Friday Happy Hour: Aperol Spritz

So I've been trying to organize all my pictures on my computer (there are a LOT), and have been coming across some pictures I meant to blog about but for whatever reason never got around to... so there might be a few throwback pictures and posts that are a LONG time coming... this is one of them :)

Ever since I visited Lutz a few Thanksgivings ago (way back in 2010 JEEZ!) and he introduced me to Aperol Spritzes, I've LOVED them!! Flossie and I met for drinks while I was still in Orlando and I had one at Brio and it was as good as I remembered. :) Aperol is definitely an acquired taste, it's a little bitter, but it's so refreshing when you mix it with champagne. I usually pour almost a full glass of champagne and just add in a topper of Aperol. A little goes a long way!!

Try something new for 2014!!

Lutz & I at a German Christmas Market (Nov 2010--told ya, throwback!)

xoxo,

janie from scratch

Friday Happy Hour: Basil Caipirinha

OMG YALLLL!!!! Why haven't I done a Friday Happy Hour post in like 23434534531123945 years?!??! Because, let's be frank, I've done a LOT of drankin' in the past 2 months since I've been enjoying funemployment. 

So, bear with me as I digress... I left Ft Lauderdale on February 20 for a short 2-week road trip to Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville (this trip was basically based around a few races I'd committed to). Well, this 2 weeks turned into 3... then 4... then a month... While I've been gone I was so lucky to spend amazing quality time with my long lost Tampa/Orlando peeps, run 3 races (10k, 15k and 5k) and met an amazing man :) But I am SO GLAD to be home again home again jiggity jog! I have a LOT of changes going on in my life and once things are settled I'll share, but until then, it's basically time for me to soak it all in and enjoy it!

I've been having a slight caipirinha obsession in the past few months. A caipirinha is similar to a mojito, but made with fancy pants Brazilian "rum". It's refreshing, semi-healthy, and tasty! I made a few regular ones the other night for the bf and again tonight with basil when I got home from Tap42 (side note: this place is AMAZEBALLS!). So... here goes nothing! (And a big apology to you cocktail snobs out there...)

Basil Caipirinha

• 1/2 lime cut into wedges
• basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 1/2 ounces cachaça (you can find this in fancy liquor stores, I got mine in Total Wine; there's several brands, Leblon seems to be the middle of the road)
• ice
• water/soda water

In a pint glass, muddle half a lime cut into smaller wedges, a few basil leaves, and a teaspoon or so of sugar. Before I cut the limes, I always roll them a bit to get the juices flowing. Then add 2 1/2 ounces of Cachaça (now listen here, you know I am HUGE proponent of "use what you have"... but do NOT use just regular rum... I promise you cachaça has a completely different taste, and since you don't put a lot into this cocktail, it will absolutely alter the taste). So, once you have all this, add ice until the top of the glass. The liquid will not fill up to the top. So, top it off with water or soda water. You can stir it to combine, or I like pouring it all into a shaker, then pouring it all back into the glass. You can garnish with a lime or basil leaf or just drink it! HAHA!

Then take your cocktail to your balcony and really enjoy it :)
xoxo,
Janie from Scratch

Coq au Vin Dinner Party

A few weeks ago I had some of my friends in Ft Lauderdale over to help me check-off one of my 2012 goals: making Coq au Vin from scratch. My parents actually had both volumes of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (which I have since adopted and brought to Ft Laudy with me), so I had ALL the recipes on hand for my dinner! But I had to do some menu planning  to make my dinner party EXTRA fabulous :)

After menu planning and spending nearly a FORTUNE at Publix, I got to work in the kitchen! To be quite honest, none of Julia Child's recipes (that I've made anyways) are that difficult or take that long. When I made Beef Bourgionon in the spring, it really didn't take ALL afternoon, but there were a lot of steps. The same thing for Coq au Vin. All-in-all, it maybe took 2 hours, but there were a lot of steps. Nothing complex, just a lot of steps. I set a gorg table, and used my favorite plates EVER (still) I got from John & Juan a few Christmases ago.

I decided on an app I made for the Orlando gays awhile ago: Pancetta Crisps with Goat Cheese & Figs. It's seriously SO easy and so delicious. And I randomly bought honey-flavored goat cheese at Publix that day, and I drizzled a little honey on top instead of the fig jam, and it was AMAZING! The boys LOVED them. (And so did I!)

I also made a delish Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail which was so refreshing on a Saturday afternoon!

We had a green salad, which was easy and delicious. I mixed arugula and spinach, topped with some cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions and a honey-balsamic vinaigrette:

Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinager
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Mix first 3 ingredients, then stream in olive oil while whisking. Add salt & fresh-ground pepper to taste. (Okay, yes, I went there with the "fresh-ground pepper"... but honestly, it makes a big difference in recipes where the flavors are simple and easy.) This has become my go-to dressing for everything, it's just THAT good.

You can KINDA see the salad in this shot of the table.

Then we had the Coq au Vin, which was simply amazing. Julia Child makes some GOOD FOOD. I made some mashed potatoes (from scratch of course) and bought a few baguettes at the store (I would've made them but didn't plan enough in advance!), and our meal was complete with LOTS of red wine.

For dessert, I made Vanilla Panna Cotta with chocolate whipped cream. The easiest dessert but it tastes amazing and if you put it in classy glasses it looks REALLY fancy!

So that leaves me with ONE item left on my 2012 food hit list: croissants. I have 2 months and I feel pretty good I can find another group of friends to grin and bear it while I make some croissants.

Go out there and have a fun party and cook some good food!!

Fancy Water

On my detox quest this week, BTW and I made fancy water. It's a diuretic and really cleans out your system, just what we are needing! It's really easy, and you can make a big batch and drink it all day at work.

Fancy Water
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
12 mint leaves, torn
8 cups/2 liters water

Let sit overnight, and enjoy. It's totally refreshing and yummy! Try it, you'll be hooked and want to have some on hand all the time!