Corpse Reviver #2

This blog has really been overdue for a trip down cocktail lane. I would like to say that I've been so busy drinking them that I haven't have time to tell you about them all, but that would make me sound like an alcoholic which I'm gladly not.

I almost feel like the Corpse Reviver #2 is slightly old news in this neck of the woods. I think my husband started cranking them out in the spring and if you knew how obsessed with cocktails and mixology he is than you'd know that this drink must be pretty special to remain on our radar for so long.

Lemon Plum Iced Tea

September in Nova Scotia is a bit of a magical time of year. The days are still warm while the morning and nights are perfectly cool, and the farmers markets are bursting with everything you could ever want.
Labour Day felt like the perfect representation of September. It was cool enough in the morning to put on jeans, but the sun has came out and called me to the lake. I made rich and hearty blue cheese scones for breakfast, a cold soba noodle salad for lunch, a spicy corn chowder for dinner and this delicious and refreshing iced tea for every moment in between.

Rumtopf

While I'm busy making jams and pickles you can bet my cocktail obsessed husband is busy preserving fruit in booze. So far he's preserved mostly cherries (in either Maraschino, Metaxa, or Brandy) that will be used to garnish our cocktails. But this beauty was both of our handiwork.

Usually fruit preserved in alcohol takes on the flavour of the booze, while adding some fruit flavour to the alcohol, creating fruit that is deliciously intoxicating to snack on as well as some fabulously flavoured booze to sip on.  But in the case of Rumtopf the flavour is taken to the next level. We tasted a cherry that tasted like strawberries, rum, blueberries, and raspberries! It was so fantastic we can't wait to make many many more bottles.

Strawberry Basil Iced Tea

Clearly I'm obsessed with strawberries right now. Ever since they made their appearance at my local farmers market I've been buying 2-5 pints a week. They top my morning granola, get baked into many crumbles, the lonely sad looking ones get juiced (which sometimes turn into popsicles!), and my husband has been muddling them into some spectacular cocktails.

Old Fashioned Cocktail

Today has been such a long day. A long shitty day.
Right now I should be in Montreal surrounded by my friends, but instead I'm home (after wasting hours at the airport for nothing).
My airline cancellation rage has subsided for the most part. And as I sip this old fashioned cocktail and feel the warmth in my belly, the only thing left to do now is relax.
I might not be where I'm supposed to be, but this is still officially vacation so we might as well make the most of it.

Apple Spinach Smoothie

I'd like to think that I do what my body tells me to do.
And I think I'm pretty safe in doing so. Our bodies know what they do and don't like and aren't afraid to tell us when they don't approve of what we're doing.
So this morning when I woke up at 6:30am with the strongest desire to make a smoothie, I knew there was no point in fighting it.
And really, for all the days I wake up craving a chocolate croissant and I give in, it's only fair that I even things out with a healthy start to my day at least once in a while.

The Communist

This Christmas my mother gave my husband a collection of cocktail books. The day the books arrived in our home my husband spent all night not only reading, but mixing up drinks for us to taste. The Communist, which we found in "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails" by Ted Haigh, is so far our favourite, and believe me when I say it's an easy drinker. Maybe even a little too easy...don't say I didn't warn you.

Whisky Sour

I'm sure many of you were hoping for a more seasonal recipe, perhaps something you can cook for thanksgiving dinner. But this recipe will come in handy this long weekend, don't you worry. 

When you're family is fighting, and the turkey's too dry, and your guests are being picky, and there's not enough food; have one of these.

In fact make some for your guests too (so they'll stop fighting and complaining, and maybe they won't even notice anything that went wrong with dinner) and be prepared to be bombarded with compliments.

Beer

There is really nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes from brewing your own beer. 


A lot of people are surprised that we brew our own beer. And they're equally as surprised when they realize it tastes great, packs a punch, and costs so little! 


But what surprises me, is that more people don't brew beer at home.

Strawberry Limeade

I know what you're going to say.
It's fall, and you're excited about it. You don't want any more light summery refreshing recipes.
I feel the same way too!


But when your husband comes home with a dozen zested limes*, you really have no choice but to make limeade.