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Cherry Sorbet Champagne Floats

Last Updated May 7, 2015. Originally Posted July 16, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 41 Comments

Cherry Sorbet Champagne Floats

Cherry Sorbet Champagne Floats – a fresh and fruity cool summertime refreshment! Perfectly sweet cherry sorbet is elevated to a great thing with champagne!

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One of the first things I made with our cherry haul was …

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Filed Under: cherry season, cocktails, Cooking Light, Dessert, Happy Hour at Home, summertime

Fresh and Fruity Sangria

Last Updated July 16, 2015. Originally Posted June 29, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 38 Comments

Fresh and Fruity Sangria – naturally sweetened with fruit to balance the dry Rosé, this cool sipper is perfect for your summer evenings – cheers!Fresh and Fruity Sangria

I was talking to a new friend the other day (I miss all my classmates!), and we were having an in depth conversation about wine. I was telling her I need to branch out, that I generally stick to dry bold reds. She brought up Rose, which always immediately makes me think of the Zinfandel in the fridges of my childhood. No thanks.

…

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Filed Under: cocktails, Cooking Light, Happy Hour at Home, recipes, summertime

throw a great pool party

Last Updated June 20, 2012. Originally Posted June 19, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 39 Comments

Summertime is upon us, and summertime means pool parties.

The house we just moved from had a pool, and we had many a fun summer there. We basically lived in our back yard for three months. Jason did a great job of keeping the pH levels perfect and the pool sparkly blue. I did a great job of blending margaritas, inviting people over, and keeping air in Basil’s floaty cactus.

From years of my pool party past, I bring you the Guide To The Ultimate Pool Party.

Invite Your Friends.

Friends love the house with a pool. Especially on really hot days… it’s surprising how fast they are able to show up to an impromptu invite, almost as if they were already driving over…

Have extra towels handy for your guests.

Stack them by doors, in case people need to dry off before entering the house. Towels close to the pool (but not too close they get wet) are a good idea also.

Designate food and drink area, pool and play area, sitting and relaxing area.

Your guests will want a place to sit or lay in the sun once they get out of the pool:

Invest in plastic plates and drinkware, keeping glass away from the pool.

this margarita was dachshund – supervised.

Plan games and have pool accessories / toys available.

Basil is surprisingly good at the ring toss.

Provide the ultimate in pool party food and drink:

grilled pineapple bacon sandwiches

 

seven layer dip with noocho cheese

 

reuben rolls with thousand island dip

 

spicy stuffed sweet peppers

 

lightened up Piña Coladas

 

strawberry habanero margaritas

 

My advice with hosting any party – prepare as much as you can ahead of time, make a timeline so you have stress free planning, and have decor double as useful – pinatas, beach balls, pool toys…

Most of all, remember to relax, enjoy the sun, and have fun!

Cheers!

Orbit® gum is a global brand, enjoyed by millions of people around the world.  Chew Orbit after any meal to leave your mouth with “A Good Clean Feeling®”. Eat. Drink. Chew™ Orbit! Like us on Facebook here.

COMPENSATION WAS PROVIDED BY ORBIT® GUM VIA GLAM MEDIA BUT SUCH COMPENSATION DID NOT INFLUENCE ANY OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN.  THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF SPABETTIE AND ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF THE OPINIONS OR POSITIONS OF ORBIT® GUM.

 

 

Filed Under: Appetizers, cocktails, dachshund, grilling, summertime

Strawberry Habanero Margaritas

Last Updated April 15, 2015. Originally Posted June 4, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 54 Comments

 

Strawberry Habanero Margaritas

Strawberry Habanero Margaritas may have a spicy heat from habanero peppers, but there is also a cool ingredient to balance the peppers. Strawberries for sweetness, a simple recipe!

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Growing up in Lake Oswego, we had one of those “pie house” restaurants. I loved it. From the Lyons mints and Lifesavers at the counter to the grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries on the menu, I wanted one of everything. Including the pie.

I’d sit in front of that glass case and watch so many pies rotate around and around. Tall pies. Cream pies. Fruit pies. Chocolate peanut butter pies. I could never decide which to choose. Back then, one of my …

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Filed Under: cocktails, Dessert, Gluten Free, Happy Hour at Home, recipes, Vegan

Hosting the Perfect Cocktail Party

Last Updated April 17, 2012. Originally Posted April 17, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 36 Comments

Celebrations are a big deal at our house, are frequent and range from impromptu and very informal to the thoughtfully planned and extravagant. I love to host all kind of events, and have hostess tips and tricks as well as ideas for recipes and decor.

The first part of planning for me is to create two lists: one listing foods I will make, decor and other essentials, and a timeline. The other list is what I need to shop for.
One thing to add to the list? Ice, and plenty of it.

nibbles – recipes and prep

When hosting any kind of gathering at our house, I plan for small bite appetizers that can be handheld or dipped. I also try to have as many things as possible that can be made ahead of time, or from components made ahead to assemble at the last minute. I get to enjoy the party more when I’m not prepping food, and small bites mean guests don’t have to awkwardly balance plates or find a surface to knife and fork it.

Here are some of my favorite party picks:

apricot & goat cheese on fig crisps

  

caprese skewers

 

reuben rolls with homemade thousand island sauce

 

seven layer dip with noocho cheese

 

roasted garlic white bean dip

 

tahini almond date bites

decorating ideas

Unless I am throwing a themed party, I keep decor to a minimum. I may include some fresh flowers, and then focus on using unique glassware and pretty serving pieces and linens to bring some festive flavor to the party.

A fun and easy serving vessel that adds instant decoration? Food!

I use hollowed out peppers for serving all the time, and they are always well received. This recipe also follows my make ahead tip – make the guacamole and fill the pepper ahead of time, setting out at the last minute with chips and veggies:

mango habanero guacamole

cocktails and drinks

Unless you hire or designate someone, a good way to avoid playing bartender is to make a signature cocktail for the event. Choose one that many people would enjoy, and make several batches that can be kept cool in the fridge until needed. Bottled wine and beer provide options and round out the libation menu.

Remember to also have several choices for non drinkers and designated drivers – assorted sodas, juices and bottled water in a tub filled with ice makes a great presentation.

Suggestions for the make-ahead signature cocktail:

jalapeno margarita

 

homemade Irish cream with espresso

 

Bottles in ice goes against the signature cocktail idea, but does go along with making things ahead, and also incorporates using edibles as decor. You could offer this fun attention-getter in an area set up with ice, mixers and glasses for a DIY cocktail station.

desserts and endings

Following the hand held theme of eats, I plan several sweet options for dessert:

saffron doughnuts with rosewater icing

 

wasabi peanut butter cups

 

triple chocolate truffles

 

A fun treat to serve at the end of a party – hot chocolate peppermint shots. Have a tray of them near the door, as people are leaving they can have a sweet and quick wake me up.

Another fun out-the-door treat: set out a large bowl of Orbit® packs of gum for guests to take with them – a cool refresher for the drive home!

Do you enjoy hosting parties? What are your best planning tips?

Orbit® gum is a global brand, enjoyed by millions of people around the world.  Chew Orbit after any meal to leave your mouth with “A Good Clean Feeling®”. Eat. Drink. Chew™ Orbit! Like us on Facebook here.

 

Compensation was provided by Orbit® gum via Glam Media but such compensation did not influence any opinions expressed herein.  The opinions expressed herein are those of spabettie and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Orbit® gum.

 

Filed Under: Appetizers, cocktails, Happy Hour at Home

Baileys and Black Tea French Toast

Last Updated February 11, 2018. Originally Posted February 14, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 26 Comments

Baileys and Black Tea French Toast – crispy and soft, this vegan French toast is richly steeped in black tea and Irish cream, making this a brunch – perfect toast!

 

Baileys and Black Tea French Toast @spabettie

I have told you about the time we were able to get almost the whole first class cabin of a flight to change their drink order to Baileys and coffee. Baileys and coffee was also a standard mid morning indulgence when we were snowed in for three weeks a few years back. We’d go on walks in the snow, come back home, start a fire and enjoy a coffee.

I have a new favorite Baileys drink!

Baileys and black tea.

Baileys and Black Tea French Toast @spabettie

Served in the ceramic version of my favorite New York deli cup. Everything tastes better in the New York deli cup.

Very easy, really. Not even a recipe.

I brewed my favorite black tea. I added a couple shots of my homemade Baileys to it.

Mmm, this is my newest obsession. I may have to wait until Saturday to enjoy this as a Valentines breakfast… and I’ll have to wait until my nursing shift is over, but we will have this with breakfast.

We will also …

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Filed Under: Breakfast, cocktails, Gluten Free, recipes, Valentines Day, Vegan

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots

Last Updated December 15, 2020. Originally Posted December 31, 2011 By Kristina Sloggett 45 Comments

these vegan Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots are festive and fun for all of your holiday parties – fill with hot chocolate, spiked or not, or any other holiday beverage that pairs with mint!

recipe originally published December 31, 2011

 

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots @spabettie #holiday

Vegan Hot Chocolate

My last beverage of the year is deliciously non alcoholic – a hot chocolate made with dark chocolate.

Seeing as I bring it to you in a Candy Cane Shot Glass, I did include a variation on the recipe that does include that chocolate vodka… or rum. or peppermint schnapps.

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Shots @spabettie #glutenfree

Festive Holiday Cocktails

These hot chocolate peppermint shots make parties fun! Serve with a simple hot cocoa for kids and as a mocktail, or spike that cocoa for a festive cocktail.

As much as I would like to …

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Filed Under: cocktails, Dessert, Gluten Free, holiday, Meatless Monday, recipes, Vegan

Liquor Bottles on Ice

Last Updated December 19, 2018. Originally Posted December 29, 2011 By Kristina Sloggett 52 Comments

 

 

 

Hosting or attending a party? Liquor Bottles on Ice is a fun and quick addition to any last minute prep you might be doing – super fun and festive.

 

Liquor Bottles on Ice @spabettie #vodka #cocktails #party

Liquor Bottles on Ice

This is one of my favorite over the top, super fun …

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Filed Under: cocktails, Happy Hour at Home, holiday

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welcome! I’m Kristina

I am a voracious reader and chickpea eater. also known as spabettie.

using my extensive culinary training and work in the industry, I have been creating vegan recipes for more than a decade.

at spabettie, you will find easy and appealing plant based recipes - vegan, gluten free, and full of vibrant flavor.
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