Typically, chilled coconut drinks are reserved for summertime, but this one is an exception. My step-father is from Puerto Rico, so around the holidays he mixes up a concoction called “coquito.” This traditional holiday drink is similar to eggnog and consists of Puerto Rican rum mixed with coconut milk and flavored with holiday spices like…
I swear I’m no lush, but it seems I’ve accumulated a collection of spirits from around the world. I’ve made limoncello from a recipe off a kitchen towel that I picked up in Italy, brought home Tequila in a fancy decorative bottle from Mexico, bought some Amarula as well as wine from South Africa, and…
(Originally published on Inn The Kitchen, August, 31, 2009. Updated 2018) I can’t think of a better way to kick off the fall season than with a glass of spice infused Autumn Sangria. My good friend, Maranda, gave me this recipe years ago and I always make a batch around Labor Day to celebrate the coming…
When you daydream about a Caribbean vacation … what do you envision? Warm breezes … swaying palm trees … blue water … and an ice cold tasty beverage! Try this unique twist on a mojito … instead of rum and mint include brown sugar, fresh crushed basil leaves and tequila … and you have a Tequilajito.
The first of the season’s watermelons are starting to pop up in our local supermarket, so I couldn’t resist mixing up this watermelon limeade over Memorial Day weekend. The coconut water in this recipe makes it really hydrating, while the flavors of watermelon and lime certainly taste like summer. Limeade vs Lemonade If you’ve never tried…
With blueberry season in full swing here in Florida, we had to get out to our local farm for the u-pick season and to sip some of their delicious blueberry lemonade! Southern Hill Farms seemed to up the ante this year when it comes to food because we also devoured some of their irresistible blueberry…
I travel frequently, so in-between trips and meeting writing deadlines, I like to drink my breakfast or lunch in a smoothie form. It’s fast and pretty easy to make with a few freezer prep tips I have below. This recipe is for a green smoothie I make on a regular basis. I call it my “jet…
If there’s one thing that can make our traditional holiday coquito recipe even more delicious, it’s adding a dash of pistachio (or cocoa, but that’s a different post 😉 ). In case you’re unfamiliar with coquito, it’s a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink that is similar to egg nog, but with coconut. The first time…
Butterbeer is a tradition in Britain, long before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter came along. Doing a bit of research, I found one historic recipe for butterbeer that dates back to 1588 as recorded in The Good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin. How’s that for a vintage cocktail! This butterbeer recipe, however, is inspired by a combination…
Traveling to write about food, I usually have my fingers on the beat of the latest trend, and turmeric is definitely trending. I find it added to juices, teas, and even touted on menu ingredient lists. I’ve been reading about the potential health benefits of turmeric, primarily reducing inflamation. As a runner, this is important…
As much as I love the autumn season, back home in Florida we still have the air conditioning cranked and we’re just pretending it is fall by decorating everything in orange. Forget pumpkin spice lattes, we’re still sipping iced coffee and fighting off hurricanes and tropical storms. And while I love the idea of pumpkin spice, all…
What do you get when you combine two of my favorite things? Nutella recipes that also use coffee! The chocolate-y hazelnut goodness Nutella with coffee is a winning combination, and you’ll love this amazing dessert-worthy coffee drink recipe — a Nutella Macchiato. In honor of World Nutella Day (yes, this holiday really does exist and…
I’ve had a stuffy-nose kinda cold this past week. I know, lousy way to start off the new year. But the good news is that I had a gin hot toddy recipe I’d been intending to make and this cold gave me the perfect excuse to open up a bottle of gin in the name…
Today’s story about tropical rum cocktails comes from luxury expert and Florida blogger — Kara Franker! She recently jetted over to the Dominican Republic for a sponsored weekend getaway. Here’s her story … Tropical Rum Cocktails Inspired by the Dominican Republic by Kara Franker Rum in the Caribbean? Why, of course! Besides the drop-dead gorgeous beaches and friendly island…
If there were ever a cocktail perfect for a winter warm up, it would be the hot spiced cinnamon rum drink known in Ecuador and Columbia as the Canelazo. Not only is it mildly sweet and deliciously flavored with holiday spices, but I’m pretty sure this would knock out a cold too. At least, that’s probably what…
Some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted was in Cape Town, and this iced coffee cocktail is a delicious reminder of the creative coffee drinks I sipped while visiting South Africa. There’s a liquor from South Africa made from the marula fruit. Legend has it, elephants would eat this fruit and get a little…
Inspired by my trip to London to explore gin, and my recent trip to Thailand, here’s a cocktail that infuses the tropical and spiced flavors of Asia including ingredients like mango, ginger, and an unusual gin I found in London that is cardamom forward, Ophir Spiced Gin. I garnished these with rambutan, a hot pink…
I love the flavors of rosemary and lemon blended together and this recipe for Lemon Rosemary Gin Fizz is light, refreshing, and perfect for any occasion. The combination of aromas are zingy, fresh, and remind me of Italy where Pete and I spent our honeymoon. We even had a similar cocktail served at our wedding! While visiting…
This is perhaps one of my favorite gin cocktails. It’s like dessert in a jar. Inspired by one of the strawberry cocktails I tried in Belfast at the Belfast Bar & Grill while visiting Ireland, I tried making something similar at home and added blueberries, blackberries, and a big old mason jar to give it…
If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of, it’s peanut butter. It’s Pete’s favorite sweet and my favorite nut butter. I’ve even stashed a few individual packets of peanut butter in my carry on for a healthy on-the-go snack that I’ll typically pair up with an apple or banana when I’m traveling. Recently, I…
I’m not typically a fan of tequila, though this cucumber mint margarita can certainly sway me. I have attended a couple of tequila tastings in Mexico. And while it gave me a better appreciation for tequila, one of those tastings ended up with me discovering how to eat a cricket. That’s a pretty wild night…
This past weekend was Memorial Day in the USA which is typically celebrated by gathering with friends and barbequing. In the Fall season, I typically bring a jug of Autumn Sangria with me to such gatherings. But since the weather is warmer, I thought I’d try something a bit lighter and more refreshing. I experimented…
There are some things that are so delicious, it baffles me to discover how simple they are to make. This is ginger limeade is one of those. It’s a bit like a ginger lime tonic, a little tangy, a little sweet, and packs a little ginger heat. Here’s it’s story .. After spending a morning…
One useful tidbit I learned while in Porto, is that the Portugese have many different ways of enjoying port. In addition to sweet reds and nutty Tawny’s, there are also rose, purple, and white ports. And if that didn’t make nod your head and say, “yeah,” then you’ll have to try a port tonic. These…
I fell in love with rooibos tea during my first trip to South Africa. Rooibos has a natural sweetness to it that makes it irresistible to me. This rooibos recipe below is from a hotel in Cape Town called Cape Grace. The combination of sweet apple mixed with ginger and the earthy flavor of rooibos…
Having just returned from South Africa the week of Christmas, half my mind is still on safari and the other half is in holiday mode. It’s a strange place to be. To balance this out, I’ve got a new recipe I’m sipping while going through photos and catching up on posts. Well, it’s not really…
As you may have guessed, I am a fan of Mexico. I’ve been at least a half a dozen times and always come home with a new recipe. This one is from Hacienda Tres Rios and is great to warm you up during the Fall season. Not only is it “full of spirits” for Halloween,…
The limoncello recipe came from a kitchen towel I found at the open air market in Sorrento, Italy. With only four ingredients, it is actually quite easy to make, and only takes a little patience as you wait for the lemon oils to infuse the vodka. I have it posted here in both Italian and…
Tis the season for toasting! I love a holiday recipe that gets the whole house smelling wonderful. This is definitely one of those. A little like mulled wine … but a little sweeter and more refreshing.
[This post originally appeared on my very first blog, Inn The Kitchen, about what it was like to be an innkeeper. Enjoy!] Considering it is still hotter than a fresh biscuit here in Florida, and I needed an instant way to cool off. And a peaches and cream smoothie sounds just perfect. As much as…
Once upon a time there was a very hot day in Florida. And, on that very hot day my air conditioner decided to stick it’s tongue out at me and quit. And it’s 90. And the a/c guy can’t make it out until tomorrow. Are you playing a violin for me yet?