Recipe: Watermelon Spritzer

Summer time is here! If your summer is anything like mine here in Toronto, you have been hot and sweaty for the past couple of weeks. I've been downing watermelon like crazy. Watermelon is a new found thing for me, as for many years I didn't like any melon at all. Now watermelon has wormed its way into my diet (gateway fruit?) and I do find it so refreshing (and great to bring to a party). Here is a recipe for a delightful fresh beverage to help cool you down this hot hot summer!

Ingredients:

• 2-½ pounds Fresh Watermelon (seedless If You Can Find It), Rind Removed And Cut Into Cubes
• 3 whole Lemons (seedless If You Can Find It), Juiced
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 2 cups Chilled Seltzer Water (more Or Less)
• 6 sprigs Lemon Balm Or Mint, For Garnish (optional!)

Preparation:

• Place the watermelon, lemon juice and honey into a food processor. 
• Process until smooth. 
• Strain the mixture into a large bowl, pressing the juice out of any seeds or pulp that remains in the strainer. 
• Pour the juice into a large pitcher and chill until you’re ready to drink.
• Serve with a splash of seltzer water and lemon balm or mint, if using.
   
  Found via Tasty Kitchen

Sparkling Sangria

Too many parties? Today after yoga I started to feel like I was hit by a truck. I'm not sure if it's eating out every day, or drinking every night, or pushing myself a little too hard to work out, but my body is feeling it, and it ain't feeling good. So tonight I'm staying home, watching home alone, and catching up on my blogs, pinterest, and email. (And planning for my trip to Hawaii). I hope you all are making the most of the festive season, and if you're not feeling well like me, the doctor boy recommends vitamin c and vitamin d. (And I recommend Cold FX, but he doesn't belive in it... but I think it works!)

Sparkling Sangria (Winter Punch) via  Sweet Paul

Soda Siphon Review

I love my soda siphon! I got a stainless steel one for Christmas, and I've been using it non-stop since. It's much easier for me. Since I don't have a car every time I wanted to buy a case of bubbly water I had to talk someone into driving me to the grocery store. This way I only have to buy a box of CO2 cartridges which fit into my pocket, and I can have bubbly water whenever I want! Plus, this way I don't have tons of glass or plastic bottles in my recycling. Because recycling is good, but not using it at all is better. Words of wisdom y'all. Words of wisdom.

One day I may move up to the Soda Stream, but it takes a lot of room up on the counter, and I already have a lot (LOT) of kitchen appliances. The CO2 is a lot cheaper with the Soda Stream - $34 for 60L using the soda stream vs about $72 for the equivalent amount for the Soda Siphon. Another pro is the ability to fizz up multiple bottles of water at once, and keep them all cold in the fridge. This is mostly only needed for parties though, otherwise I don't find I need more than one bottle at a time.

My siphon is the one litre ISI Soda Siphon. It's wicked.

Image: John Burgoyne via

Warm Winter

A little cold? For the first month or two at least I actually like winter. No, scratch that, sometimes I downright LOVE winter. Winter is about soup (pho and ramen specifically), and risotto, spiced cider and hot chocolate (soy for me of course), cashmere and cuddling. What's not to love about being cozy? Course I say that now. Give me a few more weeks until I'm begging for the easy breezy summer days, but for now I'm going to enjoy all that winter has to offer (including being off for the next week and a half). 

Brunch at noon tomorrow? Don't mind if I do.
tartlette

Magic Juice

Hi All, busy busy week! Dreaming of heading home and mixing up some "Magic Juice". However instead I'll head home for a driving lesson/date. No drinking and driving! I'm very against that.

via

Strawberry Mojito

Happy Long Weekend everyone! (If you are in Canada that is). 

I hope you all enjoy your time off. Myself, I'll be attending a wedding reception (something I have been excitedly refering to as "the feast"), brunching, practicing driving, and perhaps making a little trip to the zoo! (And hosting a BBQ if I have anything to say on the matter...) Oh, and in an ideal world, I'm be sipping on these sitting in the sunshine (wearing sunscreen of course.)

Strawberry Mojito

• 1.5 ounces of simple syrup
• about 3 fresh strawberries
• about 4-5 fresh spearmint sprigs (chopped if you prefer smaller mint pieces in your cocktail)
• soda water
• 1/2 lime
• 2 ounces of light rum 

1. In a chilled glass (about 10-12 ounces), muddle the simple syrup, strawberries and mint leaves together with the back of a spoon or muddler. Crush the strawberries and mint leaves well.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the glass, add the rum and stir well. Fill glass with ice and top off with soda water.
3. Garnish with mint sprigs or strawberry slices. Makes 1 drink. But you aren't going to want just one are you?

via white on rice

Home Bar

Had a discussion Monday night about the home bar. I'm one of those compulsive people who likes to make lists, and complete lists. Of course I need my home bar to be "complete". In my mind, I should have a little bit of everything on hand so that should someone stop by I will be able to provide their drink of choice. Bombay Gin for my bestie from Ottawa, for example. The boy, however feels that a wide selection of good alcohols will just increase the instances of drinking (something neither of us patio loves needs right now).

What is a must in your ideal bar? Do you actually manage to keep it around long enough to offer it out?

picture via cupcakes and cashmere

Martini Bar

If you're going to do a martini, do it right

Sunday Suppers