.
in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup.
strain into a glass with the remaining ice.
top with desired amount of club soda.
garnish with lime twist and enjoy.