SAKARA: French 69

Bonjour Lovelies!

I hope you are doing alright, during our extended quarantine. I can't believe it's already May and we are still sheltering in place. So surreal! Santa Cruz has been getting hot too, so I wanted to make something refreshing yet lush he he! The Sakara Cookbook has a few specialty drinks but the ladies have been sharing new ones, thank goddess, mainly through their S Life virtual Mag. One of their new cocktails, the French 69, looked delish' and perfect for a hot afternoon! 

The Sakara Life take on a French 69 is pretty simple: 1 part Vodka, 1/2 part St. Germain, muddled mint and Prosecco. Thankfully I had all of the ingredients, except fresh mint. So after masking up and grabbing some I was all set! 

*Of course, don't forget to serve in your most French looking glass.

As simple as this drink was, it did not disappoint. The mint and St. Germain was light and I really loved the splash of bubbly, so good! I'll definitely make this one again.

À tout à l’heure! -Bunny

TB: Reviver

Howdy my loves! 

How are you all doing during quarantine? This is such a weird and stressful time so I thought I'd get out my favorite cookbook and look for a cocktail. One drink caught my eye and seemed perfect, the Reviver. Plus we had all the ingredients. This one is 'from' Miss Holly Cleary the True Blood resident Wiccan. I love how she always keeps salt in her purse!

To start this cocktail you will need 1.5 ounces of Gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc and Lemon Juice. We happened to have gin and some white wine but for the Cointreau we had to use a bright blue orange liqueur. I was worried about how it would taste but it turned out to be just fine! On top of this mix you splash some Pernod, which is an anise flavored liqueur. Absinthe worked perfectly! 

Next add to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and give it a go! I was terrified of getting blue all over the place so I was a tad hesitant when shaking he he! Lastly I garnished with a sweet black cherry. If anyone know me, they know I love love love a good maraschino cherry!

Voilà, you have a yummy new cocktail to sip at home while you wonder what to do with your day. I asked Craig for his thoughts on this cocktail, he is my mixologist..."this Reviver is refreshing and complex in its nuanced flavor pallet giving a sharp taste of orange and a bite of anise. It's sweet yet strong enough to wake you up!" 

I couldn't have said it better myself. Perfect for #quarantine life!

Cheers, Bunny

Pineapple Kiss

Hey Summer Lovers! 

Here is a pineapple cocktail to sweeten your weekend from Sakara Life called the Pineapple Kiss. Similar to a tequila sunrise, the Pineapple Kiss is refreshing, sweet and nourishing. Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and the mint has anti-inflammatory powers! I'm not a big tequila fan but this cocktail totally swayed me!

To create this yummy cocktail you will need:

3/4 cup fresh pineapple juice 

1/4 cup coconut water

1.5 ounce blue agave tequila 

1/4 cup lime juice

Handful of muddled mint

And some pineapple slices, I chose to use cubed pineapple for convenience and snacking ability.

To start, muddle the mint and pineapple a bit in the base of your glass. Be careful...check out my face when I chipped off a piece of my stemless glass!

Next, mix the pineapple juice, coconut water, lime juice and tequila in a pitcher. It seemed silly to use a large pitcher, as Sakara suggested for this, so I opted for my mixing cup. Then you're ready to add some ice to your glass and pour the mixture over the mint and pineapple. You may also garnish your drink with some pineapple wedges. 

Voila! You have a beautiful sweet treat to soften the blow of the summer sun! As Sakara says, here's to eating clean and playing dirty. Thanks for readin!! 

Cheers,

Bunny

Vanilla + Meyer Lemon Gin and Tonic

 Howdy Ya'll

A magical thing happened, Sakara came out with a cookbook! I was floored and quickly snatched up a copy. To my joy it not only included one of a kind recipes but life tips and information about how certain foods can better our bodies. Each section focuses on a different part of a meal and an ingredient that is health positive! 

Creating a lovely book full of unique creations.

 For my first post I chose to create their Vanilla + Lemon Gin and Tonic, cause I love myself a good drink!

For this tonic you need a wildflower honey simple syrup, Meyer lemons and some Gin. I am not a big Gin drinker but I thoroughly enjoyed this mix. The proportions were right and the touch of honey was perfect.

This cocktail proved to be refreshing and not overpowering. I can't wait to try more of these tasty cocktails.

Thanks Sakara!

Lovin' in the Coven

Hey there, who needs drink!?

This bunny does ha ha ha! So I broke out my True Blood Cookbook and found a tasty cocktail to warm my day.

The Lovin' in the Coven includes lemon citrus vodka, lemon, egg white, simple syrup and a blood orange mixer. I adore blood orange mixes, they add such a pop of flavor to any drink, especially paired with vodka.

This cocktail was a bit like a lemony gin fizz thanks to the egg white. So yummy! 

I couldn't quite get the blood orange to float on top but that did not hinder it's deliciousness.

Thanks for watchin! 

-Bunny

Blood and Sand

Howdy!! 

On the bar menu for our beach day: 

Blood and Sand from the True Blood Cookbook. 

This cocktail comes from the marvelously dramatic Lorena, where the smell of cherry brandy inspires memories of the carnage she and Bill created. They spent their nights partying and drinking blood until the sun came up. I wish the show would have dove a bit deeper into her past but from the small sampling of Lorena's hard yet deeply loving persona...this drink is a match. A bit of sweet royal blood and rough abrasive sand, mixed to perfection. 

I was worried that the whiskey and vermouth would be too strong for me but I was pleasantly surprised, thank you orange juice! Blood and Sand had a delicate balance of tartness to sweet, with a smooth finish and curious undertone of cherry and oak. Creating the perfect cocktail to sip as the waves roll in. I loved that the color was sandy too, fitting it's name and looking a bit creepy, what else could a Truebie ask for! 

Thanks for readin! -Bunny

Halloween Fun!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Here is a quick Joker inspired shot to get you in the mood for some Squad fun! We made a small change, from the video, and used a different vodka so the drink turned out green...to please the Joker.

I got the base recipe from http://allmommywants.com/suicide-squad-inspired-cocktail-joker-gone-wild/ called Joker Gone Wild. Thank you Carol! Totally YUM!! A little sour with a rim of sweet...a true Halloween treat!

Here are some clips from our Halloween in New Orleans! It was beyond fun! Of course Craig was my Joker and I love how he got into character. Love this guy!

Cheers!! -Bunny

Suicide Squad Cocktail

Happy Almost Halloween!! 

Cheers to drinks, candy and costumes!!
Playing off of a SSquad shot from http://allmommywants.com/cocktail-the-suicide-squad/ called the Purple Joker I decided to make my own with a blue twist. 

You will need: 
2 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Rum
1/2 oz Cherry Vodka
1 tsp Grenadine
3 oz Ginger Ale
2 tbs sugar 
3 drops green food coloring
1 tbs Simple Syrup
Mix three drops of green food coloring with your sugar, make sure to crush it together evenly and set aside in a shallow plate. Add the simple syrup to another shallow plate.

Take each ingredient and pour into your bar shaker, ginger ale last. This will add a nice fizz to your cocktail. I always use a bar mixer with the measurements on the side (shhhh don't tell anyone)...might be cheating but I don't want to mess it up! Next, dip the rim of your glass/tumbler in the simple syrup then into the sugar. You can add as much sugar as you'd like he he!! Drop 3 to 4 cubes of ice into your glass and pour your mixture in and voila! A beautiful blue bubbly mix topped with a green rim of sugar! 

This fizzy mix has a kick but the sugar rim definitely softens the blow! Plus some cherry vodka doesn't hurt he he! The ratios were perfect and nothing was too overpowering! I will totally be adding this to my list of cocktails to make again. I think we need to start a bar list!
Cheers, Bunny

Liquified Ghost

Morning, 

Playing off a cocktail mix from a cute site, SmartyhadaParty: http://blog.smartyhadaparty.com/halloween-cocktails/  

I made a yumtastic drink fit for Halloween! So you all must know by now that Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. The gloomy weather fit for sweaters and cocoa, the Gothic decor and around every single corner, pumpkin spice! The perfect time of year for Halloween themed drinks.

Moving away from pumpkin, I made a truly yummy Liquified Ghost! It was very close to a White Russian and sometimes drinks with dairy don't sit well with me but the hint of sparkle and lime agreed with my tummy. For some reason it added a zest or bubble that took away the possible "urk" ha ha!

Here is what you need:

1 part vodka
1 part vanilla simple syrup
1 part cream
1 part lemon lime soda
black licorice wheel garnish (optional)...we had some cute little licorice pieces that we added but they didn't really impact the drink at all. If you are a black licorice fan I definitely recommend adding it to the cocktail, maybe even dipping some in or using it as a straw!

Go ahead and pour ingredients over an ice shaker, shake and strain into a martini glass (I need to get myself a true martini glass...Marshals here I come!) and add the licorice.

For a more devious cocktail, add a red ice skull for a Blood Ghost. We found cute ice cube molds and added food coloring! Spooky!

Ps. Super happy with how my DIY Nightmare Before Christmas Wreath turned out!! Perfect for Halloween!!

Cheers, Bunny

Bon Temps

What happens when you get your hubby a Bonus Temps glass...he fills it with a Necromancer!! Yum!!!

Fear the Rum

Howdy!

In honor of Fear the Walking Dead's return tonight, we made a yummy cocktail!! 

I call it Fear the Rum. 

Take 1 ounce black cherry rum, 1 ounce light rum, 1 ounce Pomegranate Liqueur and 4 ounces of POM (juice). Mix/shake then add 6 ounces of Pellegrino. Don't forget to garnish with a cherry! 

It's light and refreshing. Not too sweet! Perfect for fighting off some walkers in the hot sun!! 

Cheers! -Bunny

Laoghaire's Whisky Sour

Morning Outlander Fans!

Saturday night I watched the finale (of Outlander) and it still sits heavy with me today. Such a beautiful episode. My eyes filled with tears at Claire's memories and their dance toward the stones. I could see the emotion and love as they were forced to part. Sam and Caitriona did a wonderful job! I still can't believe the season is already over BUT I do have the cookbook to keep me company. Thank you Theresa he he!

Feeling a bit sour about the end, I thought it perfect to start with Laoghaire's Whisky Sour, it just sounded yummy and I was correct! 

Start by stirring together 2 tablespoons of hot water with 2 tablespoons of honey until it's dissolved, then add 2 oz of whiskey and 2 tablespoons of lemon, freshly squeezed. In the OK cookbook it says to use bourbon...but online it says whiskey...unsure about what to use, we chose one of Craig's favorites, Green Spot Irish Whiskey(I hope Theresa won't mind). Then I add crushed ice and a lemon curl and there you have it! A slightly sweet and rich Whiskey Sour. Craig liked it very much and said it was better than any Whiskey Sour he has ordered at a bar. The lemon and honey were perfect! 

As Theresa Carle-Sanders adds: "The perfectly naturally sweet, lightly sour whisky cocktail for a hot summer's evening, whether you shot someone that day or not." he he!

Cheers! Thanks for reading...next, a lovely almond cream pastry!-Bunny

Sex on Safari

Tarzan is here! 

The movie surprised me...I liked it a lot more than I thought I would! Plus who doesn't love them some sexy Skarsgård! Margot Robbie was a great Jane and Christoph Waltz always plays the perfect villain! 

I was so excited to see the movie that it only seemed right to pair it with a new cocktail! So as Tarzan (John) belongs to the Jungle I also loved the way the movie chose to highlight the safari and the other creatures and tribes he loved and belonged to. 

Playing off of a recipe for Sex in the Jungle I used:

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

1 oz Rum

1 oz Midori

1 oz Lime Juice

3 oz Orange Juice

3 oz Pineapple Juice

This mix was sweet, thanks to the pineapple and a tad sour. I really liked how the different juices added some depth to this zesty cocktail. So refreshing!

For a Sex on Safari Sunrise add in 1 oz of grenadine and top with cherries! Such a perfect gradation of colors. Nice and sweet too. Yum!!

Ok...one more ab pic!! he he

Love, Bunny

The Comte St. Germain’s Poison

Hello my darlings!

My second drink for Outlander is the
The Comte St. Germain’s Poison, basically a Gin Zesper,which was quite refreshing. Thank you Chef Theresa Carle-Sanders!

*Outlander Kitchen Photograph

I have always loved the smell of St. Germaine Liqueur, flowery and sweet, and the bottle that it comes in... so interesting and almost feels like an old relic from a time long past. Plus the name is perfect for our St. Germaine! What a great idea to create a drink inspired by the Comte. As the Outlander Kitchen says, "Poison never tasted so good!"

Simply take:
Gin – 1½ oz
St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur – ½ to ¾ oz
Tonic – to taste
Ice and a Lemon Twist

*Jack waiting for his drink ha ha ha! He looks so pleased!

 Pour the gin and St. Germaine over ice into your glass then add the sparkling tonic and the lemon twist. Use as much of the tonic as you see fit. I found that the gin is a bit powerful so I needed some extra bubbles!

*Outlander Kitchen Photograph

*mommies little vampire

Adding in the lemon zest was a nice touch and I even squeezed a bit of the lemon into the drink. Like I said, this one was strong but refreshing. Wonderful for a sunny Saturday!

Cheers Outlander fans! Here's to a lovely season and even more lovely treats. Thanks for reading.

-Bunny

Madame Nesle de la Tourelle’s Slippery Nipple

Hi everyone! 

Outlander is back and the much anticipated Outlander Cookbook is almost here!! I am so excited! Hopefully I get it for my upcoming birthday...wink wink Craig. For now here is a link to webpage in case you want to get more familiar with the recipes. http://outlanderkitchen.com/ 

Chef Theresa Carle-Sanders has really outdone herself with each dish. Taking bits and pieces from the books/show. I wanted to start off small...but yummy... so I decided to make a few cocktails. First on the list...Madame Nesle de la Tourelle’s Slippery Nipple. 
I love a good shot and this one was so perfectly paired with Madame's erotic fashion. 

Purely:  
1 oz of Sambuca
1 oz of Bailey's Irish Cream
1 Blueberry
I loved the instructions for this simple shot...just too perfect! Plus here is one of the cookbooks pics, much better than mine!
"Pour the sambuca into a shot glass, then pour the Bailey’s gently down the backside of a spoon to float it on top. To make this an authentic “Nesle Nipple,” float a small blueberry in the middle before serving...Sláinte!"
I was actually impressed with myself that I got the Baileys to float on top...took a few tries though he he!

As I took the shot I tasted the sweetness of the Baileys right away and then the liquorice in the Sambuca! The liquorice lingered in my mouth, tingling my tongue. Such a simple drink with quite the punch! While I don't like liquorice I did not mind it this time. Must be the mix with the Irish Cream!

Seeing as how the fashion in Outlander is so extravagant, I had to add a few pictures of my favorites! Claire is such a lucky girl...that red dress was AMAZING!! 


My immediate response to seeing the garden scene dress was "Yes, I need that on my body!" So beautiful!!

Thanks for readin! 

-Bunny

Next: The Comte St. Germain’s Poison (Gin Zesper)