Cranberry Ginger Gin Fizz

 This bubbly Cranberry Ginger Gin Fizz combines refreshing mint, tart cranberries, fresh lime, and crisp gin in a perfectly festive cocktail perfect for the holiday season...

So, Christmas is just one week away and the end of 2020 is definitely in sight (FINALLY!). And I think both of those things call for a festive and bubbly cocktail. What do you all think?

I mean, 2020 hasn't been all doom & gloom. But it definitely is not the kind of year that I would like to repeat any time too terribly soon. 

Besides the obvious (ahem, Covid, a global pandemic, and statewide shutdowns across the country), 2020 was also the year I acquired my first official funeral dress. I have attended 3 funerals this past year, the most recent being for my own grandmother just a few weeks ago. 

I was contracted for two of my biggest jobs ever as a food blogger, and both of those were permanently shelved within the past month thanks to the 'Rona virus. 

Lavender Tom Collins

A classic gin cocktail gets a floral, springtime twist in this bubbly Lavender Tom Collins...

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Okay, I won't lie to you all. I am pretty sure my alcohol consumption has maybe slightly increased since this who stay at home order business started. I mean, there really isn't any rules anymore for when it is acceptable or not to enjoy a little boozy concoction- am I right? 

Just like everything else in my life, I have finally accepted the fact that I am living a new "normal" for now. Like realizing that my youngest is still wearing her pajamas as dinner time is fast approaching & shrugging my shoulders because she will just be taking a shower in a few hours & changing into a new pair of PJ's. 

Or the fact that I have now become a hard core FaceTimer when I hardly ever used the app on my iPhone before. I mean, what better way is there to chat with my sister than with a unicorn or a kitty filter on? Also, how am I just now discovering how insanely fun that is?? ;)

I have also learned to appreciate the value of a well stocked fridge and liquor cabinet through all of this. Because sometimes a whiskey & ginger or a little gin and lime is just what I need at the end of the day. We have been fortunate here in West Virginia that our liquor stores have remained open throughout all of this. I can't say the same for our neighbors up north though (sorry, Pennsylvania!). 

The Metropolitan Cocktail

This citrusy Metropolitan Cocktail is a sophisticated twist on the classic cosmopolitan with an Italian flair...

This post was created in partnership with Spello Restaurant.

**Please Note: Spello is now permanently closed.

When it comes to Valentine's Day, I am all about the pretty cocktails. There is just something about starting with a romantic & sexy cocktail that sets the mood for the entire evening- am I right? ;) 

I recently had the opportunity and the pleasure to dine at the newly opened Spello restaurant in Mars, Pennsylvania during their soft opening for friends & family last week. The ambiance was upscale, yet not pretentious. 

The dinner menu is inspired by Chef Melnick's travels to Italy. It is impressive, yet not overwhelming. The emphasis is on the quality of their menu selections rather than the quantity. But that cocktail menu, you all...

The sophisticated boozy concoctions being served at the restaurant come from the creative mind of mixologist & COO of the restaurant group that owns Spello, Colin Smith. Smith has been a part of the restaurant & mixology scene in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area for over 24 years . 

The cocktail menu is higher end (you will find no well liquors here, folks), but is reasonably priced. Most of Spello's libations feature Italian spirits & liqueurs.

I would be lying if I told you all that I haven't sampled just about every cocktail on their bar menu because I have. (I may or not have photographed the entire cocktail menu for the restaurant. ;) ) But my favorite of Spello's boozy offerings is their Metropolitan cocktail- a citrusy blend of vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, Aperol, & sweet Italian Vermouth...

Chai Tea Latte Martini

This creamy & cozy 3 ingredient Chai Tea Latte Martini will soon become your new go-to cocktail for fall...

One of my favorite fall treats is a creamy & cozy chai tea latte. I just love the blend of warm spices in chai tea. And chai spices also happen to pair perfectly with most of my favorite fall flavors like apple & pumpkin. 

Somehow I just discovered chai tea concentrate this fall. How I didn't know this existed before is beyond me! 

It is perfect for whipping up a quick & easy chai tea latte, for stirring into plain oatmeal, & for shaking up into fall inspired cocktails like this Chai Tea Latte Martini recipe I am sharing with you all today... ;)

The Mexican Martini

The Mexican Martini is a kicked up version of your traditional margarita with a little extra booze & the perfect balance of sweet & salty...

Whew! I am getting this recipe up on the blog just in time for your all's Cinco de Mayo celebrations later today and this weekend. Talk about cutting it close, but I pulled through for you all. ;) 

Now I know some of you all are already scratching your heads wondering just what in the world is a Mexican Martini. Let me enlighten you all for second or two. 

I had my first sip of a Mexican Martini when I traveled to Austin, Texas last month for a food blogger conference. The first night of our stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Downtown Austin, the conference attendees were treated to a tasting menu from the hotel's in-house restaurant, @SOCO Bars + Bites. 

As we munched on BBQ-rubbed pork belly & gazpacho shooters, servers walked around with trays offering us some of the bar's signature cocktails. The cocktail I happened to fall hard for was their version of the Mexican Martini. 

Of course, I only wish I had known what a boozy kick that they packed before I drank three of them (yes, three of them). Let's just say that the first morning of the conference was just a little rough for me... ;)

Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules

The classic Moscow Mule gets a perfect for fall flavor update with these Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules...

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So, I have to confess that up until I had whipped up this cocktail, I had never had a Moscow Mule before. I know, I know... gasp. Right? 

And man, have I been missing out! The vodka mixed with the ginger beer and a little fresh lime juice? Amazing, folks. 

And while the classic Moscow Mule is delicious, I couldn't help but to keep thinking of that bottle of pomegranate vodka that had showed up at my door last month. The wheels started turning, and I knew I had to make a fall version of this cocktail! :) 

I swapped the plain vodka for the pomegranate one, added a generous splash of cranberry pomegranate juice, and then tossed in some fresh pomegranate seeds for a pretty garnish. Fall cocktail perfection, my friends. :)

These Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules would be perfect for serving before or after that Thanksgiving dinner or maybe for a Friendsgiving get-together this month. 

You could even save this cocktail to whip up during the Christmas season. The color and flavors in this would be perfect for your holiday festivities... 

Sparkling Pomegranate Screwdriver

I'm partnering with SMIRNOFF Vodka for National Vodka Day to bring you all this Sparkling Pomegranate Screwdriver, a fall twist on a cocktail classic...

Well, Happy National Vodka Day, friends! Not that I (or you ;) ) really need a boozy holiday to enjoy a good vodka cocktail or anything. But I decided to team up with SMIRNOFF vodka and a few of my favorite cocktail bloggers to celebrate anyways! 

We were each sent a different bottle of one of SMIRNOFF's newest vodkas in perfect for fall flavors. 

I have to admit that I was little excited when I saw that they were sending me the pomegranate vodka. Mainly because pomegranate is one flavor that I have never worked with before on the blog! (I know, can you believe that??) 

After giving it a taste (or maybe two- shhhhh...), I decided that pomegranate would be the perfect way to jazz up a plain ole classic screwdriver. And for fun I decided to add a splash or two of club soda for some fizzy bubble action... 

Frozen Berry Sangria Floats

These Frozen Berry Sangria Floats only get better as they thaw, making them the perfect cocktail for those warm end-of-summer days and nights...

Summer might be winding down for most of us (hello, my oldest starts back to school today), but I am not giving up the outdoor entertaining just yet. The days are still warm and the evenings long, so we are going to sit back and soak up these last few weekends of summer before it becomes football & pumpkin everything. ;) 

For my summertime entertaining, I love coming up with easy, fuss-free, and crowd pleasing recipes and cocktails that will leave me raising a glass with my friends and family on a summer evening instead of in the kitchen handing out yet another glass to one of my guests. These fruity and frosty Frozen Berry Sangria Floats definitely fit that bill...

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bellini

Forget plain ole chocolate covered strawberries this Valentine's Day! Make this bubbly & decadent Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bellini instead...

The countdown is on, folks... Valentine's Day is just six days away.

Before you go scrambling to the store to pick up a heart shaped box of chocolates and calling for a reservation at an overcrowded restaurant, how about kicking back with a romantic cocktail instead? ;)

Forget all the hoopla and stay in! Seriously, you all. And be sure to make this Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bellini... trust me. It will make your Valentine swoon.

This cocktail is the perfect ending to a romantic dinner in or for a little breakfast in bed. Made with fresh pureed strawberries & your favorite chocolate liquor, and then topped with champagne in a chocolate rimmed champagne glass, you just can't go wrong with this one... 

Kahlua Vanilla Cream Soda

Made simply with Kahlua, whipped cream, pure vanilla bean paste, and a little club soda, this creamy Kahlua Vanilla Cream Soda is just pure bliss...

A big thank you to Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Bob's Red Mill, Silpat, Quirk Books and Dixie Crystals/Imperial Sugar for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #VanillaWeek. All opinions stated below are my own.

This Kahlua Vanilla Cream Soda is not your run-of-the-mill cream soda, folks. It is a kicked up adult version of the cream sodas you probably loved as a kid. ;)  This cocktail also happens to be my second (and last recipe) for Vanilla Week. If you happened to miss it, I posted a recipe for some amazing Vanilla Glazed Cinnamon-Raisin Biscuits on Monday. 

It's food blogger confession time- not all of our recipe ideas actually work out the way that we want them to all of the time. I know, I know... you can't believe it, right? Originally, I had planned to post a delicious bread pudding for my last vanilla inspired recipe of the week. But that ended up being a big fat fail. Like a gloppy mess of weirdness.

But lucky for you all that meant that I had to go back to the drawing board, and this Kahlua Vanilla Cream Soda was concocted instead. So, it ended up being a win-win all around. :)

Made simply with Kahlua, whipped cream, pure vanilla bean paste, and a little club soda, this creamy cocktail is just pure bliss...

Blueberry Ginger Mojitos

A classic summertime cocktail gets a delicious twist with the addition of fresh blueberries & ginger ale in these refreshing Blueberry Ginger Mojitos...

Post updated 7/9/17- This tasty Blueberry Ginger Mojito post deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)