St. Patty's Day Green Apple Martini..& More!

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with one of these green drinks!  One of these refreshing beverages will be sure to satisfy your need for green!

credit: http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0098009/photos/scelera/4833474370/

Green Apple Martini

• 1.5 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Green Apple Schnapps
• Ice & cocktail shaker

Mix all ingredients into shaker and shake, shake, shake.  Strain into martini glass.

Yummy Mocktail

Refreshing Tea Spritzer

• 1 oz green tea
• 1/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 5 oz lemon lime soda
• mint sprig

Fill highball glass with ice and add all ingredients, stir.  Garnish with mint sprig.

For a healthy green cleanse (great to use for the booze goers the day after)!

Kale & Pineapple Smoothie

(recipe inspired by Dr. Oz's Kale smoothie)

1/2 up pineapple

2 cucumbers

1 bunch of kale, stems removed

1 small bunch of spinach

1/2 lemon, squeezed

1/4 inch of ginger

1 bunch of mint

Place all ingredients in a juicer and blend.  If you don't have a juicer mix well in a food processor or blender, you may need to add water to get the ingredients to mix.  Once the ingredients are well mixed, strain in a paper towel lined colander.  Discard solids and serve juice over ice.

Lucy~

Mason Jar Infused Liquors

If you haven't noticed already, I love mason jars.  There are countless things you can do with them and they always come in handy.  Here is a way to make you own infused liquors in smaller batches!

credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/3836038276/ 

You'll Need

• Mason Jars
• Liquor (Vodka, Tequilla, Rum)
• Fresh fruit, herbs or vegetables (basil infused vodka is shown)

This couldn't be more simple.  Make sure your jars and produce are clean.  Roughly chop up large vegetables or fruit and fill mason jar 3/4 of the way.  Pour in your liquor of choice and fill to the top.  Place cover on snugly and allow jar to sit for at least 1 week.  Every few days gently shake the jar to mix it up a bit.  Enjoy!

Lucy~

Oreo Martinis

Sometimes you just want to have a nice cocktail for dessert.....and sometimes you want both and that's ok too!  What better way to satisfy your sweet tooth while having a cocktail than to have an Oreo Martini :)

credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mihoda/303165301/

Ingredients:
Serves 2

• Ice cubes
• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1 1/2 oz creme de cacao
• 1 1/2 oz Irish Cream
• 2 Oreos for garnish

Place all ingredients besides Oreos in a shaker and mix well.  Strain into 2 martini glasses and garnish with an Oreo.  Instead of using a whole Oreo for garnish you could instead crush them up garnish the whole rim of the glass with the crushed cookie.  Simply wet the rim of the glass and dip into the crushed cookie.

Lucy~

Mason Jar Cocktails!

Fill your cooler with these cocktails in a jar!  Great for tailgating at the game or for your Superbowl party :)  No more mixing and measuring cocktails for guests, these drinks are ready for guests to grab so you can enjoy the party too!  

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/span112/6232959998/sizes/z/in/photostream/

You'll Need

• Mason jars with lids
• Your favorite cocktail
• A bucket or cooler with ice

Here's a great recipe for a Beer Margarita!  Sure to please the gals and gents :)

Makes (6) 1 cup servings

1 (12oz) can frozen limeade concentrate

12 oz tequila

12 oz water

12 oz beer

limes

Mix all ingredients together. Add 1 slice of lime into each mason jar and fill with 1 cup of mixture.  Place over ice to chill.

Lucy~  

Things Loved in August.

1. Raspberry-Lime Seltzer. (Even better, add some bombay saphire to that)

2. Burt's Bee's Eye Jelly. (Better than botox)

3. Lobster with melted butter. (The other, other, other white meat)

4. Reading outside. (I can't keep up with MLE, who reads two novels a morning while the kids pig pile – but I am catching up)

5. White Hydrangeas. (This late-blooming variety is helping my end of summer blues)