cocktails Archives - Page 3 of 7

FOODball – game day eats

November 13, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 40 Comments

Last Saturday night we went to play B.I.N.G.O.

Jason and I met my sister, her husband and other friends for a fun night of numbers and daubers. I didn’t win anything this time, and we all still had fun. One of our friends wasn’t able to make it, and she later explained she was sitting out in the cold the night before, at her sons high school football game, and was feeling under the weather.

My first thought was to suggest she show up this Friday with a thermos full of hot soup. (Okay, if I’m being honest, I actually suggested hot soup or hot toddy – either way).

Then I started thinking of what I would bring to a football game these days. Leave it to a food writer to make a culinary experience out of any event…

I’ve gathered my favorite recipes from my own archive and that of some of my friends… these recipes are things I would bring to a football game on television at someones house, or what I would make at our place. We are football fans here, and I love a good tailgate or television viewing spread of food.

cheesy roasted hasselback tomatoes

sushi veggie sliders

seven layer dip with noocho cheese

baked pizza dip

old school wiener wraps

individual s’mores brownies

caramelized onion and tomato focaccia

roasted jalapeno and pineapple infused tequila

reuben rolls with homemade thousand island

edamame “egg” salad

broccoli cheddar bites with honey mustard sauce

Thai deviled eggs

caramelized onion buffalo tarts

roasted red pepper and walnut dip [muhammara]

tahini almond date bites

guacamole deviled eggs

buffalo dip, three ways

potato angels

dill pickle dip

green falafel – Mediterranean chickpea fritters

plant based steak dinner

caramelized onion bacon dip

[lightened up] twice baked potatoes

mango habanero guacamole

easy crockpot lentil chili

olive and pepper tapenade

Do you like football? Favorite team?

This house is Oregon Ducks, Missouri Tigers and Green Bay Packers…

tips and ideas for last minute entertaining

November 6, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 25 Comments

As long as my house is clean, I am almost always up for some impromptu entertaining. Last minute spontaneity is a fun challenge, and I always love to have people over to our house. We always have a bottle of wine we can open, and at the very least, some nuts, olives, dried fruit and other fun nibbles on hand.

Once I check the possibilities in my ‘snacks’ cabinet (what, you don’t have one of those?), I then head to my metro rack of dishes, platters and linens. One quick way to make an impromptu get together not look so last minute is to include linens and fancy plates and serving pieces.

Even if all you are sharing is small nibbles like nuts and olives or cheeses and crackers, stepping up the elegance by using fancier serve ware takes no more time at the last minute. Adding linens and fun wine glasses or cocktail tumblers complete the feel of “I’ve been planning this all day!”

rosemary apricot tahini bites

When hosting a last minute thing, another place to find goodies is the freezer – I always have truffles, snacky bites and chocolate peanut butter cups filled with interesting things…

wasabi peanut butter cups

and if you were looking in my freezer, you’d also find seven different varieties of homemade ice cream…

ginger maple miso ice cream

As I get settled into our new house, much of my design plans are with entertaining in mind. My kitchen renovation plans include a new refrigerator. Jason and I both enjoy our wine, and we love to entertain – the LG Blast Chiller option is something I am considering. Chilled wine in 8 minutes? A cold beer in five? In eight minutes I can have a full table of goodies set up – want to come over for an impromptu party?

The LG Blast Chiller, available in the 3-Door Super Capacity French-Door refrigerator (LFX31935), can chill a room temperature, 12oz beverage in five minutes or a bottle of wine in just eight minutes. By comparison, a typical refrigerator takes about 40 minutes to accomplish this task – even in the freezer. This refrigerator is also among the largest capacity 36-inch refrigerators currently on the market, offering almost 20 percent more space and the ability to store over 50 gallons of milk.

Compensation was provided by LG via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of spabettie and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LG.

s’mores shots in chocolate glasses

October 28, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 14 Comments

I cannot have a whole month of Treats and Sweets without including a few cocktails.

Right?

While I am not generally a sweet cocktail fan, every now and then I love to create a dessert drink. and I usually have fun making the edible shot glass it goes in.

Some of these are perfect for the fall and winter, others are fresh summery sippers. Some are really fun, all are really sweet…

Cheers!

s’mores shots in chocolate glasses

hot chocolate peppermint shots

spicy hot cinnamon shots

cherry mojito milkshake

strawberry habanero margaritas

cherry sorbet champagne floats

fresh and fruity sangria

lightened up Pina Coladas

homemade Baileys Irish cream recipe

and something to make with that Irish cream:

salted caramel spiked milkshake

Do you have a favorite sweet libation?

Salted Caramel Milkshake with Vegan Irish Creme

October 19, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 64 Comments

Salted Caramel Milkshake with Vegan Irish Creme – a sweet and salty dream of a milkshake, with homemade vegan Irish Creme – perfect for a snow day, or ANY day!

A few years ago, Portland had a huge winter storm. Snowpocalypse, or something like that, according to the news. Inches and feet and piles of snow.

Back then we were at the old house, the one on a couple acres. This is two rare acres in the middle of Southwest Portland, and we were the last house on this semi private road. We were actually unincorporated, end of county service. Which meant the snowplow would come right up to the bridge right before our house, and stop. Leaving a huge pile of snow, as if we weren’t there.

We couldn’t drive anyway, the road was a sheet of ice. We were …

girls night in

September 4, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 25 Comments

You may have heard, I love to throw a party. Big or small, formal or casual, well planned out to each and every detail or an impromptu last minute thing (my controlling nature prefers the former, of course).

sunday night dinner

In college with my own place, the hostess in me blossomed. My housemate and I would host Sunday Night Dinners each week, where a large group of friends would each contribute and we would have a great feast. A great way to both end the weekend and welcome the new week, our friends would linger into the late hours, not wanting the night to end. It was at these dinners where I also started to get creative in the kitchen, often planning my part of the menu early in the week before.

Although they were planned events, the Sunday Night Dinners were more casual get togethers with no real structure – just friends sharing a meal and socializing.

pageant nights

Later in college, I would host girls nights in a much different way – pageant nights. Each and every pageant that was televised, from Miss USA to Miss America to Miss Universe, I hosted viewing parties that began with a cocktail hour and ended with a dinner and of course, the crowning of a new pageant winner. Using a time saving hostess trick of making a signature cocktail for the evening, I would greet each guest at the door with said cocktail and choice of tiara to wear… from my collection. Dinner would be served shortly after the pageant began – I would always plan an appetizer, salad, main entree and dessert courses. Elaborately fun evenings – I sometimes think I should start them up again!

Pageant nights revolved around the televised event and girls being girls – aside from my menu planning, the night flowed along the schedule of the pageant. Easy planning there.

modern day tupperware party

Other girls nights are easy to plan as well – a candle party, purse party, housewares party (I always ask my girlfriends ahead of time if they are interested – if I get enough positive response, I go ahead with it). These are fun events, and again the only planning involved on my end is the menu. These parties are best with several small plate options – finger foods set out where guests can nibble and graze. Cocktails or wine also make the event lively and fun.

naked lady party

Come on, minds out of the gutter. Similar to the “buying party”, another girls night in could be a Naked Lady Party – where all the girls show up with clothes, shoes, accessories they no longer want – and we swap! Everything unclaimed at the end goes to charity. These can include a potluck, to cut down on your food planning, and again don’t forget the cocktails or wine. You have a fun girls night and come away with new outfits as well!

karaoke night!

One of my favorite impromptu get togethers? Karaoke night at my house. Cocktails or wine, small plate and finger foods, and the courage to sing just for the fun of it are all required for a successful karaoke party. Such a fun time. Always.

small plate ideas for girls night in:

mango habanero guacamole

self-serve raw taco bar

spinach blini with pimiento spread

reuben rolls with homemade thousand island

seven layer dip with ‘noocho cheese’

quick and easy classic fudge

What is your favorite girls (or guys) night in?

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perfect labor day party

August 29, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 19 Comments

I am going to be incredibly cliché in declaring I cannot believe Labor Day is this Monday.

Totally snuck up on me this year.

We are planning a small shindig, and I am mixing classy with lowbrow, cocktail party with casual barbeque.

We really just want a low key comfortable thing – friends over grilling and chilling. A couple friends can only come for a short time, so I decided to split it up and have a little cocktail thing beforehand. Hey, any chance I can …

caperberry cocktail party

August 20, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 36 Comments

I love caperberries – salty, briny, salty goodness. Larger than the caper and a completely different thing, the caperberry is the fruit of the caper plant and is about the size of an olive, while a caper is the smaller flower bud. They taste similar, and I find the caperberry is milder in flavor.

Awesome salty flavor.

When Heather picked caperberries for C Week of Meatless Monday A to Z, I was thrilled. I actually already had two jars of caperberries in my pantry, along with at least three jars of capers. I always have capers.

We had some friends over for a Happy Hour at Home, Caperberry Style. They were greeted with a caperberry martini, made dirty with the brine juice. So very good.

For a fun one bite appetizer with some tang, I stuffed caperberries with my vegan goat cheese.

They were easy to pick up by their stem handles. An easy last minute prep that looks elegant and tastes crazy good. Especially when you drench them in agave…

The third item for this caperberry cocktail party was a hummus – a lemony, garlicy, salty hummus. We served this with crunchy crisps and vegetables.

caperberry hummus

dairy, soy and gluten free, vegan

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and peeled
3 tablespoons tahini
juice of 2 lemons
1 clove garlic, peeled
handful (8-10) caperberries, stemmed
sea salt, to taste
olive oil, for garnish
2-3 whole caperberries, for garnish

In food processor, purée chickpeas until crumbly-smooth, add tahini, lemon juice, garlic and caperberries. Salt as needed. Blend until smooth. Transfer to serving bowl, pour 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over top, garnish with whole caperberries.

This has been my favorite week with #mmaz yet! Are you a caperberry or caper fan?

Here’s one of my favorite recipes using the smaller, stronger, saltier caper:

lemon piccata enchilada

Cheers – happy Monday!

Cherry Mojito Milkshakes

August 1, 2012 By Kristina Sloggett 49 Comments

Cherry Mojito Milkshakes and A Shiny Chic Cocktail Party – a lightened up and creamy cool twist on the classic mojito – fresh flavor just in time for summer soiree season!

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Regular readers know I love to throw a party.

That we often have happy hour at home.

That I am distracted by shiny things.

When BACARDÍ sent me a big box filled with fabulous things for a shiny chic party, I was beyond excited. You should have seen me looking through the box – it was Christmas Morning When I Got A Baton excitement. Basil was there to give me the side eye. It was shiny and fun and filled with things from all of my favorite stores – zgallerie, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel. Squeal!

It really was like they were …