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Casual Holiday Brunch with #Freixenet

December 9, 2013 by

The holidays are a magical time of year. There are tons of opportunities to host your friends and family and create special moments together. But by New Year’s Day we are all pretty tapped out in the energy department. A casual brunch is all you need for starting off the new year on the right foot.

Bubbles are a must at brunch. Not only do they pair really well with most breakfast foods, but a glass of sparkling wine generally makes any occasion feel a bit more special. Freixenet (pronounced Fresh-eh-net) is a great option for your brunch beverage needs. Not only is it easy to find (available in most grocery stores including Trader Joe’s), but has a great price point, although they don’t sacrifice the quality just to be more cost effective. Total win for us.

The Cordon Negro is crisp and clean with notes of citrus and a hint of ginger (yes please). Not to mention the black bottle is totally chic and dare I say a bit sexy…It is a versatile Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and goes really well with foods with spice like a flavorful breakfast sausage or charcuterie tray. And for the first time in 20 years, Freixenet has launched a new variety, the Cordon Negro Brut Sweet Cuvee (notes of peach and tropical flavors). This blend is a bit sweeter making it the perfect morning wine. Yes, I said that. This goes perfectly with something like a raspberry Danish (my fave brunch treat that happens to be store bought, can’t be any easier) or to sip on its own. Don’t get me wrong, it is still quite dry and not overly sweet. You will never find me drinking a sweet wine.

Being that it is brunch, make sure to still offer the traditional morning beverages like tea and coffee. And if the morning is chilly think of offering an optional “hot toddy” like the hot whiskey and honey that is my husband’s family’s tradition. While you are aiming to keep it easy, you still want to make sure that your guests needs are met (within reason).

No need to go crazy on the decorations. Simply use what you have to set a pretty table. Use sparkly leftovers from your festive New Year’s Eve celebrating to give the table some drama. I added a string of crystal shaped lights to the table to make it look like it was glowing. Lights are a fun way to decorate and I wish that people used them more throughout the year instead of just at holiday time. Using leftover wrapping paper creates the world’s easiest table runner and if you can’t leave well enough alone (that is my personal motto) add some coordinating fabric to give the table more texture. And of course fresh flowers never hurt.

Since New Year’s Day is a lazy day for us where we lounge in pajamas and just relax after late night festivities, the food must be kept simple. Quick, pre-made bacon quiche bites are perfect and are delicious when paired with the Cordon Negro Brut. Set out the food, a self-serve drink station and your work is done. Have you heard of using marmalades in your cocktails? Kind of the perfect accompaniment for brunch, am I right?

Freixenet has a really fun promotion happening right now. They’ve been touring the country in a pair of MINI Coopers. With stops at retailers and restaurants, they’ve been sharing samples of the sparkling wines and playing games for a chance to win a 2 year lease on a brand new MINI Cooper! You can play too. Look for “hidden bubbles” with reward codes throughout their site, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages, as well as at the tour stops. Once you find the bubble, visit www.findthebubbles.com to enter the codes. Good luck!

Who says the holidays are the only time for bubbles? Make it your resolution to sparkle 365 days of the year with Freixenet cavas. Our sparkling wines come in a variety of different styles to suit any moment or mood. Cordon Negro Brut, our classic Black Bottle Bubbly, is great as an aperitif before a night out on the town or at home with takeout pizza. Our brand new Cordon Negro Sweet Cuvee is the perfect match for brunch favorites like pancakes and eggs benedict. Visit FreixenetUSA.com for more information about where to buy Freixenet sparkling wines and learn how you could win a 2-year lease on a new 2013 MINI Cooper.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Freixenet. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Holidays, Party Inspiration, Party Planning, Table Tops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Give Differently this Holiday with The Grommet

November 25, 2013 by 5 Comments

*This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Grommet. The Grommet is the place to Buy Differently and Give Differently this year.

Grommet-Tag

I’m not sure if you guys realize this or not but gift giving is one of those things that makes my world go around.  I LOVE to shop for people and I love to share those finds with you almost as much.  I will be sharing my own gift guides the first week of December but up until then I plan on featuring a few of my favorite gifts and the places to buy them.  Putting together my Holiday Gift Guides requires me to do a ton of online research.  I almost didn’t do them this year because there are few people putting out some REALLY great guides.  The Grommet is one such site.  They have just released their 4th (of 5) gift guide – this one focused on DIY favorites.  Right up my alley, no?   With a focus on products that you don’t find all over the place made by people who you want to buy from, The Grommet will make you feel great about the money you are spending for your friends and family.

holiday gift ideaHow cool is this Homemade Gin kit?  This is totally something that I would buy for myself and other people.  It has all the fun of trying something new but they’ve done the research for you leaving you to enjoy the process and then enjoy the gin.  (You can find some links to some yummy gin drinks in this post).

holiday gift ideaThe kit comes with everything you need to make two batches of gin each with a different flavor profile.  I can think of so many people who would love to get this gift!  These gifts available from The Grommet allow you to be thoughtful and excited about what you are giving.  Their products support larger values, like American made and supporting handcrafted artisans and are chosen by their team who scour the earth to find these things for you.  They spend a crazy amount of time searching for the best items to make available to you so you can feel good about what you are giving.  I know when I go to this site, I will be able to find games and arts and crafts for hands-on fun as well as kits for the cooking enthusiast and SO much more!

grommet-felted-soapThis felted soap would make the perfect stocking stuffer.  It exfoliates and creates a lather scented with essential oils.  There are no additives like in traditional soaps and the wool is naturally antifungal.

grommet-hickies-lacesDon’t tell him, but my oldest son will be getting these super cool Hickies.  They are a great way to customize your sneakers and he is all about showing his personal style.  These are super easy to use and work with any shoe that uses laces.  A totally cool product that he will psyched about.

These are just a few of the amazing finds you’ll find on the site.  Head over to The Grommet to check out all 4 of their holiday gift guides.  And don’t forget to check back for #5!

Made in the USA

Gifts with Meaning

Practical, Yet Magical

Oh, My DIY Favorites

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Coke-jito, Like a Mojito but with Coke

November 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

A coke mojitoI love a good mojito.  And I love Coke.  I don’t drink it very often, but it is my soda of choice.  So while in Mexico this summer, I was trying to find a drink that would be super yummy that no one could screw up (seriously, we were at an all-inclusive resort that I thought would excel at margaritas and they just butchered them).  Mojitos can be made different ways by different bartenders but I thought to my self, “self – if you have them make it with Coke instead of a combination of simple syrup and soda water or some other way bartenders make them, it will be less likely to taste bad.”  So basically I invented the Coke-jito.  Which I realize is basically rum and coke…And then I found out that other people have posted about Coke-jitos.  Long story short, I think I’m a genius but turns out I’m just average.  But I still like this drink and I think you will too. What-you-need-to-make-a-cokejitoYou need all the basics for a mojito, lime, mint, and rum.  Maybe even a little agave syrup if you need it to be sweeter.  And swap the club soda for some Coke.

add-mint-and-lime-to-glassAnd you make it the same way.  Muddle your lime and mint.  And take a deep breath because this is quite possibly the best smell ever!  Unless you add in some newborn baby.  But I do not suggest muddling your infant.

add-rumThen you add some rum.  I chose to do a dark rum, although a traditional mojito is a light rum.  I don’t know all the nuances of the two types, but I feel like dark rum adds a nice sweetness to drinks it is mixed with.

A mojito made with cokeThe Coke-jito is that easy.  And so yummy.  I like to think of this as my winter mojito.  Or a way dirtier version of the Dirty Diet Coke craze that was happening over the summer because of the addition of alcohol.

Coke-jito Recipe

1.5 – 2 oz rum (light or dark – to your liking)

1 lime (quartered and quarters cut in half – you will use 3/4 of the lime but I can’t really tell you to buy 3/4 of a lime now can I?)

8 ish mint leaves

1 can of Coke

Agave Syrup (optional)

To a tall glass, add lime and mint.  Muddle.  Add ice.  Top with a can of Coke.  Give it a light stir.  If you need it a little sweeter, add agave syrup to taste.

Boom.

*Botran Rum sent me samples to taste.  I used on in this post.

Filed Under: Recipes, Sip it Tagged With: , , ,

Grapefruit Juice and…Best Cocktail Mixer Ever

October 29, 2013 by 3 Comments

grapefruit-juice-cocktails-title-image-finalOver the summer I realized that I love grapefruit juice in my cocktails.  It happened rather by accident.  I have never been a huge fan of the bitter fruit.  And I can’t say I have ever willingly picked up a carton of grapefruit juice from the grocery store.  But one day at my neighbor’s house, she decided to make us cocktails.  And she squeezed some fresh grapefruit juice into our glasses.  We were just experimenting so our first round had vodka.  Hello there.  So good!  On the second round we moved on to store-bought juice and rum.  Again, SO good but totally different to the first cocktail!  And now I drink just plain grapefruit juice on occasion as well.

grapefruit-juice-for-cocktailsBut all juice is not created equal.  I have tried several brands from the grocery store but I very much prefer the Trader Joe’s grapefruit juice.  It tastes the most fresh, has less sugar but is still not too bitter.  So if you know you are going to be making some of these citrus forward cocktails, be sure to factor in a special trip to TJ’s.   Grapefruit Juice cocktailsWhat I found with rum is that it sweetens up the grapefruit juice a bit and creates a warmer drink, if that makes any sense at all.  For me, all I need is a little rum in the juice but if you are looking for something a bit more special, try this Rosemary Grapefruit Mojito.grapefruit juice based cocktailsOf course you can make a delicious grapefruit margarita but you can also make this sophisticated take on the juice and tequila with a Paloma.

grapefruit-juice-and-vodka-cocktailsIf you prefer to vodka in your bevvies, there are several drinks for you to try.  Grapefruit juice, vodka and some grenadine – pretty AND delicious.  Or try a Salty Basil Dog.

grapefruit-juice-cocktails-title-imageDon’t they just look pretty?!  I don’t get too caught up in the cocktail glass, a simple tall or short glass will work for most of these.  Cocktail aficionados might tell you otherwise but I have neither the storage nor money to completely outfit a bar.  After your first drink, you won’t care anyway if you have the “right” glassware.  So drink up.

Grapefruit Juice, the perfect cocktail mixerHow do you prefer your grapefruit cocktail?

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mexican Mule Cocktail

September 25, 2013 by 9 Comments

mexican-mule-title-image-1I’m a huge fan of the Moscow Mule which is made with Vodka.  But lately I’ve been on a total margarita kick and I’m finding that I really enjoy tequila.  Not like I’m out doing shots or anything (Tammy, Kristin, Lauren – please hide those photos).  So I decided to try out a Mexican Mule.  I quite like it and I think you will too.

make-a-mexican-mule-for-chicks-and-salsa-partyYou will need a lime, Tequila (now I know there are different types of tequila but I don’t know enough about them to pin point a specific one to use.  This is what we had in our cupboard) and ginger beer (Reed’s is my fave brand and is available at Sprouts and Trader Joe’s).

add-ginger-beerThe ginger beer adds such a nice “bite” to the drink.  If you would like it sweeter you can certainly add in a little simple syrup or agave or something.  But I like it like this, nice and refreshing.

mix-ginger-beer-lime-and-tequila

mexican-mule-recipeDrink up!

Mexican Mule

Juice from 1 lime (approximately 1 – 2 ounces depending on your flavor preferences)

1 1/2 – 2 ounces of Tequila

Reed’s Ginger Beer

In a glass, squeeze the lime juice.  Add ice.  Add tequila and top with ginger beer.  Mix.  Add a lime garnish of your liking.  If you have fresh mint, you can also give a leaf a quick clap in your hand to release the oils and garnish with it as well.

These drinks were made to go along with my menu for my Chicks and Salsa post.  Don’t forget to check out my recipe for Chicken Enchilada casserole and Churro Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.

Enjoy!!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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