vodka

Salted Caramel Apple Sangria

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

salted-caramel-apple-sangria-1

Are you looking for the perfect Sangria recipe for your Fall party?

How about mixing some crisp chopped Honeycrisp apples with some light citrusy Pinot Grigio, decadent Salted Caramel Vodka and apple cider?

Drizzle a little caramel sauce for the finishing touch…. and you have

Autumn in a glass!

salted-caramel-apple-sangria

Doesn’t that sound divine?

Here’s how I made it for a recent gathering I had.  It was quite the hit!  Hope you’ll give it a try.

Salted Caramel Apple Sangria

Ingredients:salted-caramel-apple-sangria

Directions:

In a large punch bowl, combine chopped apples drizzled with caramel sauce, wine, vodka, and apple cider.  Stir to combine.  Cover and refrigerate overnight or several hours.  Pour over glasses full of ice to serve.  Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Refreshing Blackberry Mojito Cocktails

/ Jodi / 16 Comments

blackberry mojitos

What’s a girl to do…

on a hot summer weekend afternoon…
with a handful of blackberries…
and a hot hubby?

(Hot after mowing the lawn, but perhaps hot in THAT way too!)

Not enough berries for a pie and no promise of enough more to forage at the end of the season…

Why make mojitos of course!

blackberries

This was my first try at making this yummy cocktail, but it turned out so delish!  Hubby and I prefer vodka to rum, but you could make yours with rum if you prefer.  I also didn’t have club soda, so used Pellegrino Sparkling Water, which made a wonderful sub.

blackberry mojito
Here’s how I made it. (Inspired by a recipe I saw made by Alison at A Girl Defloured)

Blackberry Mojito Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 – 1/3 cup fresh blackberries
  • 1 ripe lime
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 4 tsp. sugar
  • 2 shots (and then some…) vodka (or rum)
  • Sparking Water or Club Soda

Instructions:

  • Muddle the blackberries, 1/2 of lime cut into chunks, mint leaves and sugar until all is smashed and crushed and blended in a cocktail shaker.
  • Add the vodka (or rum) and ice, and shake it like you mean it!
  • Strain into two glasses or copper mugs filled with ice, and then pour a bit of the unstrained berries into each glass.
  • Top off with sparkling or soda water, a fresh mint leaf or two, and a nice wedge of lime.

ENJOY!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Homemade Spiced Pear Liqueur

/ Jodi / 5 Comments

Spiced Pear Liquer

Have you seen Chef Mimi’s Blog?  Oh My My!   Talk about mouth-watering photos and unbelievably talented cooking skills!

When I saw a post where Chef Mimi shared this recipe for Spiced Pear Liqueur, I had to try it.

I have never tried making anything like this before (with the exception of the ever-popular and classic Apple Pie Moonshine 🙂 that didn’t turn out too shabby!), so I am excited to see how it goes and what other wonderful libations I may want to try concocting…

Here is the recipe as Chef Mimi shares:

Spiced Pear Liqueur

1/2 cup sugar
Small handful whole cloves
Small handful whole allspice (I did not have allspice, so did not use)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 ripe pear, I used red D’anjou
Few pieces of orange peel
Vodka, approximately 3 cups

Place the sugar, cloves, allspice and cinnamon sticks in a large, clean bottling jar with a lid. Slice up the pear, avoiding the core, and place wedges into the jar. Add the orange peel.

Pour vodka until it reaches the top. I used approximately 3 cups. Shake well until the sugar dissolves. Then store away for 4-6 weeks.

spiced pear liquer 2

I love all the wonderful colors and aromas of the ingredients that went into this, and after almost a week, it has achieved this beautiful amber color below.

Can’t wait to try taste-testing in a few more weeks!

spiced pear liquer 3

Spiced Pear Cheers & Warm Hugs,

Jodi