Blackberry Smash

Hi, friends! It's been a hot minute and it seems like I have a mile long list of recipes to share. We are definitely living in some strange times right now but we are all making the most of it around here. I never mind a little slow down from time to time so for that, I am thankful. I know that we will look back on this time with memories of precious family moments. If anything, it's taught us how to enjoy the little moment each day that much more. Not to mention the doodle is loving having all of his people home all day every day right now. 

The world seems to be coming together in all kinds of ways right now and I'm loving seeing all of the new thing that people are making and new skills they are trying. I knew that I was going to go all in on quarantine cocktail hour and have been having tons of fun mixing and matching what I have in my liquor cabinet and coming up with new simple syrups and fresh mixers. If anything, we have had weather that has been beyond amazing the past month and a half, making happy hours on the patio extra festive. It's my favorite time of year to sit out there and the weather has just been perfect.

I have been missing my girls nights and happy hours at some of my favorite happy hour spots in Charlotte and was really craving a blueberry smash from The Summit Room! I pulled up the cocktail menu and with a little tweaking, was inspired to recreate my own with some fresh blackberries I had on hand. The result was SMASHING and I'll for sure be making this again. I love the refreshing taste of the club soda but for added sweetness, I think that ginger beer would be a tasty addition.

BLACKBERRY SMASH

2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. mint simple syrup
handful of fresh blackberrie
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 lime, juiced
club soda

In a cocktail glass, place 4-5 blackberries and muddle at the bottom of the glass. Top muddled blackberries with crushed ice  In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, lime juice, and ice. Shake shake shake! Pour over muddles blackberries and ice and top with a little club soda. Garnish with blackberries and lemon rind

BASIL JALAPENO SIMPLE SYRUP

I hope everyone had a great week! We are over here soaking up the last few weeks of Summer. Routine is nice, but I'm just not ready for the busy-ness that Fall and back to school season brings. Summertime is just the sweetest.

Patio happy hours are my favorite and our cocktail game has been pretty strong this summer if I do say so myself. If there is ever a spicy tequila drink on a restaurant's cocktail menu, I will almost always order it- and then try to recreate it at home! Restaurant menus are a great source of inspiration when looking for different flavors and Liquors to mix and match. I honestly like to keep it simple with just some good tequila, lime seltzer, and a wedge of lime most of the time, but there are other times that you just want a little something extra.

A friend of mine dropped off a TON of fresh basil from her garden. I made pesto, caprese, and more caprese, then saved out a handful for this simple syrup. Basil and jalapenos work so well alongside each other and this simple syrup provides the perfect backdrop to even the simplest of cocktail concoctions. The fresh jalapeno really stands out here, and even more so if you drop a few slices of fresh jalapeno in your drink! I love the spicy kick. 

If you can boil water, you can make simple syrup! Trust me here and have at it. Use this in a margarita, or just with a splash in a vodka soda. We made margaritas and they were a HUGE hit. So much flavor here and a perfect drink for Taco night- or any night of the week to be honest. Enjoy!

BASIL JALAPENO SIMPLE SYRUP

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

handful fresh basil leaves

1/2 sliced jalapeno 

Place sugar and water in a small saucepan on medium high heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and drop in the basil and jalapeno slices. Let this all steep until the syrup is completely cooled.

Once syrup is cooled, strain into a glass container. This will last in a sealed glass container for quite a while! 

BASIL JALAPENO MARGARITAS

2 oz. Tequila

1/2 oz. basil jalapeno simple syrup

lime seltzer water

lime juice

jalapeno slices + lime wedges for garnish

Prep your glass with a salt rim if desired. Fill glass with ice, tequila, and the simple syrup. Finish with a pour of seltzer and a splash of lime juice. Give it a quick stir and garnish with a lime wedge and a couple of jalapeno slices for heat.  

GRAPEFRUIT + BLOOD ORANGE TEQUILA SPRITZ

It's about time we add another cocktail to the recipe files around here! Not even 9:00 on a Friday morning and I'm still chugging coffee with happy hour on the brain.

We've always loved making these Markaritas, but we have really gotten into Tequila over the past couple of years and love trying new types and brands. Many years ago, when Mark was reading tons of Paleo books, so many of them talked about how Tequila is one of the cleanest liquors that you can drink since it comes from a plant. "CLEAN DRINKING" I call it. Sign me up!  We drank margaritas together on our first date so this only seems fitting that this is what we really gravitate to! With the good tequilas, we love it with a splash of lime La Croix and a wedge of lime- it is really my favorite way to drink it. I LIKE TO TASTE THE TEQUILA.

This drink was inspired from my birthday dinner at one of our favorite Charlotte restaurants. It's refreshing and flavorful without being overly sweet. This Blood Orange Liqueur is a new favorite and a great one to have on hand. Just a splash adds a touch of sweetness and that bold blood orange taste. I cannot get enough of this Spritz. 

GRAPEFRUIT + BLOOD ORANGE TEQUILA SPRITZ

2 oz. Good Tequila 
1/2 oz. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
A few dashes of Orange Bitters 
Top off with Grapefruit Spindrift
Squeeze of fresh grapefruit + grapefruit wedge for garnish

I make these individually in the glass. Combine Tequila, Blood Orange Liqueur, and orange bitters and give it a little stir. Add ice and top off with Grapefruit Spindrift and a squeeze of fresh grapefruit. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge!

Cheers! Hope everyone enjoys the Summer sunshine this weekend! (and some tequila of course) For more cocktail inspo, you can follow me on Instagram (@ninanmoore) and check out the hashtag #DRINKMOORECOCKTAILS

Strawberry Jalapeno Simple Syrup

We had a weekend cool- down and a few days that felt so nice, breezy and almost cool, but the hot weather is back. Truthfully, I LOVE IT. I'm a Summer girl for life and as muggy and hot as it gets here, I would take these days over gray snowy ones ANY DAY. When Fall rolls around I'll be all Pumpkin spice love yesssss the best time of year is around the corner but for now, I'm sticking with Summer.

I'm coming at you mid-week with a happy hour hack that's sure to make your 5pm cocktail a little bit sweeter...and easier! My friend April shared this simple syrup tip last week and I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. Sure, simple syrup is simple enough on the stove, but why not make it simpler by making it in the microwave! Bonus points because you make it right in the mason jar so no need to transfer the mixture for fridge storage. That part is already done for you. I was shocked at how well this worked and how easy it was. Definitely a trick to have up your sleeve in a pinch or when you need a cocktail mixer for an impromptu night with friends.

The best part, is that you can totally add in any fruit and herb infusers that you have on hand which will allow you to get a little creative with your flavors! I did strawberries and jalapeno slices here and it was heavenly! This was extra delicious as a margarita mixer with some Tequila, lime juice seltzer and a splash of the syrup- and my sweet pregnant friend also enjoyed it in some orange la croix! Getting creative here, folks and you don't even have to enjoy this with alcohol. My other favorite way to enjoy a flavored simple syrup is with some Tito's vodka and Spindrift! PSA: If you grocery shop at Harris Teeter, Spindrift is BOGO this week and also $1 back on Ibotta! Not familiar with Ibotta? It's the easiest way to shop and get money back on things you are already buying at the grocery store. Sign up with my referral code HERE. (this is not sponsored! I just love using it, love getting cash back every few weeks and want to share with you all!)

 All you need is sugar, water, flavor infusers, a mason jar and 90 seconds in the microwave. Boom. And if you want to do this on the stove the old fashioned way, that works, too.

Whether you take a short cut or 

Strawberry Jalapeno Simple Syrup 

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 jalapeno, thinly sliced
2 strawberries, thinly sliced

In a mason jar, combine the water and sugar. Place in microwave for 90 seconds. If the sugar appears to have not fully dissolved yet, microwave in additional 15 second increments. As soon as no more sugar granules appear present, add in jalapeno and strawberry slices. Let the mixture come to room temperature. Strain out the berries and peppers if you like, or leave them in the mixture. Store in the refrigerator.

Spiked Spa Water

Apparently #TitosTuesday is a thing and since I meant to post this little cocktail recipe yesterday, let's just pretend it's still Tuesday. 

Summertime happy hours are my favorite. We eat later dinners and spend lots of time outdoors during that chunk of time between afternoon naps and when it's time to start cooking. Around the fire pit on our outdoor patio is my favorite spot to sit. It's so easy to grab a quick glass of wine or an icy cold beer from the beverage fridge, but lately I've been super into this little Tito's concoction. It's light and refreshing and I won't call it "healthy", but it's certainly a cleaner beverage option- and we are loving it. 

Just a little Spindrift, lime/lemon, some mint if you have it and a splash of Tito's- that's it! I've done this with many of the Spindrift flavors, but the cucumber is just the best. Tastes just little spa water...with an upgrade.

Spiked Spa Water

2 oz. Tito's vodka
wedge of fresh lime
Spindrift Cucumber 
Mint leaves, torn and muddled

Start with a wedge of lime and squeeze it into the bottom of your glass. Add mint leaves and muddle them a bit. Pour in 2 oz. of vodka and finish with a pour of Spindrift- more to water it down and less for a stronger drink. Give it a quick stir and add finish with ice and another wedge of lime or lemon. 

Markaritas!

What goes well with Tacos on a Tuesday!? Margaritas! Duh. Or in our case, the ever popular Markarita. No, really. Pulling this deliciousness out of the archives because Summer is around the corner and I wish I had these on tap. This is one of my most popular recipes to date and definitely one of the top five recipes requested by all of my real life friends and family. I've always loved margaritas but I came to the realization recently that I think I love them so much because Mark and I drank them on our first date! And here we are still sipping away on these things.

Back when we started reading a ton of Paleo books and blogs, we learned that Tequila is one of the better liquor choices. While all alcohol isn't necessarily "paleo approved", Tequila is a cleaner option because instead of being made with grains, it comes from the agave plant. This is why when you're buying your tequila, make sure it's made with 100% agave as some will have fillers like sugar and grain additives. 

I don't claim that this is a healthy cocktail, but it's certainly a smarter option for happy hour- and I promise you won't miss the crazy amounts of sugary sweet mixers. Fresh lime juice is stellar but when you don't have time to squeeze ALL THOSE LIMES, I found a great organic lime juice at Harris Teeter with an impressive ingredients list of only one thing: organic limes! It was delicious. While these can be made in larger quantities and served to a crowd in a pitcher, I still prefer to make these margaritas one at a time! They are just so good. 

Enjoy your Taco Tuesday!!! With a Markarita please. (and don't forget the salt rim!)

Markaritas

2 oz. tequila
2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. organic raw agave or honey
lime seltzer water 
fresh lime wedges

I like to serve these in lowball rocks glasses. Start by measuring out the tequila and lime juice and pour into the glasses. Add in the agave (or sweetener of choice) and mix with a bar whisk. Finish what a pour of seltzer and add ice, then garnish with a lime wedge. 

Lemon Thyme French 75

Coming in hot today with a cocktail recipe for your weekend happy hours this Mother's Day weekend. It's only Thursday so I'm giving you a quick minute to gather your ingredients and get to work! 

Cocktails have been my go to happy hour choice lately. I love to sip on something while I'm cooking dinner for my family or when Mark and I are sitting outside at the end of the day. I've been playing around with different mixers and liquors and I've decided to experiment more this Summer. Mixing flavors is fun and cocktail making, I've realized, is a bit of an art.

I'm obsessed with this drink and have my sister and future brother in law to thank for it. It's fresh, slightly bubbly and light for the warm Summer days ahead. This lemon thyme simple syrup is going to have a permanent spot in my fridge this Summer as I've been adding it to all kinds of things. It's especially delicious with Tito's Vodka and a splash of cucumber spindrift. Back to these French 75s though... they're just so good. I think what I love most about this cocktail is that it can take you from brunch to lunch to happy hour- seriously delicious and appropriate at any time of day! Lemon, thyme, gin and bubbles. You know you want it. 

Lemon Thyme French 75

2 oz. gin
1.5 oz. champagne or prosecco
1 oz. lemon thyme simple syrup (recipe below)
sprig of fresh thyme

Mix the gin and simple syrup with ice and strain into your serving glass. To with chilled champagne/prosecco and garnish with a fresh sprig of thyme.

Lemon Thyme Simple Syrup

1 cup cugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh thyme

Combine sugar and water in a pot and bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon juice but do not let it come back to a simmer. Turn off the heat and add the thyme, letting it steep in the syrup until it reaches room temperature. Strain into a clean bottle and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Apple Cider Mules

I know. Another apple cider cocktail. But I swear I haven't been sitting around all season enjoying happy hour! We are full on Christmas over here and enjoying every minute. We've decked the halls and every corner of our house just seems extra cozy and festive this time of year. We've built a gingerbread house, constructed a foam Nativity and enjoyed special cups of hot chocolate. Tomorrow we'll make snow angels, go ice skating and eat a whole roll of tollhouse cookie dough. Just kidding. Sort of. 

It is no secret that I LOVE this time of year and these little ones of ours certainly make it extra special. I want to bottle up their excitement and joy with it all. Every day of this season is just so much fun with them. 

This cocktail though. In case you have some cider sitting around from Thanksgiving, MAKE THIS. Or even if you don't, go to the store and MAKE THIS. I love Moscow Mules- 50% because they are delicious and 50% because the mugs are just fun to drink out of. The best part about a mule is that as long as you have ginger beer and good vodka, you can basically add your own mixer and call it a mule. 

Holiday Happy hour is calling! 

Apple Cider Mules

2 oz. vodka

2 oz. apple cider

2 oz. ginger beer

sliced oranges + cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Mix these right in the glass! Combine all ingredients, stir and finish with ice! Garnish with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick. 

Apple Cider Old-Fashioneds

Hello! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plenty of deliciousness and family time. It came and went so fast but we had the best time! It's so crazy to me that December is a matter of days away. We wish for Fall to come so quickly and we blink and it's Christmas. WHOAH. But it's the very best time of the year and I plan on soaking in every minute.

As long as the holidays are here, I want to be drinking apple cider in my cocktails. Whether it's cold or warm, there's something about cider in a drink that is like sipping on a giant hug. It's the perfect mixer this time of year!

There Apple Cider Old-Fashioneds were a hit with my family this year. They pack a punch and if you don't like them as strong as the recipe makes them, just keep adding more cider. The measurements you will find below are good for one drink, but it's easy to multiply the portions and make these in a pitcher. Trust me- this is a good idea if you're enjoying happy hour with a crowd. 

If you need me, I'm over here researching other apple cider cocktail recipes. 

Apple Cider Old- Fashioneds

2 ounces apple cider
Dash of Angostura Bitters
1 tsp. of brown sugar OR simple syrup
2 ounces Bourbon OR Rye Whiskey
Ice
Slices oranges and apples, for garnish
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

In your favorite cocktail glass, combine apple cider, bitters, simple syrup and whiskey. Mix it up, then add the ice. Pop in fruit and cinnamon sticks for garnish! 

Sparkling Cranberries

I kicked off my Thanksgiving week prep by testing the recipe for these sugared cranberries. Our cocktail glasses will be filled with these Fresh Cranberry Ginger Vanilla Margaritas with sugared cranberries to top them off. I cannot wait to toast with these tasty sips as we celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. 

These sugary little bites will surely be making many appearances in my house during the Christmas season. Not only will they make a festive addition to cocktails, but I think they would be great on a dessert table. The sugary coating followed by the tart pop of the berry is oh-so-delightful!

The original recipe is titled "Sugared Cranberries", but sparkling sounds much more festive. Everything is better when it sparkles.

Sparkling Cranberries
recipe from Cooking Light, December 2003

2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
2 cups fresh cranberries
3/4 cup superfine sugar

Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat. (do not bring to a boil or the cranberries may pop when added) Stir in cranberries and pour mixture into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. 

Drain cranberries in a colander over a bowl, reserving steeping liquid if desired. Place superfine sugar in a shallow dish. Add cranberries, rolling to coat with sugar. Spread sugared cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet and allow to dry for 1 hour. 

Raspberry Mojitos

We just spent a delightful vacation on Kiawah Island with my family and the remainder of our week and a half Southern tour was spent near Columbia, SC with Mark's family. It was a wonderful trip with lots of fun family time and if I said I was happy to be back in the Midwest, I would be lying. There is something about the South that just hugs you tightly and never lets go. Although I was born in Detroit, I lived in Charlotte for over half of my life and the South is home to me.

The heat is almost unbearable anywhere this time of year and any thoughts I ever had about the Midwest having mild summer days have just been tossed out the window. Thankfully though, the air cools off just in time for drinks on the deck as Mark and I unwind from the day and grill something fresh for dinner. The Mojito is one of my go to drinks in the summer and after enjoying a few of my dad's perfection concoctions while at the beach, I decided to get a little creative for our relaxing Sunday cocktail hour this past weekend. Not too sweet, and with just the right amount of a bubbly kick, this Raspberry Mojito is a hint of mint, a kiss of berry, lightly lime and a whole lot of happy.

Raspberry Mojitos

recipe adapted from YumSugar

4 raspberries

6 mint leaves

1 1/2 oz. white rum

3/4 oz. fresh squeezed lime

3/4 oz. simple syrup

Splash of club soda

Muddle raspberries first, then mint. Add rum, lime juice, then simple syrup. Stir with a bar whisk or shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a tall cocktail glass filled with ice. Finish with a splash of club soda.