Lemonberry Cooler

It's hot out there right now. And what goes better with hot weather? Yep. A nice, refreshing drink. And if that drink has a little alcohol in it, then so be it.

Spiked Tropical Colada

I'm always super excited when my drink recipes turn out awesome on the first try. Usually I have to add a bit more of the hard stuff, but this time was good. As you may know from previous drink posts, I'm a coconut-aholic when it comes to mixed drinks. I might also be a little heavy handed with the bottle at times. But hey, I figure if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it right. Besides, you can always tweak any drink recipe to suit your own specific tastes when it comes to alcohol and how much you use. This one is perfect for me though. Just perfect. Not too sweet, not too coconut-ty (is there such a thing?) and not too strong. Just right for a Friday night when you've been working too hard all day and need a little break.

And yes, I'm using my stylish Chicago Bears glass because, well, it's Friday night and I've been working too hard all day. I needed a big glass.

A Peachy (Hard) Drink

I'm in love with this drink. Is that weird? Should I not be in love with a drink? If you taste it though, you'll know what I mean and you'll feel the same way.

I had never had peach-flavored vodka before the bottle of Ciroc that appeared at my house not too long ago. I just had to taste it and oh my, was it delicious. My immediate thought was that I could either drink it right out of the bottle or, more appropriately, make the best damn hard lemonade ever. I chose the latter. But by all means, if your choice is to drink it out of the bottle, you will not be judged here, my friend. Drink the tasty vodka however you please. I'd highly suggest giving this mix a try though. I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed. The vodka itself is amazingly fresh and smooth and the addition of club soda and fresh lemon juice elevates it to a new level that is perfect.

Pumpkin Spiced Hot Chocolate

Why not update a classic with a little pumpkin flavor? It is Fall after all, so everything should have a little pumpkin boost!

The cooler weather means hot chocolate and it's the perfect thing to jazz up with a little pumpkin flavoring. Pumpkin is, of course, the theme of the moment and it's a nice, subtle addition in this make-at-home version.

Watermelon Strawberry Fizz

I love watermelon but it's sometimes hard to get through an entire one in our house before we get sick of it. I usually end up throwing about a quarter of it away because it starts to get slimy and gross. Watermelon is great in so many ways but I usually just have it cubed up in a bowl and sprinkled with a little salt. (I know, I know...it sounds weird, but I first learned of this strange way to eat it years ago at my old job. A coworker sprinkled some salt on a slice after lunch one day and I must have made the funniest most disgusted face because all he did was laugh. Well, it took me a a couple weeks to work up the nerve to try it that way, but once I did I never looked back.)

A Mango Mimosa Makes Everything Better

I haven't posted anything in a few days and I feel like I've been going through blog withdrawal! I've been so busy with work that my little side hobby has taken a back seat and I'm not happy about it. Don't get me wrong, I love the four websites, two brochures, email newsletter, and wedding invitations I've been working on, but there's just something about my passion for cooking and sharing it with everyone that fuels my creativity in the kitchen.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

After Thanksgiving, there was some extra canned pumpkin left over from a pie my mom made. I stole it. I figured it would be a good time to try out a pumpkin spiced coffee drink because I'd been craving one ever since the pumpkin pie aroma filled the air. And I'm always trying to come up with new ideas for drinks, whether they're hot or cold, because beverages can be just as exciting as food! I don't like to pay a bunch of money for a simple drink at one of those coffee shops either so I'll sometimes whip up my own versions.

Malibu Sunset

I haven't posted a drink in a bit so I think it's about time. This one was from a few weeks ago and it's too pretty not to share. I remember I was in the mood for a nice, refreshing beverage and I went with my old favorite, Malibu Rum. I may need to start broadening my drink selections, however, because even I'm getting tired of reading about coconut rum. It's just so darn tasty though! 

Malibu Tropic Breeze

I had some strawberries in the fridge that were on their last leg so they were pretty much the inspiration for this drink. Drinking it makes me think of sitting on a patio on a warm summer night while a cool breeze whistles by. Or, maybe it just makes me wish I was...

Put the Lime in the Coconut Rum

I whipped up another drink the other night. I was feeling coconut again (surprised?) so I tried a new route with coconut milk, lime juice, and a simple syrup instead of my standard pina colada-inspired beverage of choice. This new drink was quite tasty and might just become my new favorite. It can easily be tweaked to fit your mood of the moment, too. Want it super strong? Leave out the club soda. Want it weaker? Cut out some of the rum. The wonderful thing about pretty much any drink out there is the ability to tailor it to fit your specific tastes. This one screams coconut with a hint of lime and, in my opinion, it doesn't get much better than that!

Time For A Drink: Banaberry Colada

I usually post meals and such that are friendly for the whole family but I'm changing things up a bit today. Sometimes it's nice to have a something - perhaps a drink - that's just for grown ups.

One of my favorite drinks is a Pina Colada. I love 'em! I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I believe coconut is one of the best flavors ever, right? (If I could make everything in the world taste like coconut, I would in a heartbeat.)

A Delightful Drink

I made my first smoothie today and I'm happy to report that it turned out to be pretty awesome. I had some strawberries that were starting to soften and thought I should use them up before they started to turn fuzzy and green. And since no one likes to eat a mushy strawberry, I decided I'm make my first smoothie with them. I also figured that my son would love one as a snack because he's never had one before. Well, he took about four sips before he got distracted with his Thomas the Tank Engine trains. Next thing I knew, smoothie was all over the table. I think we'll be banning trains from the kitchen...