Thirsty Thursdays

Thirsty Thursday: Apple Cider Floats

September 26, 2013

Well, well, well, this post wraps up a YEAR of Amanda and I doing Thirsty Thursday posts. We wanted to take things full circle and end the year that started it all… apple.

I can’t believe it’s actually fall now. I’m so not ready for it this year, mainly because the faster time flies the faster this baby is here. We’re at the 2 months to go mark. 2 months! So while that is a teensy bit exciting/stressful I’m just going along with it every day. Every day the mornings are getting a bit cooler and crispier. Every day I long to go apple picking and to ultimately make tons of apple based recipes. Every day I long to get my hands on a bag of those delightful cinnamon and sugar coated apple cider donuts. No really, a bag. And I’m not sharing. Nope.

I swear you won’t want to share this Apple Cider Float either. It’s such a great way to enjoy fresh cider. Hello, ice cream on top!! It’s super simple with just a few ingredients so it takes, oh, .7 seconds to whip up and then you’re on your way to fall bliss.

Amanda has made a Caramel Apple Cider, which I’m dying to try. Caramel Apples are just the best (sorry candied apples- meh!) so I would just L-O-V-E this. Ooo maybe get some hot fresh apple cider donuts from the farmer’s market too and… I have a problem.

Thank you for following along with the the past year’s Thirsty Thursday posts! Hope you enjoyed them like we did! xox

Apple Cider Floats

Makes 2

Ingredients

2 cups of apple cider
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
whipped cream
cinnamon and nutmeg

Process

For each float, pour the cider into a glass, preferably a milkshake glass.
Add the scoop of ice cream on top of the cider.
Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle on a the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Thirsty Thursday: Caramel Apple Pie a la Mode Shot

September 5, 2013

I have a love hate relationship with 3 day weekends & 4 day weeks. It’s great to have the extra day for the weekend but what it really means is that I still have 5 days of work to do in 4 days. See my issue here?

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Thirsty Thursday: Bloody Maria

August 1, 2013

This week’s Thirsty Thursday theme is TEQUILA!!!! Clearly, Amanda picked it 🙂 Well, I don’t mind at all, well Price doesn’t mind since he gets to enjoy whatever I mix up. And after thinking of several drinks I ‘settled’ on a Bloody Maria since one of our favorite drinks is a Bloody Mary.

About 5 years ago, Price spent a semester living in a trailer on a Salvation Army camp in Biloxi, MS a year after Hurricane Katrina helping design and rebuild homes. Since I was still up in Boston in school and he was in Biloxi we decided to meet up in New Orleans the one chance we had to see each other for his birthday in September. Well, it was such a great weekend together drinking Hurricanes on Bourbon Street, eating beignets, and enjoying the best Bloody Mary’s ever. EVER.

Price took the bus to NOLA a few more times for some weekends away from that lovely trailer next to the railroad tracks… seriously. Well, during his visits to New Orleans he would basically set up shop at The Old Absinthe House and drinks Bloody Mary’s from Dawn the bartender. Hands down the best Bloody Mary’s we have ever had so we constantly try to recreate them from the recipe that he got out of her.

In this case I made some adaptations from our favorite recipe to best go with a kick that comes from tequila. A spicy tomato juice base, some bite from the Dijon, and a spicy rim all do wonders for this Bloody Maria!

Amanda recently really hurt her finger so she soothed the pain with a few of these Guanabana Margaritas. I think it was a smart move… hold an icy glass filled up with a fruity margarita. Good strategy. Plus Guanabana sounds so interesting and yummy. Gotta try it!

Bloody Maria

Makes 2

Ingredients

4 ounces of tequila
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
3 dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
juice of half a lemon
16 ounces of spicy tomato juice
1 cup of crushed ice, divided

Rim Seasoning

Equal parts of black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, chili powder.

Garnishes

2 celery spears
2 dill pickle spears
2 lemon wedges

Process

Mix together all of the ingredients for the rim seasoning in a bowl, set aside.
Combine the tequila, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire Sauce, and lemon juice, mix well.
Take the lemon wedge and run it around the rim of the glass. Flip the glass over dipping it into rim seasoning.
Pour in half of the ice, tomato juice, and tequila mixture into the rimmed glass. Stir to mix. Garnish with the celery, pickle, and lemon wedge.

Thirsty Thursday: S’mores Milkshake

June 6, 2013

So there is an ice cream truck that has been taunting me every night since it drives right down our block. It alternates between playing “pop goes the weasel” and “la cucaracha”. We live in a Hispanic area so the later song selection makes sense.

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Thirsty Thursday: Cucumber, Mint, and Basil Soda

May 9, 2013

Amanda, mom of 3 super cute boys, picked this week’s Thirsty Thursday theme for us… Mother’s Day! And just like that it reminded me that Mother’s Day is this upcoming Sunday. It’s like Easter in that it moves around, so I loose track of it.

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Thirsty Thursday: Samoa Cookie Cocktail

February 21, 2013

Samoa Cookie Cocktail – Now you can have your favorite Girl Scout Cookie in a fun adult drink! Enjoy!

Amanda picked the theme this week and it is the best yet!!!

I had just impulse bought a bottle of caramel vodka so when Amanda msg’d me that we should do a Girl Scout Cookie theme this week I immediently knew what cookie I would be recreating. A Samoa!

I needed to cover the chocolate, caramel, and coconut flavors in the cookies and I knew just how to do that with the bottles I have on hand (so proud of our random mix of boozes). Chocolate = chocolate liqueur. Caramel = caramel vodka. Coconut = Malibu rum. With those three you get a nice, sweet dessert cocktail that will packs a kick that no cookie can give you.

If you love Samoa cookies then you will love what we made this week! Be sure to check out Amanda’s Samoa Brownies… just try not to eat the whole batch yourself. I cracked this year and bought too many boxes of Girl Scout cookies, but once they are gone I’ll need to make these crazy, layered Samoa Brownies.

Samoa Cookie Cocktail

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

Glass Garnishes

chocolate syrup
shredded coconut
1 Samoa Girl Scout cookie
caramel syrup

Drink

2 oz chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 oz caramel vodka
1 1/2 oz Malibu rum
1 oz half and half

Process

Put some chocolate syrup on a plate. Twist the edge of the glass into the syrup coating the entire rim. Then sprinkle coconut onto the glass into the syrup.
In a chilled cocktail shaker, combine all of the drink ingredients and then shake vigorously.
Pour into the glass and then drizzle some caramel syrup on top of the cocktail and on the rim. Garnish with a cookie.

The Hurricane Cocktail

February 7, 2013

Post Contains Affiliate Links. Read my full disclosure HERE

Mardi Gras is next week so that is why Amanda and I picked a Mardi Gras inspired drink and treat to share this week. And of course I had to make a Hurricane!

Pricer was down in Biloxi in ’07 to work on designing and building houses destroyed from Hurricane Katrina. He left in August and came back in December, and the only time we saw each other was for his birthday in September when we met in New Orleans. It was such a great weekend since we got to see each other, celebrate his birthday and fall in love with New Orleans. We stayed at Le Pavillon Hotel and wandered around the French Quarter finding great bars, fun restaurants, and great shopping. All of it was fantastic from the beignets to the gem & lapidary shop but best was that we could walk around with a bevie in hand. Stark comparison from Boston where you’ll get carded in your 50’s. So we really enjoyed getting to wander around with a drink in hand, most often a Hurricane.

Once we decided to have a Mardi Gras theme I thought of making a Hurricane. It’s really a great drink to enjoy in the hot summer but I just had to make it now in February (on the eve of a massive blizzard) since it reminded me to much of my visit to The Big Easy.

I hope you enjoy a Hurricane and a King Cake Cupcake to celebrate Mardi Gras no matter where you are. I think Amanda should send me some King Cake Cupcakes, right? They look so cute!!

The Hurricane Cocktail

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
1 Tablespoon simple syrup
1 Tablespoon grenadine
Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Process

Shake all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

Thirsty Thursday: Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake

January 24, 2013

It’s the coldest it’s been in Boston in a long time. So why the hell am I posting about a milkshake. Why the hell not!?! Put a hat on, wear some gloves inside, whatever, just make sure you give this shake a try.

Every holiday season I go on a candy buying binge and act as if all the M&M’s and Reese’s peanut butter cups are going to run out. I did a good job putting a dent into that stash this year but I still had plenty of Reese’s cups hanging around. That might happen when you buy 8 bags… really, what was I thinking? So, I ran over to my huge bin of goodies and dug out a bag to have fun with so I could mix of this shake.

This Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake is in honor of National Peanut Butter Day, which is why this week’s theme for Thirsty Thursday is peanut butter. I had a lot of ideas about what I would whip up but decided with something simple, indulgent, irresistible, and packed full of candies. It’s easy to make, if you can pour milk, scoop ice cream, and chop up some candies you are good to go. I suggest that you finely chop the pb cups as the chocolate will freeze once it hits the cold ice cream so the smaller it is the easier & faster it is to blend.

Amanda has whipped up some awesome Peanut Butter Waffles. Peanut Butter Waffles?! That sounds perfect for a homemade weekend brunch! Ooo ,maybe with some bacon! Wait! How about some hot maple syrup with sliced banana on top! I think Elvis would be proud.

Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake

Makes 1 large milkshake or 2 smaller milkshakes

Ingredients

1 cup milk
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
8 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, finely chopped

Process

Blend together the milk, ice cream, and peanut butter.
Once the shake is a smooth consistency add in the chopped peanut butter cups and blend until just incorporated.

Thirsty Thursday: Birthday Cake Shots

January 17, 2013

Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m not sure if I am excited or not. It’s just another day. I typically try to take it off from work. I did last year and hung out with Rachel and her adorable kids, ate bagels, played around, and just enjoyed the relaxing day. I couldn’t take this birthday off since I have a deadline and I’m taking a lot of time off in February for our new puppy. I’m most excited about that.

The only thing I can think about turning 28 is my 10 year high school reunion and then I am filled with anxiety. A lot of it. I know that is a random thing to think about 10+ months from now but once I think about being 28 all I can think of is that. Also, I know I don’t have to go, but I think I want to, and that it’s not a big deal but oh where to begin… that is a whole other post. So my reunion is on my mind, not to mention a whole host of other anxiety inducing things. Fun times.

So to ease my anxiety I decided to make Birthday Cake Shots for this ‘birthday’ themed Thirsty Thursday. One of my old roommates introduced these to me on a night out of summer time bar hopping. I was completely head over heels for them as they taste just like birthday cake. I have no idea how the combo of frangelico and lemon does that but it plays some magic trick and it does. So enjoy a shot, they are about 150 calories which is much less than a piece of cake… ugh reunion.

Head over to Amanda‘s blog to check out her Birthday Cake Marshmallows. Such a fun way to celebrate a birthday… or a Wednesday! You can add them to hot chocolate, just pop them in your mouth, or eat them out of a bowl like cereal. ha!

Birthday Cake Shots

Makes 1 shot

Ingredients

1 ounce frangelico
1 ounce vodka
1 slice of lemon
1 teaspoon sugar

Process

In a 2 ounce shot glass combine the vodka.
Put the sugar on top of the slice of lemon.
Take the shot and immediately suck on the sugary lemon. enjoy!

Thirsty Thursday- Italian Hot Chocolate with Orange Scented Whipped Cream

January 10, 2013

Italian Hot Chocolate with Orange Scented Whipped Cream is the indulgent treat that will forever change how you make hot chocolate. Each sip is perfect.

Post from 1/10/13, pictures updated 12/9/18

Post Contains Affiliate Links. Read my full disclosure HERE

Do you ever just have one of those days that really really suck? Yesterday was that day for me. Really bad. Well, let me explain…

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Thirsty Thursday: Mocha Magic Smoothie

January 3, 2013

It’s a new year. It’s a perfect way to kick off ‘something new’.

What better way to kick off a great new year than starting things off to a great start?!? How do you do that? With an awesome breakfast smoothie that will jump start your day.

I flipped through my copy of Smoothies for Life! to find a smoothie that would be a great breakfast to get me through the day. It’s so cold here (high of 23 today!) so a cold smoothie might not sound like a pleasant way to start the day but I still pulled through. I prepped most of last night- froze my sliced banana, powders in my magic bullet cup- so I just needed to add milk and blend. I ran down stairs to the kitchen did this as fast as I could before running back up to the hot bathroom to take a boiling shower. Really… the knob is all the way over and I love it. Maybe that is why my skin is extra dry? Whatever. So while I got dressed I had my breakfast and coffee all in one and I was ready to kick some ass at my first day back at work since Dec. 21st. ouch.

Amanda embraced ‘something new’ by reaching for a new bottle of bourbon she had. I totally like her style. She changed things up and made a delightful Mississippi Mud Cake with Espresso Bourbon Glaze. Sounds amazing right?!?!

Mocha Magic Smoothie

Makes 1

Ingredients

10 ounces milk
1 sliced banana, frozen
2 to 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons protein powder
1 to 2 tablespoons instant coffee

Process

Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Thirsty Thursday: Raspberry Honey Bellini

December 27, 2012

What are your New Year’s plans? We are planning on enjoying a dinner out and Boston’s First Night Activities. We typically stay in to relax and enjoy some fondue or sushi but are hoping to go if the weather holds up. I’m hoping we can get some tacos at The Rattlesnake or some dim sum in Chinatown. Plus, looking forward to checking out the ice sculptures along Boylston and the fireworks on Boston Harbor.

Discoll’s reached out to me so I could have some fun using their berries to create something to celebrate the holidays. They have the freshest berries that are enjoyable on their own or incorporated into recipes. I knew immediately that I wanted to use their raspberries since they are always so fresh. Plus after we once went raspberry picking I’ve had great appreciation for just how hard it is to pick and transport raspberries as they are just so very delicate. So I started to brainstorm how to use their raspberries in a fun celebration drink to ring the new year, or just drink at any time.

A bellini is a cocktail of Italian heritage that was created by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy. The hue reminded him of a piece of artwork from Giovanni Bellini, which is how it got the name Bellini. While a classic bellini uses Persecco and peach puree, I decided that swapping out the peach for raspberry. Then I added some honey to sweeten up the raspberries and the dry Persecco. Refreshing to sip on to ring in the new year or to enjoy the day while making a great homemade brunch.

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? Staying in or going out?

Raspberry Honey Bellini

Makes 6 cocktails

Ingredients

12 oz fresh raspberries, 12 raspberries reserved
2 tablespoons honey
1 bottle (750-ml) chilled Prosecco

Process

To make the puree: blend the washed raspberries with the honey. Strain the puree through a sieve to remove the seeds.
To make the cocktail: pour 2 tablespoons of the raspberries puree into the champagne flute then fill with Prosecco. Float 2 raspberries in the glass prior to serving.