Champagne Mojitos

Mojitos are one of my favorites. So is champagne. Put them together and yum. This drink is perfectly bubbly with the great traditional mojito flavor. Make this the next time you host brunch, celebrate a bridal shower (yes, I have wedding brain...the countdown is finally into the double digits!), or just have extra limes hanging around. For me, here's the list of things I was celebrating when I made this spring-y cocktail:

• It's feeling like spring! The birds are chirping and the windows are open (slightly)
• Iced coffee season is here. Enough said.
• The Madison farmer's market is only a few weekends alway
• Honeymoon is all planned 
• Oh and I got a new job!

This recipe is super easy but the champagne gives it a special feel. The original recipe from Food Network suggests using cava, which I used and liked. But, I don't think using a different kind would be a deal breaker. Go ahead, get creative!

Cheers!

Brittany

Ingredients

1/4 c. fresh mint leaves

2-3 Tbsp. sugar

1 lime, cut into wedges

1 c. rum

1 bottle chilled cava

Instructions

1. Put mint, sugar and lime wedges into a pitcher and muddle

2. Stir in rum

3. Strain into chilled glasses and top with cava

4. Enjoy!

Hard Cider Bourbon Cocktail

You need a cocktail right now, it has been a long busy week and things aren't going to let up anytime soon. You disagree? Well maybe you need a quick cocktail for a party in the coming month because there will plenty of parties in your future. This is it.

This cocktail reminds me of a loaded corona, but for fall and with a boat load more class, mostly because we drink it from a glass and not a bottle. You don't know what a loaded corona is? Well let me enlighten you. Open yourself a corona, take a swig, now that there is a little room in the bottle, fill 'er back up with a shot of tequila and drink responsibly.

This is just like that, but a loaded cider, with bourbon. It is more classy though because we are making in a glass. Trust me, it is classy and tasty most of all.

A lot of ciders are, Crispin in particular, suggested to be served over ice. I'm not a fan of this suggestion though. Not at all.

No body likes a watered down cocktail. To make this super simple cocktail feel special and keep it cool and fall like, I made some apple cider ice cubes. It "apples" the cocktail down instead of watering it down. It just makes sense!

I've tried making this with a lighter cider like Crispin and a darker richer cider like the one pictured from Door County's Island Orchard Cider. Which to use is a personal preference. I think the bourbon boozy flavor comes out more with a lighter cider and the darker, richer cider blends with the bourbon because they are both bold and full flavored, duh. Just kidding.

Garnish the whole thing with some sliced apples. You could even use apple cubes as a garnish. Because who doesn't love a little booze soaked fruit at the bottom of their cocktail to wash the whole thing down.

This is a really easy simple cocktail to bring along to a party last minute. All you need is a bottle or six pack of your favorite cider and a bottle of bourbon and it is cocktail time. You can pick it all up en route to your party. It is perfect. My boyfriend who usually only drinks white russians loved it.

It is just the right amount of sweet, rich, apple and fall in a glass. I realize it doesn't feel like fall anymore, but I think this cocktail is a nice addition to all the eggnog, hot toddy and cocoa that will be consumed in the coming month.

Just remember to always keep it classy and mix your cocktail in a glass, not the bottle. Nothing good ever comes from a beer cocktail made in a beer bottle. Trust me. Plus, it is the holiday season and it should be filled with joy, class, laughter and kindness! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I did!

Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
1 shot/jigger or 1.5 ounces bourbon
12 ounces hard cider (such as Crispin or Island Orchard Cider)
Apple cider ice cubes
1 apple, cored and sliced or cubed

Instructions:
to make the ice cubes: Pour your favorite apple cider into and ice cube tray and freeze overnight.
to make the cocktail: Combine the bourbon, hard cider and cider ice cubes in a glass. Garnish with sliced or cubed apples. Enjoy and be merry.

Strawberry Moscato Lemonade

I had the full intention of wrapping up Strawberry Month with a nice refreshing strawberry pie.  One thing led to another and there was no pie to be found but I did find myself sipping on this strawberry moscato lemonade while watching The Bachelorette on Monday night.

Let's talk The Bachelorette for a quick second.  Any other fans out there?  Let me just say that I'm surprised she kept Cody around this long.  And that Marcus is a little too clingy.  The dude said he loved her on like week four.  Also, I just do not see Andi moving to Iowa to live on a farm.  Let's be real.

But back to this sweet pink drink (see what I did there.)  My sister has made this drink on a couple of occasions and it was a hit with the ladies and men alike.  It's perfect for an event like a bridal shower where you want a drink without too much alcohol in it.  If you'd like to give it a little extra kick, feel free to add some vodka; I'd suggest strawberry, lemon or plain.  Looking for something similar but don't have much of a taste for wine?  Try this Grow Up Pink Lemonade we shared a couple of years ago.

In case you missed the rest of Strawberry Month, check out these recipes for Strawberry Banana Bread, Baked Brie with Strawberries, Almonds and Balsamic Vinegar,  and Strawberry Jam.  Check back soon to see what July's theme will be!

Cheers!
Kelsey

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle pink moscato
• 1 container frozen strawberry lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 3 cups lemon lime soda
• Strawberries and lemon slices for garnish
• (Optional) 1/4-1/2 cup vodka

Directions:

1. Stir together moscato, thawed lemonade concentrate and soda in a pitcher.
2. Garnish with strawberries and lemon slices as desired. (Frozen strawberries double as great ice cubes!)

2 Years Ago: Beet, Blue Cheese & Arugula Pizza

Grown Up Pink Lemonade

Booyah, we made it to our 100th blog post! Brittany and I spent a lot of time contemplating what this epic post would be. Since it had to be epic, it reminded us of the Epic List. 

As many may know, the four of us who contribute to the blog met three years ago in the dorms. While living together, our guy friends made a list of things to do before college ended. We wanted to top them! So, the Epic List was born. It is, for obvious reasons, more girly and fun. Homemade pizza, check. Start a dance party, no big deal, it happened. Wine and dine, check. Beer cocktail, unfortunately was not completed...yet.

As Brittany and I were reminiscing about the list and beer cocktail, it occurred to us that it was added to the list even after it was mounted to the dorm door and events were crossed off. It was a pretty big running joke for us though. I, April, went out and bought a ladle, just for the occasion. We were going to use a leftover animal cracker container to mix it up in. Remember people, we lived in the dorms and there is only so much at our disposal. Sadly, it didn't get accomplished while living in the dorms. Three years later and here you have it!

This cocktail is a more grown up version of what we would have made three years ago. Be careful with it too. I had a friend freshman year call this a "Pink Panty Dropper". It tastes like pink lemonade, which is why it could result in such ridiculousness. Using good vodka is a necessity, such as Stoli or Absolut. This will make a great pitcher cocktail for you next party. It is pink, girly, lemony, refreshing and cute.

We are being a little bit of rule breakers with this beer cocktail. The rule was all four of us had to be present in order to check anything off. Seeing as Kelsey and Emily are in Spain for the next two months, I think we can get away with checking it off. Our fun and epicness can't stand up to European adventures, lets be honest. 

Ingredients:

2 cups good quality vodka

1 (quart sized) packet Crystal light pink lemonade

1 1/2 cups (2-12ounce cans) diet cherry 7UP

1 (12 ounces) can light beer

Oodles of ice

Lemon wedges, for garnish

Raspberries, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour the vodka and Crystal light into a large pitcher.
2. Fill the pitcher half way with ice.
3. Pour the remaining ingredients into the pitcher, stirring to combine.
4. Serve immediately, with garnishes.

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

The weather today is gorgeous, so Nate and I decided to do some studying outside.  I'm in finals studying mode and a little treat while studying is always good for the brain and provides me with a little extra motivation.  What better treat to enjoy on a warm, sunny day but a smoothie (or maybe a cold beer)!  

These are the ingredients and approximate measurements that I used when making my smoothies.  I use a small blender, like a Silver Bullet, so each amount makes about one smoothie, depending on the size of your glasses.  Feel free to adjust measurement amounts to create the consistency you prefer.  It would also be very yummy adding different types of frozen berries!

Ingredients

• 8 - 12 frozen strawberries
• 2/3 of a banana
• 2/3 cup low-fat frozen yogurt
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• Other frozen berries (optional)

Directions

1. Add about half of ingredients to small blender and blend for 30-60 seconds. (I usually add the frozen strawberries last so they're closest to the blade to make sure they get well blended.)
2. Add the rest of ingredients and continue blending.
3. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

Traditional Mojitos

There are a couple of reasons for this blog post. First, a couple of weekends ago, I tried my first sip of a mojito. My boyfriend had gotten one when we were at Tutto Pasta, which is a local Italian restaurant (that I highly recommend if you're in the Madison area). It was delicious! Second, badger kitchen doesn't have any drink recipes! What better way to break the non-drink trend by featuring mojitos! Lastly, it is March now and all I can think about is springtime and warm weather. So, in the midst of a snow storm, I gathered all the ingredients and my new muddler and made some delicious mojitos.

Traditional Mojitos 

adapted from various recipes, including the one that came with my new muddler, but ultimately I added the ingredients to taste

Ingredients

3 to 4 lime slices

4 to 6 mint leaves

1 to 2 shots white rum 

2 tsp. sugar

club soda or sprite 

Ice

Instructions

1. With a muddler, mash the mint leaves in a glass. Add the lime slices and do the same. 

3. Pour in the sugar and use the muddler to mix.

4. Fill the glass with ice.

5. Add the rum and then add soda to top the glass.

6. Stir and enjoy!