Beverages

Basil Watermelon Cooler

  Here’s a refreshing cocktail for the season full of picnics and watermelon. It’s the perfect cooler for sitting on the front porch swing. If only I had one. A kick from the ginger, herbal notes from basil and sweetness from watermelon make for the perfect summery libation. Cheers! Basil Watermelon […]

Summer Cucumber Drink

    This is a  light and refreshingly cool summer drink. The clean, crisp flavor of garden fresh cucumbers standout, while the mint adds a sweet herbal note and the lime adds just enough zing.  Add Vodka or Gin and you’ve got yourself a summer stunner. The Cuke Serves 6 […]

Apple Brandy And Cider Cocktail: Rhine Hall Distillery

  A handful of boutique distilleries are up and running in Chicago…. none serving Apple Brandy. Enter Rhine Hall, a hard-working father daughter team, passionate about the old school distilling process. Why apple brandy? It’s a great family story, well documented in the most recent Redeye and Chicagogrid. Randy and I are particularly happy […]

Moscow Mule

What’s old is new again. Being introduced to this refreshing cocktail has put me on a “bender” of sorts. A few weeks ago we watched the Hawks game at our good friends’  home (Tom and Maureen) and they served us Moscow Mules. They were delicious. We are superstitious.  So this […]

Cucumber Basil Vodka Lemonade

Fresh herbs make a wonderful addition to a summer cocktail. Basil adds a savory, sweet note with a peppery edge. Add sliced cucumber, fresh lemon juice and Vodka and you have a refreshing layered cocktail featuring seasonal ingredients. Randy really enjoyed this drink but would prefer Gin. I suggest trying Hendricks. […]

A Berry Good Smoothie

I’m really not a New Years Resolution type however, this is easy. Drink healthy! I was a very happy recipient of a Vita-Mix blender recently and have been throwing anything I get my hands on into this magic machine! I am in heaven. How is it possible that every combo […]

Brandy Alexander

Nightcaps! Just when you’ve cried “Uncle” and slipped away to replace your fancy pants with yoga pants….here come the Brandy Alexanders. Everyone’s around the fire playing a rousing round of the “name game” when Aunt Paula serves up this traditional treat.. A happy ending to a Happy Thanksgiving! Brandy Alexander […]