refreshing summer drink!

Yummmm! I was trying to find something refreshing to drink to go with the asparagus stir-fry...so we had some cranberry juice in the fridge. I just wanted to share this easy drink, which you prob already have in the fridge! It beats plain old water with dinner ;)

ingredients:
~sugar free cranberry juice
~lemon slice
~ice

HOLIDAY DRINKS & IDEAS

I'm having a party! Yes, I am so excited that this year I get to host a holiday get together with my girlfriends at our house! Many of you know that Chad and I got married this past May, and I had just moved into the house (fully) after our wedding. So this Christmas I volunteered to have everyone over for a gift exchange...I am going to be posting my ideas for food & drinks here...so I know you wont mind ;) I really LOVE Real Simple & Hostess with the Mostess for holiday party & drink ideas!! I think I am going to do a few festive cocktails like the ones below...

The house is decorated in mostly silver, winter white, and red, so I would like to do a white & silver decor theme for the party with red accents. I will take some pics & post them after the party Sunday. You will also get to see our new living room decor...I took a trip to the Pottery Barn Outlet at Birchrun & got some great deals!! (thanks to whoever posted the 50% PSA)!!

Peppermint Martini

~5 ounces of Chopin vodka

~2 ounces of white Creme de Menthe

~1/2 ounce of Peppermint Schnapps

~Mini candy canes

Pour all of your liquid ingredients into a shaker 1/2 full of cracked ice. Give a good 20 vigorous shakes and let the shaker rest for half a minute. Strain your lucious peppermint martini into 2 freezing martini glasses. Add a candy cane in each glass for garnish.

Makes 1 drink

Simpleton Cocktail

~1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) vodka, chilled

~2 cups (16 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled

~2 cups (16 ounces) pomegranate juice, chilled

~3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine all the ingredients. (You can cover and refrigerate for up to several hours.) Add ice and ladle into martini glasses or plastic party cups.

To Make a Virgin Version: Substitute 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) chilled lemon-lime soda for the vodka.

Makes 10 cocktails

Sparkling White Sangria

~1 bottle sparkling wine (such as Champagne or Prosecco)

~1 1/2 cups apricot nectar

~1 1/2 ounces triple sec

In a pitcher, mix together the wine, apricot nectar, and triple sec. Serve in wineglasses. Upgrade: Add 1 bunch frozen grapes to the pitcher before serving. I think I will add cranberries as below, for a dash of red!

Makes 6 servings

Add Cranberries to Holiday Cocktails
Freshen up your holiday bar with a tart twist

Use: Tarting up a holiday cocktail. Place three on a toothpick and serve in a Simpleton or a shot of OJ for a fruity infusion.

Reward: A swizzle stick that adds sass to your sauce.

HEALTHY SMOOTHIE

On my quest to find a healthy addition to my morning breakfast...I came upon this idea to incorporate a healthy smoothie to my usual fiber one bar & hot tea or coffee. This is truly the best smoothie I have ever had, and uses the simplest ingredients!! I probably will add some non-fat yogurt or protein powder to this in the future, enjoy ;)

Serves 1

Ingredients:
~1 cup apple juice
~1 cup frozen strawberries
~1 cup frozen mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries & raspberries)

Blend all ingredients in mixer & pour into drinking glass.
*by using frozen fruit you can eliminate ice, which tastes a lot better in my opinion! You might have to add a few more drops of juice while blending*

COOKING WITH MY NEW APRON WHILE DRINKING APPLETINI'S!

So excited to show off my cute apron!! I got this as a shower gift from my co-workers back in April (hence the name "Domestic Diva")...but this is the first time I got to wear it! Excuse the pic, but Chad was in the shower at the time I took this photo...lol! We were having our friends Nick & Wendy over for the first time for dinner last night!!

As I was cooking I started off with one of my favorite martini's ever...an Appletini ;) Yummm!!

~1 part Kettle One vodka

~1 part Rose's appletini mix
~1 splash of Sprite Zero

~1 slice of a granny smith apple for garnish

HOT SPICED SANGRIA

I took this picture 5 days after...I put the leftovers in a pitcher, and drank it over ice! Mmmm;)

I started looking for this recipe once I heard some of the girls talking about it on the KNOT (iheartkieth) LOL! I found this recipe on The Food Network, and immediately new I wanted to make it for Halloween eve for DH and I.
Since I had Chicken Cacciatore in the crock pot, I mixed all the ingredients in a pot over the stove...and left it on low after I let it simmer for an hour.

Ingredients:
~2 (750 milliliter) bottles of Rioja (Spanish Red Wine) I used Boones Farm Sangria ~ red wine, since it was $3.50 a bottle...The spanish wine was $15 a bottle! A good friend of mine suggested Boones, since her family makes Sangria often:)
~1 cup brandy
~1 bag frozen cherries
~1 bag frozen peaches
~1 orange, sliced
~2 cinnamon sticks
~1 cup simple syrup, recipe below
~Orange peel for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Put setting on HIGH for 1 hour. Reduce to warm to hold temp. Ladle into glasses from slow cooker. Be sure to include some fruit in the glass ;) Garnish with orange peel.

Simple Syrup:
~1 cup sugar (I would only use 1/2 cup)
~1 cup water (I would only use 1/2 cup)
~1 orange, zested
Combine the sugar, water & zest in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Stirring occasionally, simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.

Enjoy;)