Summer Bourbon Sangria

I know it's been months since we've posted but we are finally back with a summer cocktail that you can make in under two minutes!  This past spring was packed full of travels including work, a family reunion, a wedding, and an unforgettable girls trip.  While I loved every minute of being busy I was super thankful for having the past three weeks off to get back to the kitchen and be creative.  

I am a true summer lover.  It's a time for me to slow down, reset and relax.  The days are longer and I enjoy nothing more than sipping on an uncomplicated yet beautiful cocktail while soaking in the few extra hours of sunlight.

This sangria was created with leftover wine.  I know, I can barely believe I just said that and I feel weird about it, but I'm so glad that it happened.  Most sangria recipes require time, chopping lots of fruit and refrigerating overnight.   This one however requires about two minutes of your time, packs a punch and if you don't have fruit you'll be fine without it.  Besides, wine is made from grapes and that's a fruit right?  So go make sangria, enjoy the sun setting after 8pm, take a deep breath and relax a little.  We all deserve it.  Cheers!

Summer Bourbon Sangria

Ingredients
2 ounces bourbon 
4 ounces red wine (we prefer Tempranillo or Garnacha)
Fruit (strawberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries...whatever you have)
Lime (optional)

In an ice filled glass pour in the bourbon and red wine.  Stir to combine and garnish with fruit and lime if desired.  Makes 1 cocktail.

Cocktails for "The League"

Super Bowl is more than just a football game for my husband and his friends.  It is the day that one of the lucky members of their Fantasy Football team is presented with their version of the Shiva.  The League fans, this post is for you.  

Their Fantasy Football winner is awarded a Championship Belt.  Yes, I said belt as in WWE with the winner's name engraved on it and all.  Football season is no longer a Sunday of enjoying a game or two, sipping on a bloody mary and relaxing.  It is now all about making trades, checking the waiver wire, setting your line up, watching the RedZone Channel, checking your points, and stressing over a player who you put on your bench who you shouldn't have because he's scoring more points than everyone else on your team that you are currently playing (insert Ruxin's voice).  

After all of that you know you need this cocktail! It's spicy yet refreshing and will have you screaming SHIVA-KAMINI-blah-blah-blah-blah! (I have no idea what her full name is or what they are saying.)  

Will we be enjoying this delicious cocktail on Sunday?  Well that's up to our hosts, the Commissioner of the league and his wife to decide.  To see what we're sipping and snacking on this Super Bowl follow us on Instagram, not My Face by Taco Corp.  

Cucumber Jalapeno Cocktail

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

2 slices cucumber, quartered

1-2 slices red jalapenos

1/2 ounce fresh meyer lemon juice

Agave nectar

Soda water

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber and jalapeno.  Add in the vodka, meyer lemon juice and a squirt of agave nectar.  Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled.  Double strain the cocktail into an ice filled cocktail glass and top with soda water.  Garnish with a cucumber slice and red jalapeno if desired.  Makes 1 cocktail.

Need to make this in a batch for your party?  To make this an easy, no fuss cocktail for your Super Bowl guest simply infuse your vodka the day or two before using the recipe below.

Cucumber Jalapeno Infused Vodka

Ingredients

1 cucumber, peeled and sliced

2-3 small red jalapenos

1-750ml bottle of vodka

Pour all ingredients into a large airtight container or jar.  Cover and allow to infuse in a dark and cool place for up to two days.  Strain and discard the cucumber and jalapenos.  Store the vodka in the refrigerator for up to one month in an airtight container.

Cast Iron Chicken

It's January, the holidays are over and we're back to the grind. With busy days of work, tyring to keep New Year's resolutions, and reinventing ourselves we still need to find time to make dinner.  I hope you are ready, because I'm about to make it super easy for you.  May I introduce you to my lovely cast iron?  She's (yes, I think it's a female) amazing!  I can't tell you how many great dishes I have made in my cast iron, from the perfect steak to savory scones, roasted veggies, and even brownies.  However, this chicken may take the cake.  

I am not a chicken lover by any means.  I rarely, almost never order it out and I'm super picky when buying it which is why I'm quite partial to Mary's Organic Chicken.  Oh, and those of you being skeptical and judgy over purchasing organic chicken, I promise it won't break your bank.  Besides, knowing where my meat comes from is really important to me.  

I'm a dry chicken hater and this could be the farthest from it.  The basting process, which is super easy, keeps the chicken moist along with a quick sear and finishing in the oven.  When cooking the chicken completely on the stove top you have a pretty good chance of drying out your meat and over cooking.  

I suggest paring this chicken with roasted root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips or a delightful mashed potato.  Well, and of course you should pair it with this great wine from my favorite, Club W.  This Gewürztraminer, unlike chardonnay, is light, floral and fragrant making it a wonderful complement to the sage and butter chicken.  

Cast Iron Chicken with Sage

Ingredients
4 whole chicken legs
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
4-6 sprigs fresh sage (or other fresh herb)
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Generously season the chicken legs with salt and pepper.  Set aside.

Heat a large cast iron pan over medium high heat.  Add the olive oil and heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Add the butter.  When the butter is about halfway melted add the sage sprigs and stir to infuse the oil and butter.  Add the chicken legs and allow to cook for about 2 minutes.  Using a spoon, carefully baste the chicken with the sage infused olive oil and butter.  Cook for another 5 minutes until browned.  Turn the chicken over and cook until browned, about 5 minutes, and basting in between.  Turn the chicken back over and baste one last time.  

Place the cast iron pan in the oven and bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the oven and serve immediately.  Makes 4 servings.

***We were not paid to advertise or review Mary's Organic Chicken or Club W.  These are simply our own opinions.

Gettin' Fizzy Wit It

How are you going to ring in 2016 this year?  Will you be at a swanky party sipping on the finest champagne,  spending it with your best friends trying to forget 2015 or with family (and your kiddos) sipping on something strong while Romper Room 2015 is happening in the basement?  Whatever the case may be we've come up with a few champagne cocktails to help you celebrate.

Happy New Year!

Ginger Sage Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients
1/2 ounce honey ginger syrup
4-6 ounces champagne
1/2 inch fresh ginger piece
1 fresh sage leaf

In a champagne flute pour in the honey ginger simple syrup. Top with champagne.  Garnish with fresh ginger and sage leaf.  Makes 1 cocktail.

Honey Ginger Simple Syrup
Ingredients
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh ginger, peeled, roughly chopped and slightly smashed

In a small sauce pan, heat the water and honey until the honey has dissolved.  Turn off the heat.  Add the ginger, cover and allow to steep for 30 minutes.  Strain through a fine mesh sieve and discard the ginger pieces.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.



Champagne Margarita

Ingredients
2 ounces resposado tequila
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/8 ounce agave nectar
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce champagne
Lime wheel

In a cocktail shaker, pour in the tequila, Grand Marnier, agave nectar and lime juice.  Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously.  Pour into a martini glass or champagne coup.  Top with the champagne and garnish with a lime wheel.  Makes 1 cocktail.

Bourbon Vanilla Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients
2 ounces bourbon
3/4 ounce Vanilla syrup
lemon wedge
1/2-1 ounce champagne

In a rocks glass or a stemless wine glass add a couple of ice cubes or a large whiskey ice ball.  Pour in the bourbon and vanilla bean simply syrup and stir.  Top with the champagne and squeeze in the lemon wedge.  Makes 1 cocktail.

Vanilla Simple Syrup
Ingredients
 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean

In a small sauce pan, heat the water and sugar until the sugar dissolves.  Turn off the heat.  Cut the vanilla bean in half length wise and scrape the beans into the syrup.  Drop the bean pod into the syrup.  Cover and steep for 30 minutes.  Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve and discard the vanilla bean pod.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Wine Not??

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was good to you all!  However, if you were a bit underwhelmed by the gifts you received there is still time to make your season bright.  Enter, Club W!

 It's no secret that I'm a wine lover and ordering wine online has been one of the best things that has happened to me this year.  It's like Christmas at your door step every month!

The wine departments at my local grocery/liquor stores were beginning to look a bit monotonous.  While I do have one or two go to wines for dinner parties or a night in with Netflix, I'm always on the look out for something interesting and yummy.  Yes, I said yummy.

Club W is a super affordable (about $13 a bottle) wine club that delivers wonderful easy (sometimes too easy) drinking wines.  The palate test is spot on and so are the wines they recommend for you.  I'm three shipments in and I have yet to be disappointed!  I also love that there is no commitment and if you need a break (but who really needs a break from wine) you can skip a shipment.

Club W is not just for experienced wine drinkers, but is perfect for those of you who are just getting into wine as well.  Not only are the super cute cards they send with your shipment informative with tasting notes and the story of the winemaker, but it also includes a pairing recipe.  This may be my favorite part.  I love pairing wine with food and even more, I love pairing recipes from some of my favorite chefs and bloggers.

Their wines are so versatile that Greg and I have enjoyed our Club W wines on a Tuesday night with dinner and even on our anniversary to end a wonderful evening out in Malibu.  Currently they are offering a sparkling wine pack for you to ring in your New Year.  I made sure all three of these bubblies were in our shipment this month.  We popped the Au-Delà on Christmas Day, a sparkling dry red, and it was perfect for some drinking while we prepped dinner.

Ok my fellow wine lovers, what are you waiting for??  End this year on a merry and bright note.  Go to Club W now and or use my code to get a bottle for free in your first shipment!

Note: If you are living in one of those U.S. states that don't allow alcohol to be shipped to it, go to www.freethegrapes.org to support a change.

***We were not paid to review or feature Club W.  These are simply our opinions.