Peas!

There are a few crops from my grandfather's garden that delighted me as a child. Of course, I enjoyed just about everything that he grew, but there was something special about the fruits and vegetables that could be enjoyed while standing right there in the garden, following a quick polish on your shirt.

I often followed my grandfather through the rows of peas as he picked them, waiting to be handed a pea pod swollen with wonderful, sweet peas.

Because they are a cool weather crop, my sweet pea plants were the first to produce this season. Clearly, I am a bit late with this post. My peas plants have long been in the compost bin. But happily, I photographed them just after harvest.

Whiskey Sour

One fateful night, during my freshman year of college, Jack Daniels and I had a falling out. Since then, I've steered clear of all whiskey bourbons.

Many years have passed and now that my memory of our disagreement is vague, my interest in bourbon has been reignited.

I have enjoyed whiskey-sours before, but am typically put-off by the artificial flavor of pre-mixed sour mixer. Making the sour-mix from scratch produces a much nicer flavor.




For four cocktails:

1 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 c. Freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 ts. granulated sugar
4 oz. bourbon
2 c. ice

Crop Circles

Lucky Cat

Quite a while ago, Ryan and I had lunch at PF Chang's China Bistro. Feeling adventurous, I ordered a Lucky Cat martini; I loved it. It is quite a sweet drink, mixing the flavors of pineapple, raspberry, and vanilla. Perfect for dessert.



Lucky Cat Martini

2 oz. Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Dole Pineapple Juice
0.5 oz of Chambord, sink in center of glass

Shake together vodka, pinapple juice, and ice. Strain into a martini glass. Carefully pour in 0.5oz Chambord; it will sit on the bottom of the drink. Garnish with a wedge of fresh pineapple.

Enjoy!

Loot.

Belgian chocolates are a unique indulgance. This set of Galler is one of the delicious lines of chocolate we returned with.

Mint Julep

Happy Derby Day!

In honor of Kentucky Derby tradition, I whipped up a batch of mint juleps this afternoon. For a twist on the classic cocktail, ginger was added to the simple syrup.

Ginger Mint Julep
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 2-inch piece ginger, thinly sliced
1/2 cup bourbon
1-1/2 cup mint sprigs, loosely packed
Crushed Ice
Long strips of lemon peel

Directions
1. For syrup, in small saucepan combine water, sugar and sliced ginger; bring to boiling; stir to dissolve sugar. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Strain; discard ginger.

2. Divide mint among 6 small glasses or silver mint julep cups. Add 2 tablespoons ginger syrup to each glass. With a spoon, stir to bruise mint. Divide bourbon evenly among glasses; fill with ice.

White Russian

My paternal grandmother's drink of choice was the White Russian. It's a classic cocktail whose moniker is shared with:

A person from Belarus

A Russian who supported the tsar in the 1917 Revolution

A type of marijuana

A species of dwarf hamster

So even though grandma wasn't a Belarusian revolutionary who got stoned with hamsters, she enjoyed the occasional sipsky. Budem zdorovy!

White Russian
1 1/2 oz vodka
3/4 oz Kahlua or other coffee liquer
3/4 oz cream
Pour mixed ingredients into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.

The White Russian cocktail isn't Russian at all. Perhaps the inclusion of vodka inspired the name.