Category: Drinks

Who doesn’t love a good drink! Alcohol and nonalcoholic alike, but I’m not a drinker.

Drinks, In The Kitchen

Valentine Drinks

RaeAnna

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I love this Nasty Gal dress. (Valentine’s Perfect.) | I slip into these light pink Target shoes all the time. | Champagne Flute | Martini Glass | Cocktail Shaker

I don’t drink alcohol anymore for a lot of reasons. (I’ll probably talk about that stuff later.) Before my freelancing took off and after my short-lived corporate career, I bartended. I did that for about two years. I wasn’t great, but I wasn’t too bad! I have always had a love of stemware. Even in college, I had a set of wine glasses, champagne flutes, and martini glasses. I just feel classy drinking out of them!

Anyways, I came up with two Valentine’s inspired drinks. I am including the alcoholic version and a virgin alternative. They’re super yummy both ways. For the guys, embrace your masculinity and enjoy these pinky/purple drinks. One is a fancy martini, and one is a super simple champagne drink. You can drink these without martini glasses or champagne flutes, but it’s not nearly as fun in my opinions. I do suggest having a shaker with a strainer; it makes the process faster and  cleaner unless you know what you’re doing.

Ingredients
Blackberry Fizz Martini

  • Fresh blackberries
  • Fresh Mint
  • Vodka
  • Champagne/Sparkling White Grape Juice – chilled
  • Ice

Raspberry Sunrise

  • Fresh raspberries – frozen
  • Raspberry syrup
  • Champagne/Sparkling White Grape Juice – chilled

Instructions
Blackberry Fizz Martini

  • In the shaker fill halfway with ice. Add 1.5 oz vodka, five blackberries, four mint leaves.
  • Shake vigorously for thirty seconds to a minute.
  • Pour liquid through the strainer into the martini glass.
  • Fill the glass with champagne the rest of the way and garnish the rim with a blackberry.

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Shake, shake, shake! | Shake well. | Fill martini glass with the fizz!

Raspberry Sunrise

  • Fill champagne flute with champagne ¾ of the way full.
  • Slowly pour raspberry syrup down the inside of the flute. The raspberry syrup will settle on the bottom creating the sunrise effect.
  • Add a few frozen raspberries to the top to keep the drink cold. You can also garnish the rim with a raspberry.
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Pour the syrup gently down the side of the champagne flute for the sunrise effect.

To make these drinks non-alcoholic is very simple. For the martini, use sparkling white grape juice instead of vodka and champagne. For the raspberry sunrise, instead of champagne substitute sparkling white grape juice. For the sunrise look, it is really important to use white grape juice. The look of the drinks will be the same, but it’s perfect for the sober people, pregnant ladies, under agers, and anyone else. I love it. They are super quick, easy, and yummy.

No better way to toast your loved one than with a romantic cocktail. If you’re looking for a great red dress, I highly suggest this linen one from Nasty Gal! I love it. I’m ready for summer. I paired it with these light pink, faux-sued slip ons from Target. I wear them constantly and receive a ton of compliments.

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Clink to love of all kinds! | Champagne flute: Raspberry Sunrise | Martini glass: Blackberry Fizz
Drinks, In The Kitchen

Hot Cocoa

RaeAnna

Christmas has come and gone, but winter will still be here for awhile. I am a firm believer reading should be accompanied by a warm drink. I am usually found with a cup of tea in my hand. Sometimes coffee. In the winter, always hot cocoa. I grew up with hot cocoa being a special winter drink enjoyed from Thanksgiving until the snow cleared. I grew up sipping my mom’s recipe.

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Over the years, I have honed my own recipe, which has become beloved by friends. It’s rich and chocolaty because that’s exactly what cocoa should be.

Ingredients
  • Milk
  • Chocolate (Preferably semi-sweet baker’s chocolate, but chocolate chips will do)
  • Sugar
  • Marshmallows

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  1. Grab your favorite mug. Fill it with milk.
  2. In a medium pan put three ounces (or more if you like it chocolaty) of your favorite chocolate and a tablespoon of sugar with a quarter of the milk from your mug. Over medium heat using a whisk melt the sugar and chocolate until the mixture is thick.
  3. Pour the rest of the milk from the mug into the pan. Continue stirring continuously until boiling
  4. Pour the hot chocolate into the mug, add marshmallows and enjoy!!!

I love hot chocolate plain, but over the years, I have come up with fun variations to add a little something extra to it. Here are some of my favorites.

Peppermint Cocoa

  • Take a candy cane and crush it up. Add half of the crushed candy cane to the pan with the milk. Once the cocoa is in the cup, sprinkle the candy cane pieces over the marshmallows for a pretty look.

Espresso Cocoa

  • Add a shot of espresso to the pan with the milk. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use a tablespoon of instant espresso/coffee at the beginning to melt with the chocolate and sugar. It will add caffeine and extra yumminess for the coffee lovers. A great way to start the day at the office!

Boozy Cocoa

  • After the cocoa is made and in the mug, add a shot to your cocoa. You don’t want to put the alcohol in the pan while it’s cooking because you’ll boil away the alcohol. It’s a fun addition to a cozy girls’ night, romantic evening, ski trip, or any number of fun activities.

Best Boozes:

  • Peppermint Schnapps
  • Kahlua
  • Vanilla Vodka
  • Spiced Rum
  • Whipped Cream Vodka
  • Bailey’s