Baking my way through the trials and triumphs of life!

 I don’t drink champagne very often. Why does it seem off limits, unless it’s a special occasion? Who made the rule that champagne is reserved for celebrations, and beer, wine, and martinis are for everyday consumption? (well, maybe not every day) Last week I hosted a girls’ night for the Bachelorette finale. When the girls arrived, we shook up these Champagne Cosmos. Every party needs a signature cocktail, and this is a perfect one for hanging out with the girlfriends in your life. In our jammies, sipping cocktails, and watching trash, I mean reality t.v., with no child or husband interruptions ~ this was every mom’s dream!  

For party favors, I made diamond ring cookies complete with disco dust.  They were sparkly and beautiful, and I’ll have to make them again sometime. I lost almost all of my recent pictures when the Naughty One ate my memory card. For dessert, we had chocolate fondue and rose cupcakes. I was lucky enough to have photoshopped the cupcakes before the pup killed the photo card.

For those of you who don’t like your cocktails too sweet, this is a good choice. When making champagne cocktails, you don’t need to waste your best bottle of champagne. Stick with the middle of the road bottle ~ not cheap champagne, but definitely not the most expensive.

I say we don’t wait for the next “celebration”, let’s find something to celebrate and pop open the champagne. I’m celebrating the fact that there are still four and a half weeks of summer left,  and I already have the boy’s new backpack and school supplies organized (so unlike me!). What’s everyone else celebrating this week?

printable recipe

Champagne Cosmo

1 1/4 cup triple sec

1 1/4 cup Ocean Spray Cranberry Pomegranate Juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

4 cups champagne

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, combine the ingredients above and shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a lime.

Cheers for feeling ahead of the game… for once!

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I’m usually a stickler for being on time ~ not today. I’m posting late today, as things have been a little hectic. I very rarely have a reason to celebrate Mondays, but today I’ve got two reasons to share! I’m celebrating happy hour with this peach cocktail. I have a great peach cobbler ice cream to share later this week, but I know some of you expect your weekly cocktail recipe on Mondays (not mentioning names!)

   Here’s what I’m celebrating… First off, a toast to the winner of the ice cream essentials give-away. Holly in Tennessee had the lucky comment number, and will get all of the great loot. She picked the green ice cream maker, in case you’re wondering! Thanks again to Sur La Table for participating in the give-away. Don’t we love their exclusive Cuisinart colors? The Spice House was also so generous to include their deluxe baker’s spice set. What a treat that set is for anyone who loves to bake. Sara Engram and Katie Luber included their brand-new ice cream cookbook Spice Dreams. These two are the ultimate spice girls, and I can’t wait to try more of their recipes. The Zyliss company included their award-winning scoop, and Sweet Bliss Containers finished off the give-away by including their pint-sized ice cream containers. Cheers to Holly! I just wish I lived closer, so you could bring me some of your amazing butter pecan ice cream.

I have a few other fabulous give-aways up my sleeve for this summer, so keep stopping by! I was so glad to have had the opportunity to connect with so many other bloggers and baking fans from this give-away. That’s what I love about blogging. I love meeting people that share in my passion, and I love all of the new products and recipes I’ve been introduced to along the way!

But that’s not the only reason I’m celebrating today. Let me preface this by telling you that I NEVER win anything. My mom, on the other hand, wins EVERYTHING! The last thing I can remember winning was a case of macademia nuts back when I was my son’s age (and I didn’t even like macademia nuts). But today I won something!! Pizzazzerie is a blog that specializes in entertaining. They had a give-away last week for a Fourth of July prize pack from Hostess Jo. I’m thrilled to have been picked, and will now stop telling people my macademia nut story.

So life is just peachy this week. Two and a half weeks of work, for me, and school, for the boy until summer vacation! This cocktail is perfect for summer vacation, and for enjoying outside on a warm day. It has only three ingredients and will definitely refresh you!

Cheers to giving something to someone else this week, even if it’s helping out someone who needs it, spending 10 minutes of undivided time with a loved one, or picking up the phone to chat with that friend you keep meaning to call.  Nothing feels as good as knowing you’ve made someone’s day!

Just Peachy Martini

2 0z. Peach Nectar (I use Kern’s in the can)

3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps

1 oz. Malibu Rum

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake, pour, garnish with a fresh slice of peach, and ENJOY!

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Spring Break has officially ended. It’s back to school and back to work today, which is why I plan on escaping to a deserted island this afternoon and sipping a cocktail with a little umbrella in it. It’s hard not to be happy when a little umbrella is popping out of your martini glass. We had a fabulous and much needed break ~ not setting an alarm for nine days was heaven!

                                                                                                                                                        I’ve already checked the calendar and there are 10 1/2 weeks until school’s out. I have never wanted summer as much as I have this year. I’m in public education in California ~ need I say more. For the past five years or so, I have been told that my position may be eliminated. This year my position is safe. I know this should seem like victory, but it’s not in this educational climate. I am no longer in the classroom, but still a teacher working in more of an administrative role overseeing a state funded program. My job involves supporting teachers, parents, and advanced students. So here’s the kicker, the teachers in the district may vote to strike at any point in the near future.  It has been an unbelievably stressful situation. Without getting into all of the politics, can I just tell you that teachers are NEVER overpaid.

So, as I am thrown back into the politics and uneasiness of it all, I will keep forging ahead to that happy hour.  Today, I’ll be shaking up this Hpnotiq martini. The bottle has always intrigued me, but it wasn’t until recently that I splurged on one. The liqueur is this amazing hue of blue. It’s not the bottle playing tricks on you. Hpnotiq combines vodka, cognac, and a whole bunch of tropical fruit juices. I was a bit surprised at how tart this tasted. I was expecting a shot of pure sweetness. Pineapple juice is a great mixer to sweeten this up a bit (if you have a need for sweet, like I do!). 

The Hpnotiq website has a ton recipes. They also sell it in little sample-sized bottles. I often opt for these miniature bottles on the first try. It makes it affordable to try, without investing a ton of money.

Cheers to a diving into a crazy week, knowing that there is always a little umbrella available when you need to take cover.

Island Breeze Martini

1 oz. Hpnotiq

1/2 oz. Malibu Coconut Rum

Splash(es) of pineapple juice

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Shake… Pour… ENJOY! (and don’t forget that little umbrella!)

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