Summer Cocktails……Pomegranate & Lemon

 

Summer heat calls for something chilled and sweet.

That’s exactly what these two cocktails are all about. They’re beautiful, refreshing, and yummy.

Being super easy to make is just a bonus!

 

VodkaPom

1 oz.  pomegranate juice – chilled

1/2 oz. Vodka – chilled

1/2 oz. simple syrup – chilled ( see mojito recipe to make the simple syrup ):)

3 oz. club soda – chilled

lemon

Run a wedge of the lemon around the rim of a chilled martini glass – you could then dip the rim in sugar, if you like – then add the pomegranate juice, vodka, simple syrup, and club soda. Garnish with lemon zest.  Voila!

 

 

Lemon Drop Fizzy

1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice – about half a lemon

1/2 oz. vodka – chilled

1/2 oz.simple syrup – chilled ( see mojito recipe to make the simple syrup ):)

4 oz. club soda – chilled

Run a wedge of the lemon around the rim of a chilled martini glass – you could then dip the rim in sugar, if you like . Next add your freshly squeezed lemon juice, vodka, simple syrup, and club soda. Garnish with  lemon zest .

As you can see they are very similar and easy to make.

The VodkaPom is like a pomegranate martini with club soda. I like the fizz of the club soda. 

Notes: Be sure to chill your ingrediants and keep everyting nice and cold and…

As Always Please Enjoy Responsibly!

 

xoxoxo

Beauty Cream and Moonlight

I came across this really cute and interesting recipe ,if you will, for a beauty cream in a book called Ageless Natural Beauty by Sally Freeman a few years ago. I was flipping through the book again recently and decided to share this with you. I really liked it because it was simple, indigineous, and beautiful in its ingrediants and making. It’s not every recipe that you let it sit in the moonlight.

It is from El Salvador and a lady named America Hernandez recalls how her mother makes this cream.

“My mother puts lemon juice into a seashell, then she leaves  the seashell on the sill outside of the window. In the morning she collects the paste from the seashell. She takes this paste and puts it around her face. This prevents wrinkles. Now my mother is seventy-seven years old. She doesn’t have any wrinkles.”

Isn’t that a cute idea?

I have tried it before and it does seem to work, but I only had like two shells in my posession at the time. One thing I would mention is that I think you should only use each shell once because after that the cream that it produces is acidic almost,too harsh. So, a new shell each time, a bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice a bit of  moon magic and if you are like Ms.Hernandez’s mother you will be wrinkle free in no time. Plus it’s a fun excuse to go to the beach and collect seashells.

Has anyone else had experience with this or an idea like it? What do you think makes it work? I have never been to Central America or the Caribean. Is it common over there?

I’d love to know your thoughts on this. I am considering putting up more beauty ideas from foreign lands, so as I said before anything you would love to share I would love know.

I look forward to your comments and ideas.

xoxoxo

Guacamole – The Quick and The Easy

Guacamole is one of my favorite dips to make for a party. It is so easy to prepare and everyone likes it, too. Those are, of course, the winning factors for any entertaining. If you have ever spent five hours in the kitchen preparing and cooking for your guests you know what I mean. So, it’s nice to have some recipes that don’t require a diploma from the French Culinary Institute and that will still bring those smiles and empty plates.

Also, for all the health conscience out there, avocados are extremely nutritious and very good for your brain synapses. Actually making it easier for your brain functions and thoughts to be processed faster. You can’t beat that.

Here I have prepared two recipes they are very similar but the prep time gets even shorter for ease.

The Easy

2 cups avocado, mashed

2/3 cup of your favorite salsa

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. salt – I prefer Kosher salt

1/2 lime or lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Peal the avocado and remove the pit. Place the fruit of the avocado in a bowl and mash. I usually just use a fork, it works really well. As long as your avocado is ripe it will mash very easily. Next add the salsa, cumin,salt and lime / lemon. Mix well. Place in your serving dish.

I think that it actually tastes even better if you give it about ten or fifteen minutes to let the flavors meld together. However, it is still perfectly delicious to eat right away. Serve with tortilla chips or use as a a lovely accompaniment with grilled chicken.

The Quick

2 cups avocado , mashed

2/3 cup tomato, chopped

1/2 tsp. jalapeño, finely chopped – You can add more if you like more spicy heat

2 tbsp. onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. salt

1/2 lime or lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Peal the avocado and remove the pit. Place the fruit of the avocado in a bowl and mash. I usually just use a fork, it works really well. As long as your avocado is ripe it will mash very easily. Next add the chopped tomato, jalapeño, onion, cumin, salt, and lime or lemon juice. Mix well. ( Again, you can let it set for a few minutes if you like.) Serve.

xoxoxo