Golden Hour Cocktail

Whether we are ready or not, the holiday season is fast approaching. I don’t know about all of you but it feels different this year. I mean, of course it does, but it doesn’t feel the way I thought it would. I’m not sure what I thought it would feel like, but I guess this isn’t what I was expecting…? I’m searching for holiday spirit where I can find it but less in the “get pumped” way and more in the “find joyful peace” way. Snuggling on the sofa with my kids under a soft blanket, looking for beautiful leaves that have fallen to the ground, playing beautiful music…

And planning what we will be eating. Always.

This Golden Hour Cocktail is perfect for this year when we are perhaps welcoming family back into our homes for the holidays. It can be made, as written, with gin. But you can also use bourbon, tequila, vodka, or no liquor at all. The golden color and myriad of fall/winter flavors- sweet orange, warm cinnamon, earthy thyme- make this simple sipper a must make for the season.

How do I dry orange slices?

I’m glad you asked! It is surprisingly simple: heat the oven to 200° F. Thinly slice an orange and arrange them on a rack set over a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 2-3 hours, turning occasionally, until they are dry. That’s it!

What if I don’t have Orangina?

You can mix orange juice with club soda for a similar flavor and color! Easy as pie.

How do I make honey cinnamon simple syrup?

I LOVE using honey in simple syrup. It creates a beautiful flavor and lends itself well to the addition of spices or herbs. For the honey cinnamon simple syrup, I simply combine 1/2 cup honey (wildflower is my go-to) with 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Add 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool. Transfer to a jar along with the cinnamon sticks. Use when completely cooled or store in the fridge until ready to use, up to 2 weeks. The cinnamon sticks will lend more flavor the longer they hang out in the syrup, so I like to let it all hang out for a couple days.

Golden Hour Cocktail

Makes 6 cocktails

• 16 oz Orangina (or combination of orange juice + club soda)

• 4 oz club soda or plain sparkling water

• 6 oz gin (or liquor of your choice)

• 3 oz honey cinnamon simple syrup (see above for how to make this)

• Dried orange slices (see above for how to make these)

• Fresh thyme sprigs, pomegranate seeds, and/or fresh cranberries for garnish

1. In a pitcher, combine the simple syrup and gin. Add a handful of ice cubes. Stir to combine and chill.

2. Add the Orangina and stir gently to combine again.

3. Pour the chilled cocktail over a strainer (to remove any bits of ice) and into coupe glasses or other cocktail glass of your choosing. Pour a bit of club soda over the top, garnish with orange slices and thyme sprigs, and serve.

Bourbon Cider Fizz

I like simple, elegant cocktails. I don’t typically want my drinks to have lots of frills but I still want to feel a little fancy when I’m holding it in my hand. That’s why I love taking classic cocktails and dressing them up a bit. This particular cocktail was inspired by a French 75, but I swapped some things out. Instead of champagne or Prosecco, I used a dry hard cider for festive bubbles. Instead of gin, I used bourbon. Instead of lemon juice, a teeny teaspoon of my homemade cranberry sauce (could also use cranberry juice). A little orange zest ribbon and a couple floating cranberries later, the Bourbon Cider Fizz was born! Perfect for Thanksgiving or basically anything worth celebrating in 2020. I mean it. We need all the reasons to celebrate right now, am I right?

Bourbon Cider Fizz

Makes 2 cocktails

• One 12 oz can or bottle of dry hard cider, chilled

• 2 oz bourbon

• 2 teaspoons homemade cranberry sauce* OR a splash or two of unsweetened cranberry juice

• 2 teaspoons spiced simple syrup (recipe here)

• fresh cranberries and orange zest for garnish

1. In two low ball glasses or champagne flutes, combine the bourbon with the cranberry sauce and simple syrup. Stir until combined. Slowly pour the hard cider into the glass. Stir once or twice to combine. Add garnishes. Sip and enjoy!

Cocktail Friday: Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned

It snowed here yesterday. It wasn't the big wet flakes I expected; instead, we experienced a pretty, delicate snowfall thanks to chilly temperatures that made me feel like I was home in Minnesota. My heart was happy watching the flakes float slowly through the air, turning the ground a soft white. Finally, after feeling like I would never get into the spirit of the season, the snow brought what my soul needed. Riley

Also, it made me realize that some people just shouldn't drive when it's snowing because they forget how. That's all I'll say on that subject except for BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

With the white snow and cloudy skies, it seems like the perfect excuse to make a brilliantly colored and flavorful cocktail. This Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned uses a little bit of the syrup from my homemade cranberry sauce. The spicy ginger, warm cloves, bright citrus and tangy cranberries are the perfect mate for spiced rum. You may be wondering what on EARTH rum is doing in an Old Fashioned. You're right- it isn't traditional. But the formula for an Old Fashioned is this: spirit + bitters + sugar + water. That's it. Makes you want to play around a little, doesn't it?

When I make an Old Fashioned, I let the ice act as the water. It melts a little as you stir it with the spirit, bitters and sugar, which is really all you need. If you want more water, go ahead and add it.

This is a great cocktail for Thanksgiving because it incorporates a lot of the flavors from other dishes; using aromatics like rosemary, cloves or cinnamon with your turkey? Serving my homemade cranberry sauce? Putting a cinnamon and brown sugar topping over your sweet potatoes? This cocktail is the perfect precursor to all of that and more. It's equally as delicious on any old day when you are feeling thankful for a quiet evening at home with family and friends.

This cocktail recipe concludes my week of cranberries! Stay tuned next week for a fantastically easy apple dessert and a delicious leftover turkey recipe!

Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 1 ounce cranberry syrup from [this recipe: http://rachaelwhite.me/homemade-cranberry-sauce/]
• 1 1/2 ounces spiced rum
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 5 dashes bitters
• 1 strip of orange zest for garnish
• 1 rosemary sprig for garnish
• 2 or 3 fresh (or frozen) cranberries for garnish.

Instructions

1. Combine the cranberry syrup, spiced rum, brown sugar and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add ice and stir for about 30 seconds. Pour the cocktail through a strainer into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Serve garnished with the orange zest, cranberries and rosemary sprig.

Cocktail Friday: Whiskey Flip

This week has been crazy. I've only been in Minnesota since Saturday but so much has happened that I feel like it's been a month. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say that I'm getting involved in some REALLY amazing projects that are connecting me with talented food bloggers and other foodie friends. It's a dream come true, really. It also means that I am really ready for a cocktail.

My parents have a cocktail recipe book called the Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide: New World Edition. It has a plethora of cocktails garnished with bright red maraschino cherries and other slightly dated decorations. Overall, it is quite informative and contains some gems that are worth trying. This Whiskey Flip, for example, is a little bit like eggnog but less sweet and more boozy.

I adapted the recipe slightly because I wanted the drink to be a little sweeter (I know- pretty unusual for me) and a little less astringent, so I added more powdered sugar and less whiskey. This would be a fun addition to your Thanksgiving menu and is perfectly seasonal with a sprinkling of nutmeg over the top.

The best part about this post is that my sister and I worked together to take the photos. She chose the props from my mom's fabulous selection of antiques and I mostly just took the pictures. One thing I've realized on this trip is that working with people instead of on your own is a bazillion times easier and a trazillion times more fun. Yep. Trazillion.

Whiskey Flip

Ingredients

• 1 ounce whiskey
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons heavy cream
• 1 whole egg
• freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients except the nutmeg in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is creamy and frothy on the top.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the nutmeg.