Beer, Wine & Cocktails
The Rise In Popularity Of Bitters
A few years ago I was in Hershey, Pa., for a business trip. I’d been to Hershey Park before; we’re lucky to live pretty close, and how can you not visit “The Sweetest Place On Earth” when it’s less than two hours away?! Right. This particular business trip was the first time I’d stayed overnight, and also the first time I’d visited The Hershey Hotel and their Woodside Cottages. It was winter, light snow flurries were falling, and it was absolutely stunning. The service was impeccable, clearly surpassing any other four star hotel at which I’ve stayed—from their concierge service to the wait-staff at one of the in-house restaurants, trevi…
Mojitos With Gin
If you’re looking for a new and yummy cocktail to try, mojitos with gin are a fun twist on a classic drink that screams summertime (or anytime, as far as I’m concerned)! I just returned home from our family vacation, relaxed from a break of the everyday — including the interwebs (save some Instagramming), work, and general day-to-day slother. Ahhhh, it feels good. Every few years the family changes up the location where the we all (the four of us, my parents, and my sister and brother-in-law) meet up. This summer we decided to visit Greenwood Lake in New York for the first time — a relaxing, sleepy place with great…
Grapefruit Cocktail
This yummy grapefruit cocktail uses fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit peel, and lemon — bubbly and delicious! Its inception came after years of wine-drinking (and the occasional Guinness or craft beer), and my discovery of the world of cocktails. In part, I blame my sister, who began ordering cocktails on the regular after moving to Brooklyn years ago. When I visit, we have fun ordering unique, new drinks (some yummier than others, I’ll admit, but being daring is part of the fun). We also pick a special holiday cocktail for family gatherings every year — something festive and a little different than the normal day-to-day fare. I still love a crisp…
Sparkling Cranberry Blackcurrant Lime Cocktails
These festive sparkling cranberry blackcurrant lime cocktails are a perfect companion to your holiday spread — and good eats and drinks are always one of my favorite things about the season. One year my family decided change up Christmas dinner by creating a themed menu based on popular meals from the Dickensian era. It was complete with roast duck, Dutchess potatoes, Yorkshire pud, plum pudding and a host of other treats! (Keeping it real: I wasn’t as big of a fan of the plum pudding as I’d hoped, though it was super exciting to light it on fire!) Since then, each Christmas we’re all together, we’ll be picking a different theme.…
Chill With Friends and Barefoot Refresh® Spritzer
Barefoot Refresh® is sponsoring this post about the time of year when the sun is shining, memories are made and cold, refreshing drinks are in demand. As we head into September, the days here in Maryland are warm, but the evenings are cool and comfortable. Summer’s coming to a close and my favorite time of the year is just beginning—fall! Whether I’m enjoying a bonfire on the beach with friends, or gathering on my back porch with the book club girls, crisp and fizzy spritzers go hand-in-hand. Every summer we spend a week at the Delaware shore with my side of the family. Our house sits right on the beach,…
Tips for Making Fantastic Red Wine Sauce
Do you want to surprise your guests by making fantastic red wine sauce at home? Highlight any meal or dish you prepare by adding sauce made from red wine! Wine sauces are perfect for enhancing the taste of any dish you make. With a wine sauce, the natural flavors of any dish are emphasized which makes them exceptionally tasty. Not to mention potential health benefits of red wine! This is a guest post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Ingredients to Prepare a Fantastic Red Wine Sauce A bottle of red wine (something you’d drink) Butter Beef, chicken or vegetable stock…
Celebrating National Moscato Day with @GalloFamily
I love wine. Since having kids my taste has shifted from rich, deeply flavored red wines to crisp, tart white wines. This shift appears to be the opposite of most women, whose taste often starts with sweet white (hello, white zin) and grows into grown-up red. Children do strange things to one’s body, and I suppose this is just another example of how. I’m not complaining though – red has its advantages (ability to taste yummy at room-temp is one), but as we head into summer, a chilled white trumps room-temp red. Just my opinion. Last week I received a box from Gallo Family Vineyards and inside it contained two bottles…
Bitters—Old is New Again
I just spent the last two days in Hershey, PA—arguably the “Sweetest Place on Earth” (only Willy Wonka would disagree, I’m sure). I’ve been to Hershey before; we’re lucky to only live less than two hours away. But this was the first time I’ve stayed overnight, and also the first time I’ve visited The Hershey Hotel and the Woodside Cottages. At this time of year, with light snow flurries falling, it was absolutely stunning. The service was impeccable, clearly surpassing any other four star hotel at which I’ve stayed, from the concierge service to the wait-staff at one of the in house restaurants, trevi 5. The only unfortunate part of my visit…