spabettie

Vibrant Vegan Food in Portland

Kina Royale Cocktail

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Kina Royale Cocktail – a spirit forward and Bond inspired vodka champagne cocktail befitting any secret agent. Shaken not stirred – cheers!

 

Kina Royale Cocktail @spabettie

A couple weekends ago, we attended one of my favorite annual events in Portland – the Our House Annual Gala Auction. Back in college, I volunteered with a few different local organizations, and I have always enjoyed going to events like these.

The auction is always incredibly inspiring and a great deal of fun. Some people choose to dress up fancy, others come up with awesome costumes! The crowd is really fun, and a great deal of money is raised.

This year, I …

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Spicy Caprese Cocktail

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Spicy Caprese Cocktail – say cheers to the classic summertime salad, in cocktail form! Mini Heirloom tomatoes, cubes of jalapeno havarti, and fresh basil – cheers!

 

Spicy Caprese Cocktail

Portland is experiencing a heat wave this week. Like, three digit heat. I have been wearing my favorite straw cowboy hat everywhere I go. I just need an old Jeep CJ5 to drive around in, all doors and windows off.

Despite the heat, evenings have been perfect.

In the summer, our family room extends to the back yard. Rosemary loves to sniff around  – and terrorize the frogs in our pond – and we love to hang in the cool evenings, often with our laptops and a cocktail.

This week is far too hot for anything but an ice cold beer or a chilly vodka soda lime. After the heat wave breaks, we shall return to our latest libation of summer – the Spicy Caprese.

Mini Heirloom Tomatoes

My favorite heirloom tomatoes are here! Big and small, I cannot get enough. For the spicy caprese, we use the small – aren’t they something? Another recent arrival to our liquor cabinet – a few bottles …

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Bentley Old Fashioned

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Bentley Old Fashioned – a chocolatey warm twist on a classic – a spirit forward favorite that everyone will cheers to!

 

Bentley Old Fashioned

Whiskey Week

Day Four of Whiskey Week!

Anyone else wanting me to extend this, even by a few days? I will see what I can do – I may have a couple more spirited recipes I can share.

Today, I have a deliciously warming cocktail, the Bentley Old Fashioned. I also want to share with you the book this recipe came from – a book that any whiskey aficionado would love!

Whiskey Week is the perfect time to share with you a great gift of a book, The North American Whiskey Guide From Behind The Bar : Real Bartenders’ Reviews of More Than 250 Whiskeys.

Who better than a bartender to know the ins and outs of all kinds of whiskeys? This is a true insiders guide, indeed:

Chad Berkey is the general manager of The Aero Club Bar in San Diego, which features over 800 different kinds of whiskey. Aero Club was named one of America’s Top Bars by Maxim and was featured in the New York Times 36 Hours in San Diego.

Jeremy LeBlanc is the senior bartender and head mixologist at ALTITUDE Sky Lounge, also in San Diego. Condé Nast names Altitude among the top ten rooftop bars in the world.

The Bentley Old Fashioned

Jason is the resident whiskey wiz in this house – he has an affinity for the old scotches and wants to visit Southwest Scotland someday – Islay is the county where many of his favorites come from (the campfire variety I mentioned the …

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Bite, Sip, Nosh, and Dip – Festive Recipes For Your Holiday Table

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Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots

 

’tis the season!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know I am already starting with the holiday decor.

I am already making lists – parties, events, and the food that will go along with each one! I have some new ideas in mind, to go along with my festive favorites.

 

Savory Chili Cheese Spread

Spicy Savory Cheesecake Spread

 

As the holidays get closer, I will be sharing my new recipes with you. Until then, I have collected a few recipes that I plan to bring along to holiday parties, and share on my own party tables.

See my Holiday Recipe slideshow here:

 

Check out Bite, Sip, Nosh, and Dip – Festive Recipes For The Holidays

by Kristina at Foodie.com

 

or click here to see all recipes at once!

 

 

SLIDESHOW SPONSORED BY FOODIE VIA GLAM MEDIA. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF SPABETTIE.

 

 

Sparkling Cran Raspberry Aperol Spritz

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Sparkling Cran Raspberry Aperol Spritz – a bright and flavorful fruity cocktail complete with champagne and vodka – Cheers with this festive sparkler!

 

Sparkling Cran Raspberry Aperol Spritz @spabettie

Today is National Happy Hour Day.

I celebrated a day early.

I popped some bubbly.

I sugared some cranberries.

Sparkling Cran Raspberry Aperol Spritz @spabettie

Jason has been getting crafty with his cocktails lately – he will be sharing recipes soon – and we have Aperol on hand. I like it because it is less sweet than other orange liqueurs, I think it also has rhubarb flavor?

I like tart. Less sweet.

Instead of using simple syrup, I added …

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Sparkling Watermelon Ginger Punch

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this Sparkling Watermelon Ginger Punch is a fresh and flavorful cocktail for summer that you can take all the way into fall! the hit at any party or event.

 

Sparkling Watermelon Ginger Punch

Sparkling Watermelon Ginger Punch

I made cocktails again.

Jason and I both have been taking turns playing bartender lately. His are tequila based, with all kinds of citrus flavors. Mine? Savor all the fresh fruity flavors of …

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Grapefruit Thyme Mimosa-Ritas

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Grapefruit Thyme Mimosa-Ritas

ah, summertime.

It truly is my favorite time of year. Longer, warmer days equal more time outdoors, fresh creations with garden ingredients, cool cocktails with friends.

Sitting out in the evening, relaxing while the daylight leaves and the yard’s nightlights come on. Frogs in the pond croak now and then, causing the dogs to jump off our laps and snif snif snif in search of the frog…

Grapefruit Thyme Margaritas

My latest libation creation is a fusion of two favorites – mimosas and margaritas. Fresh herbs from the garden (the thyme came back from last year!) mix well with bubbly and my favorite reposado tequila.

Follow me over to Kim’s place for my recipe: Grapefruit Thyme Mimosa-Ritas.

Grapefruit Thyme Mimosas

Cheers!

 

 

 

Top 16 Cocktail Party Recipes

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Southern Belle-ini

For all of the holiday festivities, to ring in the new year, even kicking back on a Sunday for the football game – you know I have the food and drink all planned out.

It seems every time I throw a party, there are some tried and true standards that always come to play. Our favorites (um, my favorites? okay).

Even so, I do like to mix it up and wow people with something new. I have another Foodie collection to share with you, this time it is my Top 16 Cocktail Party Recipes of 2013. Hand held nibbles, things to dip and dip in to, a savory stuffed waffle and a stuffed avocado. Bright and pretty drinks, festive and fruity, this list is sure to inspire.

Because even if it is football, it can still be a cocktail party.

If you cannot see the slideshow, click here to see the whole collection.

SLIDESHOW SPONSORED BY FOODIE VIA GLAM MEDIA. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF SPABETTIE.

 

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