french martini

I have not posted all week.  It has been one of those weeks.  I am so glad it is Friday.  I should be posting some amazingly yummy and adorable patriotic sweet treat but, I am not.  Instead I give you something that is not even American.  I promise I love this country.  I promise you I will be out celebrating this weekend.  The fourth of July is my favorite holiday.  Because it has been a craptastic week I give you this non-American amazing martini.  When 5:00 hits I will have one of these in hand.  I will relax and be completely prepared to tie one on this weekend.  A happy and safe holiday to all.   Is it 5:00 yet?

french martini

adapted: barefoot contessa

    * 2 ounces fresh pineapple juice
    * 2 ounces GOOD cold vodka (kettle one or grey goose)
    * 12 ounce chambord

yields: two amazing martinis

Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill a martini glass with ice and pour the cocktail over the ice.

pomegranate champagne punch

Last year at the cookie exchange we blew through 8 bottles of champagne before the gift exchange.  The girls can drink!  This year I was not going to let that happen again.  I pulled out the punch bowl and mixed up a big batch of champagne punch that packed a little extra something something with the white rum.  We went through two big batches and I think everyone left with a little warmth in their body and a little pep in their step from the bubbly and sugar.  This punch tastes good, is inexpensive, looks beautiful and definitely does the job.  Cheers!

pomegranate champagne punch

adapted: bon appetit

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 750-ml bottles chilled brut Champagne
• 1 750-ml bottle white rum
• 2 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
• 2 large lemons, thinly sliced
• Pomegranate seeds
• Fresh mint leaves
• 1 ice block

Bring water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely.

Combine Champagne, rum, and pomegranate juice in punch bowl. Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste. Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. Add ice block to bowl.

green monster

I keep hearing about juicing, smoothies and cleanses.  I have always favored food over a drink but, on my constant quest for better health and my abundance of fresh organic fruits and veggies from my box delivery I decided to give these green monsters a try .  I was so surprised at how much I liked them and how full and energized I felt after having one.  I may be kinda hooked and the combinations are endless.  This is a step in my process to better living.  I have decided to get rid myself of numbers.  I need to listen to what my body needs and not let my life be run by constant number crunching.  The days of how many calories in, how many minutes at the gym, how much body fat, target heart rate zone, and what number is staring back at me from the scale are going to be in the past.  Although many think knowledge of those numbers make a person "healthy" I am going to disagree. Living a life run by numbers is not a way to live for me.  I am going to try to listen to my body and stop living by the numbers and just enjoy life.

spinach banana pumpkin green monster

2 cups spinach
1/2 banana
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 scoop green super food
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
ice ~1cup

Add ingredients in the following order into the blender: super food, pumpkin pie spice, spinach, pumpkin, banana, and milk.  Puree.  Add ice and pulse again until desired consistency.

swiss chard apple green monster

2 cups swiss chard
1 apple peeled and chopped
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 scoop green super food
ice ~1 cup

Add ingredients in the following order into the blender: super food, spinach, apple, and milk.  Puree.  Add ice and pulse again until desired consistency.


spinach green apple and green grape monster

2 cups spinach
1 green apple peeled and chopped (~100 grams)
10 frozen green grapes
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup water
1 scoop green super food
ice ~1 cup

Add ingredients in the following order into the blender: super food, spinach, apple, and milk.  Puree.  Add ice and pulse again until desired consistency.  Approx. 150 calories