Monday, March 19, 2007

Minty Mind Muddler


This is my absolute favorite drink
I've been grooving on this little invention for a while now - order it by name and a bar tender will have no idea what you are talking about - It's really a home brewed Merry Baker concoction inspired by my hatred of Rum and my love of Moscow Mules and Mojitos. The secret to this drink is a good Ginger Beer (ginger ale is a distant cousin twice removed to the spicy punch of actual ginger beer). To find good ginger beer - try a Brazilian or Jamaican grocery. If you live in a tamer local with out an exotic bodega on every corner - try your local Trader Joes - they have a good representation of the sweet drink with a kick.

I N G R E D I E N T S
Vodka
Lime wedges
Simple Syrup
Mint
Ginger Beer


Muddle mint with lime wedges and simple syrup
Add Vodka to your tolerance level (enough for a dreamy blur of the eyes and rosy blush in the cheeks!)
Shake with crushed ice and ample ginger beer
Serve in iced tall glass and garnish with fresh mint

Food Glorious Food

This is all a bit delayed – but, I was never good at turning my homework on time. Here are my answers to the Apron Swap's Meme.
I’ve omitted the questions that were “mini” specific – again, with the kicking and the dead horse and the kicking…

1. What is your first food memory? I swear that I remember this moment to this day because every now and then I still get the gnawing want to stuff every inch of my face with certain food. Apparently when I was 2 ½ I was so excited eating my peas that I stuffed as many as a could into my nose – my dad, the white knight that he is, came to my rescue when I learned the important lesson that you can stuff your nose or your mouth, but not both. Dad turned me on my side and transformed me into a mini pea BB gun by blowing into my mouth – within seconds the little green suckers were shooting out my nose. What a Kodak moment.

2. What was your favorite dish/food as a child? Grilled Cheese and Alphabet Soup or Hot and Sour Soup and Fried Pot stickers with a side jellyfish salad - the first is what I would get if I was sick at home the second is what my family would eat if it was really really cold (as cold as it can get in Hawaii or southern California) and we were too lazy to cook. We would always go to a restaurant where a Huuuuuuggggeee bowl of soup would be brought out for the family and plate after plate of potstickers. My little brother and I would douse both with white vinegar to really give it a sharp satisfying bite.

6. What is your favorite food memory? Croatia 2004 – one of the most amazing meals of my life – Maybe it was sitting outside under a beautiful arbor – drinking amazing wine as the setting sky turned a startling pink. Starting with pear brandy and home cured proscuitto, savory bites of cheese and roasted potatoes, the most amazing arrangement of seafood, roasted lamb – why is it always the simplest things in life that turn out to be the most wonderful.

8. Name one thing you absolutely love to make and eat when you are feeling like a kid again: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches – gooey buttery time travel

9. Name something you ate as a kid that you now look back on and wonder "what were my childhood taste buds thinking??" : Nothing comes to mind. I know there was a time where I was really into drinking pickle juice, but I might drink that now given an opportunity, maybe with a shot of vodka and a twist of lemon.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Sneak Peek



Inspired by Eeps' recent Apron Swap - I signed up for the latest Apron Swap without reading the "small" print. Turns out that this time around - the aprons were geared towards the mini bunch... and of course, this Mary is miniless.

Seems like everyone and their mother has been trying to make this obvious as of late - I was "thiiiissss" close to renting a Cambodian and Nigerian baby ala Angelina Jolie for my High School Reunion Family Picnic (Keep in mind this was our 10 year - and people actually showed up with up to 5 kids in tow!)

Anywho... back to the apron swap - I thought I would make the best of this opportunity to be crafty and use it as good inspiration to break out the ol' sewing machine. Today's wintery weather seemed like the perfect kick in the tushy to stay in and make my first attempt at sewing since at least 1995... The actual exchange doesn't happen for several more weeks, but, I had to show off the the goods of the day. P.S. I'm very proud of the pocket detailing.